ORGANIST HONOURED

Evening Star, Issue 22193, 22 November 1935, Page 1

ORGANIST HONOURED

RETIREMENT OF MR W. PAGET GALE' Warm tributes to tlie work of Mr W. Paget Gale in tho musical world were paid last night at a gathering of members and adherents of the Maori Hill Presbyterian Church on the occasion of his retirement as the church organist and choirmaster. The Rev, A. C. W. Standage, who presided, referred to Mr Gale’s "long period of church work and spoke in appreciative terms of his association with the Maori Hill Presbyterian Church. To know Mr' Gale, said the speaker, was’to appreciate him and his work, and all would wish him happiness in his retirement. Dr Elder, in presenting to Mr Gale a wallet of notes on behalf- of the congregation, referred to the fact that considerable contact existed between Yorkshire, Mr Gale’s birthplace, and New Zealand. In Captain Cook, Yorkshire had sent out to this Dominion a famous mariner; in the Rev. Samuel Marsden it had produced a missionary apostle; and in Mr. Gale musician. For nearly 30 years Mr Gale had given Dunedin tho benefit of his musical training, and now, after 60 years, he was retiring from Ihe stage. Dr Elder mentioned several of Mr Gale’s more notable triumphs as the conductor oi choirs, stating that ho had also trained several of Dunedin’s present church organists. All admired tho courage with which Mr Gale had faced ill-health and misfortune, lie concluded, and they wished him many years of peaceful retirement. Mr J. N. Stewart also said a few words, referring particularly ’to Mr Gale’s association with Knox Church. In reply, Mr Gale spoke in reminiscent vein of his career as an organist. Ho had commenced learning music at the age of four years, he said, and six months later he took lessons for the piano. Towards tho end of 1874 he had come out to Ballarat, Australia, with his parents, and had immediately been appointed to play the harmonium at the Mount Pleasant Wesleyan Chapel, being at the time considered tho youngest organist _ in the world. Returning to England in 1877, he was appointed organist of the Methodist Church at Liversedge, and at once commenced studying the piano and organ tinder Mr .John Tomlinson, the organist of Hatley Parish Church, eventually becoming In’s assistant. After two years’ study he had bceome ;

an articled pupil of Dr William Spark, the famous Leeds Town Hall organist. Ho had also been a pupil -of Dr Henry Hiles, of Sheffield, studying the harmony of music. At tho ago of 14 years he had received the appointment, of organist and choirmaster of a largo Wesleyan chapel in Heckmondwike. Leaving Dr Spark, he had studied thfe organ under Mr W. T. Best, of Liverpool, two years later succeeding Mr Tomlinson at Batley Parish Church. In 1883 ho had become organist and choirmaster of the Augustine Congregational Church in Edinburgh, and during that period had joined tho music classes of the University, under the late Sir H. S. Oakeley, eventually being appointed accompanist to the University Musical Society. In the meantime he had studied the compositions of Alexander Guilmaut, under the master himself. After an appointment in the West of Scotland he had taken up a position as music master of private schools in Uddingston, in addition conducting a choral society, ■ He had played at all the Scottish Exhibitions from 1886 to 1905, and also at two in the north of England. He had given numerous recitals in the West of Scotland, including several at the Glasgow Art Galleries.

In March, 1905, Mr Gale continued, he came out to New Zealand as organist of the Napier Cathedral, but after being there only three months he had come to Dunedin to take up the position of organist and choirmaster of Knox Church. Six years later he had founded the Church Choirs’ Union. During the war period he had organised recitals and concerts all over the South Island, and at the conclusion of hostilities had formed the Peace Celebration Choir of approximately 850 voices. He had also been instrumental in forming the Returned Soldiers’ Choir, acting as its conductor for several years, in the year 1925 he had organised the Exhibition Choir, of 450 voices, personally testing fully 700 vocalists. Ho had conducted tho choir during the term of tho Exhibition, and had also given weekly Sunday evening recitals, when, lie was proud to say, he had not repeated one piece. Mr Gale concluded his talk by referring to the visit of the Duke of York, when lie had formed the Civic Choir of 400 voices. For several years lie had been conductor of the Choral and Philharmonic Societies, and had supervised tho erection of the present Town Hall organ. During the evening items were presented by tho following ;—Misses Bain and Mitchell, and Mesclames L. M'Lelland, H. Harvey, and 1. Jones. Tho accompanist was Miss Joan Milligan.