COMPOSER-PIANIST’S RECITAL

Southland Times, Issue 23677, 28 November 1938, Page 9

COMPOSER-PIANIST’S RECITAL

PROGRAMME BY MR FELIX SWINSTEAD Recitals of music played by the composer are rare in New Zealand and many music lovers in Invercargill took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the Music Circle of the University Association of Southland on Saturday to hear a recital by Mr Felix Swinstead, the noted English composerpianist who is visiting Invercargill as the examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. There was a big attendance in the Friendly Societies’ Hall and a programme which included a liberal number of Mr Swinstead’s own compositions was greatly enjoyed. Mr Swinstead opened the recital informally with a short humorous discussion on questions which had been put to him during his tour of New Zealand. He then played a group of 10 of his own compositions covering a wide variety of moods. They included works calling for brilliance of interpretation and a deftness of expression which the pianist succeeded in producing. Several were delightful fragments inspired by mood or circumstance and as played by Mr Swinstead they were charming cameos. The opening number was “To the Moon” in which the composer quietly captured exquisite atmospheric effect. A humorous contrast was provided by “Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?” Other numbers in the group were a brilliant Prelude in D Major, variations on a Hungarian folk song “My Brown Boy,” “Thanksgiving,” “Festivity,” “Patinage,” “The Jolly Roger,” “In the Cathedral’’ and “Sir Roger.” At the end of the recital, Mr Swinstead played by special request his composition “Biddy,” well known to piano students. In a Chopin group, Mr Swinstead displayed a keen sympathetic understanding of the great Polish composer’s works. The group included the Fantasia Impromptu, the Berceuse, the Nocturne in F Sharp, the Ballade in G Minor and the Etude in G Flat (“Black Keys”). A fine performance was given of the Liszt Concert Study in D Flat. The programme concluded with “Minstrels” by Debussy, the pianist appearing as much at home with the impressionistic music as with his own compositions or others of the old masters. Dr Stanley Brown proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Swinstead for his recital. Mr Charles Martin was chairman.