Mendelssohn Quintette Club facts for kids
The Mendelssohn Quintette Club was a very famous music group from Boston, Massachusetts. It was active from 1849 to 1895. This group was known as one of the most active and popular chamber music groups in America during the late 1800s. They traveled and performed all over the country, including places like Georgia and California. They even went as far as Australia!
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The Story of the Mendelssohn Quintette Club
The Mendelssohn Quintette Club played a big part in making the composer Felix Mendelssohn popular in America. After 1848, many German musicians, some of whom had studied with Mendelssohn, moved to America. The Quintette Club helped introduce Mendelssohn's music to American audiences. For example, they played his "Quintet in A major, Op. 18" at their very first concert in 1849.
Who Were the Members?
Over the years, many talented musicians were part of the Quintette Club. Some of the main members included Thomas Ryan, August Fries, Francis Riha, Eduard Lehmann, and Wulf Fries.
Where Did They Perform?
The group performed in many different places. In Boston, they played at famous venues like the Boston Music Hall and the Melodeon. They also traveled outside of Boston to perform, for instance, at the Gloucester Lyceum.
Many people came to hear them play. Even famous people like Sophia Peabody Hawthorne, the wife of writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, attended their concerts. In her diary, she wrote about going to a concert in 1862 in Concord, Massachusetts. She mentioned hearing a piece by Beethoven and that General Pierce and Mrs. Alcott were also there.
A World Premiere Performance
On October 11, 1866, the Mendelssohn Quintette Club did something very special. They gave the very first public performance of Johannes Brahms's String Sextet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 36. This was a big event in the world of classical music!
The National College of Music
In 1872, some members of the Quintette Club decided to start a music school. They called it the "National College of Music." It was located in Boston at the Tremont Temple. The college hired professional music teachers and attracted many students who wanted to learn music.
However, a big event happened that year: the Great Boston Fire of 1872. This fire caused a lot of damage in Boston. After the fire, many students could no longer afford to pay for their lessons. Because of this, the college had to close down in 1873.
