Organ Recital Given In Cathedral

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31628, 14 March 1968, Page 14

Organ Recital Given In Cathedral

A very large audience heard an organ recital by Mr C. Foster Browne in the Christchurch Cathedral yesterday afternoon—the first of a short series available during the Pan-Pacific Arts Festival. Mr Browne had selected eight of Bach’s Chorale Preludes which in their wide range of formal, textural and emotional contrasts demonstrated their composer’s versatility. The order of their performance, together with the

recitalist’s interestingly varied schemes of registration, maintained the close attention of listeners.

“O Christ Who Makes Us Joyful” was clear in its canonic form while exploiting the organ’s powerful tonal resources. The Advent example, “Sleepers Wake,” received a more restrained dynamic treatment than usual, but one which was appropriate and which made the work a suitable foil to “Come, Holy Ghost, Lord God,” which followed and of which the massive contrapuntal texture led up to a fine tonal climax.

The meditative spirit of “From God I Will Not Depart," the gaiety of the Christmas example, “Rejoice, Beloved Christians,” and the culmination of powerful effect in the great Lenten prelude, “O Spotless Lamb Of God,” were realised fully, the crescendo to the tremendous climax of the last being excellently managed. The Passion Chorale movement, subtly placed next, led to the tremendously powerful “Christ Came To Jordan.” Here Mr Foster Browne’s virtuosity as an exponent of Bach’s organ music had full scope. His pedal technique is admirably secure and facilitates an independent freedom of rhythmic movement commensurate with that of his manual playing. Other performances in the Cathedral during the Festival period will be given by Dennis Smalley (organist) at 12 noon on March 21, the Cathedral Choir at 1.10 p.m. on March 22, and Gillian Weir (organist) at 8 p.m. on March 25.