Recital in memory of Dr Bradshaw

Press, 15 September 1976, Page 6

Recital in memory of Dr Bradshaw

An organ recital was; given by Graham Hollobon Jn the Christchurch Cathed-1 ral yesterday afternoon ini memory of Dr J. C. Bradshaw. the centenary of whose birth occurred this year. Mr Hollobon chose to play; (our works which frequently; occurred in Dr Bradshaw’s 1 ••request” programmes. Hei was also fortunate in finding: at the last minute —too late: for inclusion in the printed* programme—a lovely littlej chorale prelude written by: pr Bradshaw on the chorale* known as “Innsbruck.” This tune was originally a, foldiers' song and not a liymn tune but is one of thenost movingly beautiful of' lie chorales used by Bach ini {is St Matthew Passion. The! jrelude, with the chorale, nelodv set in the tenor part; ttainst weaving contrapuntal i nelodies all creating devoI onai texture, was played r-ith subtle tonal shadings' fdmirablv adapted to the jiece’s character. The Ch, ral Song and Fugue jv S. S. Wesley, plaved with' ixcellent claritv and attract ve use of registers, was a food example of this prolifici

i'composer’s writing for church i.and concert hall. Long a ■lfavourite. it justifies its place liin the programme. The “Question and the Anf swer,” by Wolstenholme, a > blind composer and organist, ;still exerts strong charm on r i listeners. It is music in romantic and whimsical stvle, ;*imaginative and subtle, and •jwas so played. >| Guilmant. a Frenchman oenjoying great popularity in I*his day, was represented on ijthe programme bv his ■"‘Prayer’’ and "Cradle’Song,” ■ itwo nicely contrasted little works charged with charm rand reflective spirit and beautifully phrased and col-) ■ oured with sensitive use of ■the organ. I The programme ended; with a splendidly clear and iexciting rendering of Moz-i tart’s Fantasia in F minor—a work which has never lost! (its popularity and foremost place on recita] programmes.. There was not a detail miss-1 ing in this excellent render-! ing. and Mr Hollobon’s clever* use of the wide colouring of I the instrument resulted in a; most exciting and brilliant) performance. —C. Foster Browne, i