ORGAN RECITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 25 January 1901, Page 4

ORGAN RECITAL.

1 According- to announcement Mr ICyril Towsey gave an organ recital at Ithe Church of the Holy Sepulchre last ■evening* in the presence of a large conIgregation. Archdeacon Dudley and |the Rev. T. Evershed were present ftogether with a mixed choir W about Ithirty voices. After prayer by the iArchdeacon from the office for the Iburial of the dead, the whole congregation stood while Handel's "Dead |March" (Saul) was impressively played by the organist (Mr Rice). Mr Cyril Towsey then gave a. choice selection of organ music, in the performance of which he exhibited a thorough technique, combined with intelligent phrasing, and a tasteful admixture of Stops. Mendelssohn's Souata (No. 3) I was played with good execution, except for a slight tendency to hurry the tempo prior to the animate. Bach's Toccata and Fugue (D minor) showed that the player was an apt and clever pupil of a good master. The utmost tenderness and grace were displayed in his rendering of Schubert's "Meeres Stille," and of an exquisite melody by Coleridge Taylor; but the grandest performance of all was undoubtedly I the "Suite Gothique,/' by Leon fioeltnann, a novelty of a mosf attractive style of organ music. Each movement was played with marked skill and with a facility which augurs well for Mr Towsey's success as a worthy son of a worthy father. The «hymns "A few more years shall roll" and "Three in One" were sung by the choir and congregation; and the Benediction pronounced by the R^v. Mr Evershed brought 'to a close a most interesting service of sacred music A collection was made towards the fund for supplying a mechanical means of blowing, which, when provided, will greatly add to the resources of the noble instrument.