MR. PAGE FAREWELLED

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 70, 15 December 1932, Page 5

MR. PAGE FAREWELLED

Presentation of Address

ENTERTAIN ING CONCERT

The Town Hall was fairly well tilled last, evening wuen a farewell concert promoted by his musical mends was tendered to Mr. Bernard F. Page, the retiring city organist, who is leaving shortly lor England. The mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, and Mr. Robert Parker were programmed lotaddresses, but at the last moment Air. Ernest Dawson announced that neither of them had been able to attend, much to the regret ot the promoting committee, but his Worship had forwarded the following letter:— •’1 regret thatan unexpected occurrence renders it impossible lor me to be present at. the concert 'being tendered to Mr. Page this evening. 1 greatly regret this because I had looked forward to the opportunity of expressing publicly the appreciation of the citizens, to Air. Page fur his many years of service as city organist. I should be most grateful if you would kindly express to-night on my behalf as Mayor of the city the keen regret 1 feel at the severance of Air. Page’s connection with us. For almost 26 years he has occupied with distinction the position of city organist, and only the severe financial depression of the present time has caused Mr. Page to vacate the position he has held with distinction. The city will, aesthetically, be the poorer for his departure, but I do sincerely hope that in the larger world lie will have the opportunity of further developing his great talent, and that it will meet with the appreciation which it rightly deserves.” Air. Robert Parker also regretted being unable to be present, but thought tee address would adequately express his views. At a later stage Senior Cr. W. 11. Bennett appeared on the platform and presented Air. Page with a leather-bound address from his musical friends and wellwishers. In doing so, Cr. Bennett said he felt it an honour and a privilege on behalf of the promoters of the concert to express the goodwill of the music lovers of Wellington, and to wish him the best of good fortune for the future. For 19 years Air. Page had held the position of city organist, and as one associated with him as a member of the City Council he knew the good service be had rendered, and the high ideals he had endeavoured to set up in the city. He assured Air. Page of the good feelings of all his musical friends, and sincerely trusted that good luck would go with him across the seas. In reply Air. Page said he had very little to say to the kind things which had been said of him, but he bad given of his best, and had been faithful to his ideals.

"Perhaps there are people who did not see those ideals so clearly as those in the inner circle,” said Air. Page. They spoke of Gilbert and Sullivan and jazz—well, to me it is rather like a wrestling match, and was not genuine music at all when you get to the bottom of it. I have given of my very best.-. . . I thank you.” The concert programme was diverse in character. Mr. Page adhered to Cesar Franck and Karg-Elert as bis contributions on the grand organ. He selected Franck’s “Prelude, Fugue, and Variations,” a charming and ingenious play upon a theme of uncommon beauty, only incoherent in the brief double-forte passage embodied in the fugue. The KargElert “Symphonie Choral” (No. 1, Opus 87) is fraught with delicate beauty in the more subdued passages, but the double forte passages were less comprehensive to the ear than sounding brass and jangling timbrel, which, however, did not prevent a full appreciation of Mr. Page’s sensitive art when the music was clearly defined. An orchestra under Air. Leon de Alauny played Elgar’s festal “Alarch of Pomp and Circumstance,” and that delightful voyage through toyland, the suite from the Rossini-Respighi ballet. “Boutique Fantasque” (arranged by Howard Carr), which was admirably played. A mixed choir from the Royal Choral Union and the Wellington Alale Voice Choir sang heartily, if not too effectively, several choruses from Handel's “Messiah,” including "Behold the Lamb of God,” "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs,” and the short chorales beginning “Since the Alan Came Death,” and ending in the triumphal "‘Worthy is the Lamb.” Orchestra and organ were not exactly in tune in these numbers. Mr. Claude Tanner (’cello) and Air. Ernest Jenner played Dohnanyi’s not very attractive “Sonata in B Fiat Minor.” In a sad mood _ Miss Christine Ormiston sang very well indeed Coleridge-Taylor's beautiful “Willow Song” and "Life and Death,” Beethoven’s inspirational “Creation’s Hymn,” and Tirindelli’s “O Primavera” were well sung by Miss Andri Bevan, and Mr. Ilarison Cook added a jovial note by the unctuous humour and fine vehemence with which he sang the comica-basso aria, “When a Maiden Takes Your Fancy,’ from Alozart’s opera “H Seraglio.” Madame de Alauny played the accompaniments for the vocalists, and Air. W. Lawrence Haggitt presided at the organ in the Handelian numbers. Yesterday afternoon the staff at the town clerk’s department presented Air. Page with a silver cigarette case as a token of their esteem.