DURHAM STREET METHODIST CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12896, 30 August 1907, Page 8

DURHAM STREET METHODIST CHURCH.

OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN

The opening of the splendid new organ which has just been installed] by Messrs lii'gram and Company in. the Durham street Methodist Church, took place last night. There was a jjood attendance, sevoral of tho city clergymen, the Mayor, and members of the City Council being a-monsst those present.,

The Rev. H. R. Dewsbury, minister of' the church, in opening tno proceedings, eaid that it seemed to him that jitissrs Ingram and Company had carried out their part of' tho work faithfully and well. Ho desired to express his high admiration for tho conscientious and able manner in which Mr Herbert Brett, tho expert sent out by Ingram and Company, had carried out tho installation of the organ. He (Mr Dewsbury) hoped that th© congregation would be pleased with the tone and quality of tho organ when they heard it.

After tho choir bad sung an anthem, and tho Rev. Mr Dewebury had offered a dedicatory prayer, Mrs Wells handed Mrs G. J. Smith a gold key, and that lady unlocked the organ. This ccirernony was foflowod by tho einging of the "Old Hundredth," and an anthem by the choir. Mr H. Welle, the organist of the church, then gave an organ recital. Tho items on the programme had boon very h«ppily chosen, being excellent!? adapted to bring out fully tho capabilities of the various etops of the organ. The organ ie of a mnjniincont tone, all tho stops hftvin.g a clarity and richness of tone which makes the various combinations most effective. The trumpet and clarionet stops ore.particularly good. This was markedly noticeable in tho Beethr>vpn "Andante." Mr Wells played throughout with much ability, bringine: out to the full the characteristics of the various etor*. In the opening number. Bach's Prelude ami Fugue, he displayed considerable executant ability, his pedalling being specially good in the fuguo. In the Beethoven "Andante' ,, the various instruments were heard to considerable advantage, nnd Mr Wells also played Handel's "Finet Orgin Concerto"' with a great <leal of artietic ability. In the "Tannhausor" selection tho melo!l.\ '0 Star of Eve" was hardly treated with that delicacy which it required, but tho other portion* of tho selection were wpll playod. This number, with the "Suite Oothique," in which tho variations were admirably pliyed. were tho two most successful of the* recital. The noticeable point about the'organ wns that, though the heavier stops have plenty of power, there ie no overwhelming of the lighter stor-e. When in combination with the wood wind and other light stops, tho honvy omrs supply ample supoort. but do not dominate, them. Tho wood wind stops are beautifully soft and harmonion-s, whilst possessing plenty of power, nnd the organ as a whole is excellently ba>aneed, and provides ample soor* , for numbers of most artistic combinations of the various stops. Mr Wells is tr. be congratulated on the 6ii-eetv*s of hi? specification and the congregation upon possessing a really magnificent orpan.

The choir during the eanr 'The Wilderness," by Weelev, and "Hallolnjah," by Beethoren.