Second Lunch-time Organ Recital

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31480, 21 September 1967, Page 14

Second Lunch-time Organ Recital

The second of three Civic Theatre lunch-time recitals arranged by the Christchurch Organists’ Association with the assistance of the City Council took place yesterday, the performers being. Mr Barry Brinson and Mr Peter Savery. Counteracting an erroneous idea of organ music as being of its very nature tonally restricted and rhythmically dull, l Mr Brinson played an attrac- | tive programme with neat dexterity. Lloyd Webber’s effec-

tive “Processional March” was followed by a Le Roy Anderson trifle, “Syncopated Clock,” making use of percussive effects. Handel in lighter mood was heard in “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.” Samuel Wesley’s “Air and Gavotte” were well placed for contrast in Mr Brinson’s programme which concluded with an arrangement of Saint-Saens’ “The Swan” (notable for delicate tone-colouring) and the joyous romp of Widor’s Toccata in F from the composer’s Fifth Symphony. Mr Savery began with a lively Prelude and Fugue in F by Vincent Lubeck and continued with “Come now, Saviour of the Gentiles” (Bach). Of Haydn’s “Four Pieces for Musical Clocks," the third held the interest most successfully. The Belgian organist • composer, Flor Peeters, was represented by a Chorale Partita on “Awake, my heart, with gladness” which was built up to a fine tonal climax; and Cor Kee’s Feest-Postludium on “Now thank we all our God” made a satisfying strong concluding item.

These programmes are arousing new interest in the community’s tine organ, are reminding older listeners of the late Dr Bradshaw’s fine city recitals, and are recalling to some of an even older generation nostalgic memories of lunch-time performances in pre-1914 London. The third and last recitals of the present series will be given by Mr Eric Cornwall and Mr Robert Field-Dodgson on Wednesday, October 4, between 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m.