ORGAN RECITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19170, 9 November 1925, Page 12

ORGAN RECITAL.

A NOTABLE PERFORMANCE. There was a gratifying attendance at the organ recital given by the city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett,/at the Town Hall on Saturday evening. The programme was well chosen, ana while there was a proportion of solos of lighter appeal, the majority of music-lovers present doubtless revelled in the noiabh performances given of some of the more outstanding contributions from the talented organist's repertoire. Judged as test selections of extreme difficulty Bach's famous "Prelude and Fugue" in D major, and E. T. Chipp's variations on Haydn's ''God Preserve tne Emperor," were in a class by themselves. The Bach number was played with commendable exactitude, was pleasingly varied as regarded registration, and was also free from academic restraint. Particularly florid was the playing of the "Fugue" itself, and the complete independence of hands and feet were frequently a marked feature. Remarkable technical facility was displayed m the closing climax of this work. Dr. Chipp's-stupendous variations were elaborated with almost, inexhaustible effect. The introduction alone, based upon the first few notes of the theme, contained much brilliant pedal work. After this the theme was given out on the soft stops, and was. subsequently played against a left hand counterpoint. Heard in the tenor register in variation 11., and in the free style of variation 111., it was again brought into prominence in a choral version "against undulating pedal passages. After two variations in quiet flowing manner, the finale was reached. Here the full power oi the instrument was requisitioned in a stupendous delivery of the hymn tune in detached manual chords against pedal fulminations which ranged ovt•? the full extent of the'pedal board Very fascinating was the employment of the quieter stop.* ; n Cesar Franek's beautiful "Fantasia in C," op. 16, while the manual changes were well effected in Corelli's "Concerto." No. 12. The tripping measures of Mozart's "Minuet in D, and the whirling figuration of Mendelssohn's "Spring Song," made considerable appeal, while Hollins' picturesque "Spring Song" brought into play many "appropriate tonal touches. Miss Phyllis Gribben (contralto) submitted we'll studied renderings of Ban tock's "Lament of- Isis," and Mallinson s buoyant "Sing! Break into Song," and was warralv recalled. The Lyric tour, Messrs. Ripley, Richards, MeElwain and Ryan, showed much finesse of treatment in their special numbers. "Serenade (Parkes) 'and "What the Chimney Sang" (Fletcher) and won double recalls after each appearance. Mr. Cyril Towsey was an excellent accompanist.