Berkshire String Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Berkshire String Quartet was an American
classical chamber group founded and funded in 1916 at the height of World War I
by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
. The quartet, originally, was the Kortschak String Quartet, named for Hugo Kortschak
(1884–1957), assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony from 1908 to 1916. Kortschak was a key figure in organizing the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival founded by Coolidge. The original Berkshire String Quartet disbanded sometime after 1941.
The former Gordon String Quartet becomes the new Berkshire Quartet
In July 1948, the successors of the Gordon Quartet were about disband for a lack of funding and loss of its founder, Jacques Gordon (1897–1948), who had disbanded the quartet in 1947 due to ill health. Coolidge came to the rescue. She underwrote enough additional performances to make the quartet's summer season possible. But, according to Time magazine, Coolidge, for one of the few times in her life, asked a sentimental favor in return. "Would the quartet please call itself the Berkshire Quartet?" The quartet agreed and, at the urging of Wilfred Bain, moved its permanent residence to the Indiana University School of Music
. The quartet continued to maintain its summer residence at Music Mountain, a hilltop near Falls Village, Connecticut
, where, in 1930, Gordon had founded a Chamber Music Festival named after the hilltop.
Other members at Pittsfield
Successor of the Gordon Quartet beginning in 1948, in residence at Indiana University
and Music Mountain
Founding members in 1948
Other members after 1948
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical chamber group founded and funded in 1916 at the height of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge aka Liz Coolidge , born Elizabeth Penn Sprague, was an American pianist and patron of music, especially of chamber music....
. The quartet, originally, was the Kortschak String Quartet, named for Hugo Kortschak
Hugo Kortschak
Hugo Kortschak , was an Austrian-born American violinist who was the assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony from 1908 to 1916, founding member of the Berkshire String Quartet, and Dean of Music at Yale University....
(1884–1957), assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony from 1908 to 1916. Kortschak was a key figure in organizing the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival founded by Coolidge. The original Berkshire String Quartet disbanded sometime after 1941.
The former Gordon String Quartet becomes the new Berkshire Quartet
In July 1948, the successors of the Gordon Quartet were about disband for a lack of funding and loss of its founder, Jacques Gordon (1897–1948), who had disbanded the quartet in 1947 due to ill health. Coolidge came to the rescue. She underwrote enough additional performances to make the quartet's summer season possible. But, according to Time magazine, Coolidge, for one of the few times in her life, asked a sentimental favor in return. "Would the quartet please call itself the Berkshire Quartet?" The quartet agreed and, at the urging of Wilfred Bain, moved its permanent residence to the Indiana University School of Music
Jacobs School of Music
The Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music...
. The quartet continued to maintain its summer residence at Music Mountain, a hilltop near Falls Village, Connecticut
Falls Village, Connecticut
Falls Village is a village and census-designated place in the town of Canaan, Connecticut. Because Falls Village is the town center and principal constituent village in Canaan, the entire town is often referred to as "Falls Village." That usage also avoids confusion of the town with Canaan Village...
, where, in 1930, Gordon had founded a Chamber Music Festival named after the hilltop.
Nominations and awards
- 1986 Grammy Nominee, Best Chamber Music Performance
- Benny Goodman Plays Classics
- Brahms: Trio in A Minor for Clarinet, Cello & Piano, Op. 114
- Brahms: Quintet in B Minor for Clarinet & String Quartet, Op. 115
- Beethoven: Trio in B-flat Major for Piano, Clarinet & Cello, Op. 11
- WeberCarl Maria von WeberCarl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
: Clarinet Quintet in B-flat Major, Op. 34
Former members
Founding members in 1916, in residence at Pittsfield, Massachusetts- Hugo KortschakHugo KortschakHugo Kortschak , was an Austrian-born American violinist who was the assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony from 1908 to 1916, founding member of the Berkshire String Quartet, and Dean of Music at Yale University....
(1884–1957) (first violin) - Serge Kotlarsky (1893–1987) (second violin)
- Clarance Evans (viola)
- Emmeran Stoeber (1882–1945) (cello)
Other members at Pittsfield
- Hermann Julius Felber, Jr. ( –1892) (second violin, debut 1917) †
- Émile August Ferir (1873–1949) (viola)
- Edouard DethierEdouard DethierEdouard Charles Louis Dethier was a Belgian classical violinist and teacher of the violin. He was a soloist with the New York Philharmonic and New York Symphony orchestras as well as extensively touring the United States and Canada as a recitalist. From 1906, he also taught violin at the Juilliard...
(1885–1962) †
- † In 1917, Hermann Felber was drafted into the US Army; Edouard DethierEdouard DethierEdouard Charles Louis Dethier was a Belgian classical violinist and teacher of the violin. He was a soloist with the New York Philharmonic and New York Symphony orchestras as well as extensively touring the United States and Canada as a recitalist. From 1906, he also taught violin at the Juilliard...
of New York played in his place.
Successor of the Gordon Quartet beginning in 1948, in residence at Indiana University
Jacobs School of Music
The Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music...
and Music Mountain
Founding members in 1948
- Urico Rossi (1916–2001) (first violin), formerly a student of KortschakHugo KortschakHugo Kortschak , was an Austrian-born American violinist who was the assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony from 1908 to 1916, founding member of the Berkshire String Quartet, and Dean of Music at Yale University....
- Albert Lazan (1914–2003) (second violin)
- David Dawson ( –1975) (viola)
- Fritz Magg (1914–1997) (cello)
Other members after 1948
- Paul Biss (viola)