ORGAN RECITAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1704, 22 March 1913, Page 6

ORGAN RECITAL.

ME. BAENETT BIBS "ADIEU!" An audience which must have approximated. IiOCO people filled tho Town Hall last evening, when Mr. J.,Maiighan Barnett gave his last organ recital in> Wellington prior to his aepartiiro for; Auckland. Although the occasion was a special one, in. that it wag Good Friday night, tho huge audience must be regarded as a compliment 'to the city organist, whoso early departure, from the. city is regretted by all lovers of musi'o. Mr. Barnett's high qualities as a musician, especially gifted m several important departments, have always been recognised. The recital was altogether an enjoyable one, embracing as it did a wide range of music appropriate to the season. Chopin's 6tately ' Funeral March" was bracketed with Dubois's radiant selection "In Paradisum," and the strangely beautiful. Good Friday music from Wagner's opera "Parsifal," which grows in beauty on acquaintance, was included in a bracket with Schuberfs "Ave Maria." Mendelssohn's "Sonata" (No. G) consists of variations on an old hymn time, and includes a treatment of the melody in Fuguo form towards . tho end. It was played with distinction by Mr. Barnett. Tho programme also included. Guilmant's somewhat flamboyant and theatrical "Funeral March' and Hymn of Seraphs," the "Adieu" of Schubert, and the "Inflammatus" from Rossini's "Stabat Mater." The vocalists were Miss Dora Bead and Mr. John Erouse. Miss Stead sang "He Was Despised," from "The Messiah," effectively, and as an encoro Liddle's "Abide With Me." She also sang "Nearer My God to Thee." Mr. John Prouse, who was in good voice, sang Gounod's great song, "Thero is a Green Hill Far Away," most expressively, and in "Les Eameaux" (Faure) sounded a fine note of reverential triumph. Later he sang J. F. Barnett's fine song, "Kock of Ages." Mr. Barnett accompanied Mr. Prouse on tho organ. Miss Read's accompaniments were played by Mr. Horaco Hunt. .

After leaving the organ at the conclusion of.'the penultimato number on the programme, Mr. Barnett caine, forward, and said that he could not very well leave the hall without expressing his gratification at the very large attendance. He had been giving recitals for (lie last 18 years, and tho fact that his last recital should liavo been attended by suoh a huge audience signified a measure of appreciation. As for tho attendances at organ recitals during tho last five years he thought that it would bo found that his permanent audiences would favourably oompare numerically with thoso of other cities if taken into He wouTu Jllst like to refer to the Municipal Orchestra as a project very jiear his "heart. (Applause.) He did sincerely hope that it would not bo allowed to stop. (Apnlause.) The progress of music ■ generally in the city depended very largely on the development of orchestral music. He left the hall, the organ, and his permanent audience with feelings of very great regret..