TOWN HALL ORGAN RECITALS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 7

TOWN HALL ORGAN RECITALS.

- - "?'"" -'(T<>"'tbe -;Edltor.l ; rSir,—Whilst not. agreeing with many of the views held by your correspondent Mrs E. Gibson, I think that those as set forth in her letter which appeared in last night's "Star" with regard to the above topic voice the opinion of the greater portion of the music-loving people of Auckland- 9""8a n arrange-, jments of operatic works form the greater and most popular part of any programme which is followed by any organist of note to-day. (Of course.if (Mr Philcox were any musician he would ■understand that when one speaks of operatic works one means works from j grand-opera.) However, the point at issue is a.basis on which Mr Barnett might set his programme; He is undoubtedly a capable and excellent musician, but ,1 think that without spoiling his he might select some favourite and more melodious compost tions than those which he has given us in the past. We have had too many highly classical compositions which interest only musical students. Bach's fugues and inventions do not appeal to the general public. Why does not the City Council follow the same'course as Sydney and other cities by giving a free organ recital at, 12 noon once a week, when the business people of Auckland would have an opportunity of faking advantage of the Tecital" Last year I noyv. and again saw announcements in the paper that free organ recitals would be given at 2.30 pjn. What an hour! Why not make it a couple of hours earlier. I am sure the ball would be, packed.—l am, etc., R- MEADOWS. . (To the Editor.) ... , Sir,—E. Gibson returns to the subject of organ music. I should not trouble you again only that I am told the writer is a lady; so I beg for space to pay the courtesy due to the sex. Mrs. Gibson expresses doubt whether I understand anything about operatic music, and asks if I know what grand opera is; and if I imagined"she meant comic opera. I cannot speak ot my own qualities or knowledge in a public'newspaper; but as I do not believe the lady intended to be rude, I will reply that I know enough to say with confidence that much that goes under the name of grand opera, is trivial at its best, unthinkable as music for the organ, and inferior to a lot'of Sullivan's comic opera music. I. was quite .aware that there are a few'operatic numbers used "sometimes at organ recitals; but 1 they are the exception, not general, and the great critics sjieak slightingly or with derision of them, and call them "old chestnuts." I take that to be worse than "laughing" at them. I was also quite.aware that Mr. Barnett played at j one recital at least an arrangement of the opera "Faust" I heard him do it. Still my contention holds good. It is not. that a light number occasionally is objectionable,' but to form the programme ' upon-operatic selections from the operas performed by..the'late ,0-pera company is quite another matter. Mrs. Gibson mentions " ragtime/ but the inference is wrong; I don't even know what it is or the meaning of the word. Beethoven and Mozart as opera writers. Beethoven wrote one only; it is very little known, and is far above the heads of any ordinary people. Mozart wrote several; they Are pure Mozartean, and, of course, 1 good in their way.-- 1' agree that musicians recognise the artistic Maine of operatic music. But Mrs. Gibson seems to-have quite missed the point, which is that none of it was written for or intended to beplayed on the organ. The [old masters wrote a good deal for the jorgan . (not Mozart or -Beethoven), and .it is the ambition of nearly all eomj posers to write something worthy of ■ themselves for the organ. And the ques-

tion- at issue is: Is it -desirable, to .put these great' works on i one side "arid -replace them with operatic selections? To my mind the question is- tod absurd to admit of discussion; Mre.- Gibson speaks of the time when she and I have joined the r heavenly host, and started playing harps;" only for the sake of the angelic choir she hopes that I will leave my ultra classical taste behind- That vision can never bo realised. I am not qualified; although I was in a church choir, or organist and choirmaster for about forty years, yet I cannot play the harp; and the suggestion that 1 should leave my ultra classical tyste behind is quite out of the question. Ultra classical, if I understand it, means the very best and surely when one goes to heaven he should take his best with him.' If-T could not do that I should not want to go. . I think that my lady friend Will, upon reflection, see that the suggestion was an error, and I am sure she has no conception of what she has missed in her lack of appreciation of classical music. Wagner's music is now brought in. That is out of the scope of this correspondence, and I cannot deal with it. This letter is already too.long.—l am, etc., WM. PHILCOX.