ORGANIST BACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 294, 12 December 1942, Page 6

ORGANIST BACK

MR. BERNARD F. PAGE

LOST MUSIC IN BOMBING

Since leaving Wellington 10 years ago, after being city organist there for 20 years, Mr. Bernard F. Page, who has arrived in Auckland from England, has had many experiences. He has toured Britain, Belgium and Holland, been bombed out of two flats in the blitz, seen the organ of the French Catholic Church in London, where he was organist and choirmaster, wrecked by the Nazis' wrath, and lost his life's collection of music and books.

And now Mr. Page wants to settle down in Auckland and continue his professional work. He felt that there was nothing left for him in England —nothing more than marking time until the war was over—and he likes New Zealand, his "adopted country," and knows it well. He has a son here in the air force.

As city organist in Wellington from 1913 to 1932, Mr. Page played an important part in the musical life of the Dominion, adjudicating in competitions and teaching all over the country. He came originally from London, and in 1932 he returned to Britain. Since then, in addition to touring, he has given 10 recitals with the famous violinist, Bratza.

About five years ago was appointed as organist and choirmaster to the Church of Notre Dame de France. The beautiful organ at this church, which was erected in the 1860's by the famous Monsieur Cavallie-Col, who brought a band of workmen from France for the purpose, was wrecked by bombs in October, 1940, in one of the heaviest London raids.

A sad feature of the bombing was the fact that the church had been rebuilt only two years before, at a cost of £2000. Mr. Page had presided at the reopening, when the French Ambassador, M. Corbin, was present. Prior to losing his church. Mr. Page had been bombed, first out of one flat, then out of another. His musical library, which included many valuable manuscripts and was considered one of the best private collections in England, was lost entirely. Met Star Reporters Mr. Page's contact with the Auckland Star on his return came about in an unexpected way. While in London he met two former Star reporters, Sub-Lieutenant A. G. Thompson, who is in the Fleet Air Arm, and Pilot-Officer F. Colwyn Jones, D.F.C. (who had not then won his medal). When they heard he was coming to New Zealand, they made him promise to look up the chief reporter of the Star. "And so here I am," he smiled. Of music in Britain at present, Mr. Page had little comment to make. It was true, he said, that there had been a great revival of interest among the people, and the lunchhour concerts at the National Gallery, organised by Dame Myra Hess, drew crowds every day. But in the main, there- was no new trend in music. Orchestras were sadly depleted. the majority of musicians were either in the forces or in industry. On the journey out here, Mr. Page played at Durban and Melbourne, and he found audiences most enthusiastic, particularly in Melbourne. Auckland's Lunch-Hour Concerts Already getting into the swim of things in this city, musically speaking, Mr. Page yesterday went to one of the lunch-hour concerts in the Tower, Chancery Chambers. These concerts, which take place every Friday, are a new feature in Auckland, and are arranged by local musicians for all who care to come. Mr. Page was warm in his praise of yesterday's concert, conducted by Owen Jensen and performed by the Auckland String Players. "It is something that should be encouraged," he said. "I hope the orchestra will grow and become one of the permanent musical institutions of the city. "It came as a great relief after a long time at sea to hear Handel, Bach and Mozart so admirably played. Especially fine was the Rondo for solo violin with string orchestral accompaniment, so ably arranged by Thomas Matthews, the noted violinist and leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, who recently visited New Zealand, and is now in Melbourne. "To my added pleasure, I met several of my old pupils at the concert yesterday," said Mr. Page. He added that the welcome he had received in Auckland on his return 'had given him much pleasure.