CITY ORIGAN RECITAL

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 53, 3 March 1919, Page 7

CITY ORIGAN RECITAL

Tbe Town Hall organ recitaln were restrami last Saturday evening, and attracted a large attendance. Basil Hnrwood's "Paean" and Schubert's overture to Kosamunde were the principal solos of the evening. Harwood's work Is a composition written by a musician who plays the organ and knows how to write for it. The broad and dignified opening movement was pbiyed by Mr Rarnett in a style which displayed the large toned registe-rs of the instrument, as well as the Intrinsic, beauty of the music. The tuneful second theme was shown on a registering adequately expressing the subject, whilst the middle seci-on received a light and free performance in keeping with its fantasia style of writing. The fnll weight of the organ and its fine tuhas were heaTd to advantage during the unfolding of the music of the cola. Schubert s overture to "Rosmnunde." composed for the melodrama of the "Magic Harp," was orphrfvtrnlly treated, and proved the most enjoyable solo of the recital \ fine body of sound from the full organ rang out nurinc rne performance of the massive chords of the Andante, whilst the subsequent bewitching theme was rendered on tenderly voiced stops, delightfully picturing the lovely music, and the syncopal lons, dynamics, and phrasing were carefully guarded. A nice feeling for movement and rhythm was felt during the reading of the •'Allegro Vivace." and a brilliant delivery was secured of the finale, the telling chords, runs, and staccatos being cleirlv expressed and defined. Lemare's ••Mad"Fv n eslpv ' s "Gerotte." Martin's Evensong, Bandit's "Song of Empire! March," and Msar's "Epilogue" were I other interestingly gi yen works. Mr I Ernest Drake w as deserveflly recalled after i ••r S i.r a " Pab,e . «f RuMi-Peccia's rlf- a TO al i a Iclsnr ' R "Pleading" Mss Clarice Wood acting as pianist