Relaxed, steady recital

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33964, 3 October 1975, Page 10

Relaxed, steady recital

.Mrs Alison Brown, formerly Miss Alison Riseiy, gave an organ recital as part of her Diploma of Music examination in St Mary’s Church, Merivale, yesterday.

She began with Bach’* A minor Prelude and Fugue, I and went on to Hindemith’s Sonata No. 2. Then, doubling back nearly three centuries to some movements from the Mass for Parishes by Francois' Couperin in which she' showed imaginative registrar tion. she ended this testing and well-planned recital with ' Paean" bv Herbert Howells. There was perfect clarity <n her playing of the Bach Prelude and Fugue, which flowed with relaxed end steady manner. Registration was well balanced. The pedal part in the fugue stood out independently because of its colouring. The Hindemith Sonata was kept under clear rhythmic control and was registered clearly and expressively. The' building up of the fugue was interesting, but it has an unsatisfying ending in that it) never reaches a climax. The little Couperin movements had clear charm and refreshing decorations. Mrs Brown used effectively, balanced and contrasted! colourings, and never allowed | anything to sound bustled or: confiised. The Howells! “Paean" is at times starklv, aggressive and not a work, of engaging charm, but Mrs Brown played it with strong i sense of triumph with never a muddied moment. —C.F.B. '