Annual Reid Concert 1923
Venue:
Solo strings (members of the Dutch Quartet):
Herman Leydensdorff - 1st violin
Julius Roentgen, junr - 2nd violin
Bram Mendes - viola
Thomas Canivez - violoncello
Professor Donald Francis Tovey - conductor
M. Camillo Ritter - leader of the orchestra
1. March, "The Garb of Old Gaul," ... General Reid
2. Overture to Leonora, no. 2 ... Beethoven
3. Adagio in E for violin and orchestra ... Mozart
Concerto for violin and orchestra ... Nardini
Violin - Mr Herman Leydensdorff
4. Concerto in C minor, for two violins (restored from the clavier version) ... Bach
Violins - Messrs Herman Leydensdorff and Julius Roentgen, junr
----- interval of ten minutes -----
5. Triple concerto for violin, viola, and violoncello, with string orchestra ... Julius Roentgen, senr
Messrs Julius Roentgen, junr; Bram Mendes, and Thomas Canivez
6. Overture to Leonora, no. 3 ... Beethoven
Composer(s):
Performer(s):
Performance Type:
Image of General Reid on p.3; image of the Dutch Quartet facing p.8.
By D.F.T.
The programme notes make clear that the concerto in C minor for two violins is based on the concerto for two harpsichords.
According to the programme notes for the Bach concerto in C minor for two violins, the continuo keyboard instrument being used in the performance was a 'Weber Duplex Coupler Piano (invented by Emanuel Moór)'. Tovey writes (p.18) that, '[...] filling out the harmony (with some aid from Bach's own new left-hand clavier-passages) on the cembalo stop of one of Mr Emanuel Moór's Duplex-coupler pianofortes, we are probably coming as near as a large modern concert-hall can approach to the original intentions of the composer'. However, the instrument did not arrive from London in time for the concert so it was not used on this occasion.
On the inside back page - list of Saturday concerts for the remainder of the season.
Subsciption Tickets for the entire series of Six Concerts (including Government Tax)
Grand Tier (reserved and numbered), first two rows, £2.2.0., other rows £1.12.0.
Area (reserved and numbered), £1.0.0., (unreserved), 12/6
Upper Tier (unreserved), 7/6
Subscription tickets are now on sale at Messrs Paterson's Booking Office, 27 George Street
Special arrangements for Parties from Schools, Colleges, Clubs, Musical Organisations and similar bodies will be considered. Particulars on application.
Weber Duplex Coupler Pianoforte
Emanuel Moór, inventor of the two-keyboard piano, was a Hungarian composer, pianist and instrument maker. He died on October 21, 1931, aged 69.
- Emánuel Moór Wikipedia entry
- Emanuel Moor compositions
An example of a Weber Duplex Coupler pianoforte, probably dating from this period and almost certainly connected with Tovey, is preserved at the University of Edinburgh Collection of Musical Instruments. It has two unaligned keyboards, the upper keyboard (compass CC to c5) sounding an ocatve higher than the lower one (compass AAA to c5). Importantly, a so-called 'cembalo' stop at the left-hand end of the lower keyboard can be engaged to produce a harpsichord-like sound; it works by inserting a series of tiny metal bars between the strings and the hammers. The keyboard cover needs to be completely removed in order to play the two keyboards simultaneously, but when left in situ the lower keyboard may be played as a 'normal' piano. It should be stressed that the instruments bears little resemblance to the sound or touch of a harpsichord.
On Tuesday, 21st March 1922 at 8 pm in the Music Hall, George Street, Edinburgh, Professor D. F. Tovey gave a demonstation and recital on the new Duplex Coupler Pianoforte.
Tickets: Reserved, 4/9; Unreserved, 3/6 and 2/4 Special reductions for subscribers to the Reid Orchestral concerts: Reserved 3/6; Unreserved 2/4 and 1/6.