FINE ORGAN RECITAL

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30770, 7 June 1965, Page 10

FINE ORGAN RECITAL

Mr Malcolm Boyle

Mr Malcolm Boyle, a former organist of Chester Cathedral, was the recitalist in the cathedral yesterday afternoon.

He began his programme with Max Reger’s Introduction and Passacaglia in D minor, a robust composition well designed to display the resources of a large instrument. This was followed by Arabesque and Choral by Louis Vierne, romantic works iby a famous former organist of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris. The Arabesque has appealing melodic content calling for solo stops which give intriguing atmospheric effects. The Choral, a meditative work, made interesting use of antiphonal colouring devices artistically expressed. Bach's great Prelude and Fugue in B minor was played with clear definition of the filigree ornamentation in the prelude, for the most part on fairly soft registration until near the end when it rose to impressive climax. The fugue was built up with dignity. Joseph Jongen’s Choral opened quietly and rose to a climax in which the chorus reeds were effectively used. Five pieces by British composers, Herbert Howells, Percy Whitlock, and Harvey Grace followed. Herbert Howell’s Rhapsody in C minor is a stirring composition well set out for the instrument and calling for nice decisions abo'ut the tonal colourings employed. Intermezzo and Sortie by Percy Whitlock gave balanced contrast and were interesting examples of the works of this accomplished writer for the. organ. Harvey Grace’s Cradle Song was a prettily contrived and delicate work and his Toccatina had plenty of fire. Liszt’s Introduction and Fugue on B.A.C.H. was played with virtuoso brilliance.

The recital ended with an improvisation on a theme “Veni Creator” submitted byDr. Griffiths. In this Mr Boyle showed imagination and ■ secure knowledge of harmonic and contrapuntal ! devices as he took the theme through many metamorphoses, now highlighting one phrase and then another, bringing them into combination and contrasting them with cross-rhythms, while colouring them with very interesting tonal combinations involving all the instrument’s possibilities.

Throughout the recital. Mr Boyle held his audience’s attention with his admirable i clear playing and his neat and appropriate choice of stops. There was always interesting contrast in his admirably controlled and i rhythmical playing. The recital was part of the activities of the Dominion Congress of Organists. —C.F.B.