ORGAN RECITAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 40

ORGAN RECITAL.

It was distinctly nattering, as it must have been exceedingly gratifying, to Mr A. J Barththat the organ recital given by Mm on Monday night, with the assistance of the choir of Knox Church, attracted such a lame attendance, as it did. The public of Dunadm. are not, as a rule r enthusiastic about organ recitals, a beggarly array of empty boxes- as of too as not representing an attendance at an entertainment of this class ; but Mr Barth actually succeeded ia drawing an audience that virtually crowded Knox Church. The programme that was submitted for the delectation of those present was practically taken singlehauded by the accomplished organist of the church, and .he is to be congratulated upon the success which he achieved in rendering it. He had set himself a s <mewhat heavy task iv the five organ solos* v hich were set down opposite hie name-, but he acquitted: himself all through with the greatest .amount of credit The larghetto from Beethoven's Second Symphons was the first selection, as it was -also that in which Mr Barth. ph-nv <l Ins powera to least advantage; but <Ye * vii I timber, which was an organ piwe i,^ Snuit iv the form, of aa overture, waa executed with great brilliancy and was recognised by all competent judges as- betas- an exceedinuly fine example of ia--strnmentation. Guilmant's prayer, an " Andante ' in F," was given- with great taste and delicacy ; Meyerl-eer's "Schiller March," which was ex- • pressly composed for the festival given at Paris in 1855> to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Schiller, waa admirably executed. The remaining , organ solo consisted of selections from " The Re- | demptioa" (Gounod), which were interpreted \ with great artistic skill, but wowld probably hay

been more appreciated had they been divided h> two, with some other item between. The choir of Knox Church gave two choruses with capital effect, one being "How lovely are the messengers," and the other, " If we believe that God died." These choruses served to agreeably diversify the programme, which, as a whole, afforded great satisfaction to the large audienoe that had assembled. The proceeds were in aid of the Knox Church Sunday School bulling fund.