ORGAN RECITAL AT ST. MATTHEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7661, 11 June 1886, Page 5

ORGAN RECITAL AT ST. MATTHEWS.

A vert full church was gathered last evening to enjoy one of those musical treats that the organist, Mr. Neville Barnett, is so capable of giving. He contributed six numbers of different schools. of music, all perfect of their kind in style and execution. These were an overture in E of Giovandi Morandi, the andante in E flat of Moz»rt, a melody in P minor, and an offertoire in A flat by Batiste. The andante, with variations (from the Noturno, Op. 34) of Spohr, an effective and melodious offertoire (vivace and romanza) by Mr. Barnett himself, and a fantasia (allegro, adagio, and vivace) by Humphrey Stark. These selections were interspersed with the following vocal solos :- Aria (soprano), "On mighty pens" ("Creation," Hadyn), which Mrs. Morrin sang with her usual feeling and taste; aria (tenor), "Be thou faithful unto death" (" St. Paul," Mendelssohn), in which Mr. Edwards, as usual, delighted his hearers; aria (contralto), "Love not tho world' 1 (" Prodigal Son," Sullivan); this was accurately rendered by Mrs. Tebbs, in a voice both sweet and tuneful. Mr. Knox followed with the bass aria from "Judas Maccabeus " (Handel), in a voice rich and powerful, completely filling the large building. The last aria, a soprano." " With verdure clad" (Haydn's "Creation") was sung with her particularly effective voice and style by Miss Mary Halstead. The recital was brought to a close by tho entire congregation joining most heartily in "The Old Hundred," after which the benediction was pronounced. Just before the offertory was taken the incumbent announced that it had been intended to devote it to the choir music fund, but, in view of the appalling catastrophe that had happened this morning, whereby scores, and perhaps hundreds, would be plunged into suffering and misery, the officials of the church, after consulting the organist, had determined to devote the entire offertory to the relief of the sufferers at Rotorua. Ho urged all to do thbir utmost, and his appeal was met by an offertory of £12 3s, which will make no mean beginning, and we only trust that the example thus promptly set will be as quickly followed.