ORGAN REGITAL AT ST. MARY'S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6145, 28 July 1881, Page 5

ORGAN REGITAL AT ST. MARY'S.

A recital of sacred music took place last niyht at St. Mary's Church, Parnell, and although the weather was not propitious, there was a large congregation. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Ven. Archdeacon Maunsell. There was a good choral attendance. Mr. Slater, the organist of St. Mary's, and Mr. Angelo Forrest officiated at the and Mr. Gordon Gooch acted as conductor. The selections were well chosen, and some of them were admirably rendered, but there was a weakness in the choruses which was at once perceptible, and this rather affected the otherwise artistic excellence of the performance. The hymn, "O, Lord of Heaven and Earth," which opened the recital, was sung in good taste and expression. Mr. Forrest then took his place at the organ, and Spohr's famous chorus, "Praise the Lord our God," followed. The chorus was weak, but the solos were excellent. Mr. Gooch's bass solo, "I am the First and the Last" in this selection was a splendid rendering of trying music, and the second solo, "Be thou faithful unto death," was most effective. The soprano solo, by a lady member of the choir, was also sung sweetly and expressively, but there was a lack of power. The tenor solo, " His salvation is nigh unto them that fear Him," was sung by Mr. Forth, and was without doubt the feature of the evening's entertainment. Mr. Forth is the fortunate possessor of a fine, clear, and true tenor of great compass and under control, and he did ample justice to Bennett's fine music. Mr. Gooch's solo, " O Lord have mercy upon me," was, as might have been expected, a masterly performance. The soprano and contralto solos were rendered in good taste, and Mr. Angelo Forrest's selections from Wagner and Bach were of such a character as to stamp the gentleman as a finished musician, master o£ his art. The following was the programme submitted : —Hymn, '' O Lord of heaven, and earth, and sea," verses 1, 3, 8, and 9, (No. 372 Bickersteth, No. 365 A and M); chorus (with solos for soprano and bass), "Praise the Lord onr God' (Sphor) ; solo (soprano), "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" (Mendelssohn) ; organ solo, " Grand Selection" (Wagner) — Mr. Angelo Forrest; hymn, "The Pilgrims" (Leslie); solo (tenor), "His salvation is nigh them that fear Him" (Bennett) ; psalm (for female voices), " The Lordis my Shepherd" (Schubert); organ solo, air with variations (Handel)— Mr. Angelo Forrest • solo (bass), " O Lord, have mercy upon me" (Pergolesij—Mr. Gordon Gooch; anthem, -"Blessed are the merciful" (Hiles); solo (contralto), "Love not the world" (Sullivan); organ solo, Fugue .in G Minor (Baeh) Mr, ; Angelo Forrest; Magnificat in _F (Hopkins); hymn, " May the grace of Christ our Saviour."