MR BARTH' RECITAL.

Evening Star, Issue 11610, 21 June 1902, Page 6

MR BARTH' RECITAL.

Mr A. J. Barth, A.L.A.M., •me of our most popular and capab.e organists, gave an oraaa recital in Knox Church last night, the audience who greeted him being large. They completely filled the church, and late-comers had difficulty in finding seats downstairs. The recital yas opened with psa.m and prayer by the Rev. W. Hewitson, who thanked Mr Barth and his assistants for giving the recital, and eulogised Mr Barth’s work for the church. Mr Hewitson explained that Mr Barth and Mr Braik (conductor of the choir) had agreed to raise £3O a year towards the maintenance of a deaconess in the church, and this was their first effort. The recital itself was of the most artistic and enjoyable nature. Beginning with the magnificent overture to ‘ Athalie ’ (Mendelssohn), Mr Barth played all his numbers with a wealth of technique and beauty of expression that won unlimited applause from his bearers. His playing of the Turkish rondo from Mozart’s sonata was brilliant, tlie execution of this extremely difficult composition in semi-quavers being unexceptionable. The piccolo stop lent extra beauty to tho rendering. The Beethoven march in D (Op. 45) was perhaps the most exhaustive piece of work the organist allotted himself, and he treated this impressive composition with all the skill he had in him, and the applause that followed showed that his audience appreciated this effort. A ter playing Hatton’s ‘ Introduction and Air,’ a very pretty composition, Mr Berth concluded the programme by giving what we believe to he the first rendering in this City of Percy Godfrey’s ‘Coronation Prize March.’ For this composition the author was awarded the prize by the Company of Musicians in their competition. Exceptionally brilliant and somewhat florid, the composition is exacting in its demands on the player, and Mr Barth did the piece full justice. The music is above the average of modem competition compositions, arid it is suggested that the piece would suit the Orchestral Society very well.

The other soloists were Misses V. Barth, M. Helps, and Messrs H. Wright and J. Coombs. Miss Violet Barth was practically making her debut on the concert platform, and she made a very favorable impression. She has a pleasant mezzo-soprano voice of good range and some sympathy. Her song was Cowan’s ‘Mission of a rose,’ which she sang sweetly, being rewarded by considerable applause. Mr Hugh Wright was singing at his best in ‘ The friend of the brave ’ (Calcott), and the audience seemed disposed to recall him. Mfss Maud Helps is a harp soloist, a rara avis in these unregenerate days, and her appearance was looked forward to with interest. None were disappointed, for she gave a pretty rendering of the well-known Gounod berceuse. Messrs Barth and James Coombs joined in giving a violin and organ duet, the andante and rtndo movements of Beethoven’s sonata No. 1. This constituted one of the most enjoyable numbers of the evening. Mr Coombs played with accuracy and artistic perception of the music, and Mr Barth’s accompaniment was admirable The audience seemed reluctant to leave, and it was not till Mr Barth had played, the National Anthem that a move was made.