RECITAL BY MR. MAUGHAN BARNETT.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13775, 16 July 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

RECITAL BY MR. MAUGHAN BARNETT.

(From "The Colonist," July 5.) The public enjoyed for the first time last night one of" Mr. Thomas Cawthron's greatest benefactions to the city of Nelson —-the new School of Music organ, on which a recital was given by Mr. Maughan B.arnctt, city organist of Auckland.. No more fitting recognition of the munificence which prompted tho gift could have been paid to the donor than the tremendous audience which attended, completely filling the hall. To what;more capable hands could the rendering'of the initial recital on an instrument the fifth largest and most up-to-date in »tho Dominion; have fallen than those of the musician who has proved himsoif leader of his art in both Wellington and Auckland ?. That there were people amongst the audience who had oonie from Wellington for tho sole purpose of hearing Mr. Barnctt perform <jp an instrument of tho wonderful quality possessed by Mr. Cawthron's gift is a handsome tribute to both. Mr. Barnett played with such finish and mastership that tho audience was highly delighted.

Although nearly two centuries have passed sinca the death of Bach, he has never been equalled as a writer of organ music in tho fugal stylo, and the programme wa-g appropriately opened by the Toccata- and Fngue in D minor, which were played, as is usual with Bach's music, almost.exclusively on the flute. B,tops. In ( (j?;:it;i a different stylo, was tho next, number, "to Cygrie," b,y th-a modern Fronoh composer- Sr.intyacj iSS. The sweet, tremulous tones of the vox liumaiia stop were used with great •effect in the haunting- melody of uiaifj piece, which was &o;evidently appreciated that, it was repeated by tho organist. Karg-Elert is a present-day composer, who writes organ music after tho impressionistic school of Debussy and others. His '"Glair de Lime" Was tastefully and delicately played by Mr. Burnett,, hut it is a piece which needs to be known before it can be appreciated—to ono hearing it for tlis first time the underlying peacefulness is .more or less lost in the mental effort or following the constant modulation and intricate harmonies. Boccherini's dainty Menuet in G was a popular item for which tho organist was again recalled. Tho full power of the organ was .hoard for tho first time in Mendelssohn's Sonata No 1, which concludes with -a brilliant succession of crashing arpeggiatod passages, reaching a climax in a thunder of harmony. This war. followed by a transcription of the music to act I,"scene 3, of "Tannhauser," a work which gave the organist an opportunity of showing th@ great variety of qualities of tone and effects to bo obtained from the organ. The last number before the interval wr;s Rubinstein:* "Toreador et Audalii«e, :> tho t::vi'-<'tncf:ii of which proved bo irvosiiii-)lv that the organist wrm

o.;f".in I'ec'.'.ii-od. At the interval tha formal .handing over of thv> -organ to the trustees of the School of ?viuhic by Mr. Cawthron took pl.ice. As the donor prec«icd the officers of the. institution up to tho platform a maelstrom oi' applause aror.e, the like of which has probably nut been heard in'the building before. It rontinned, for several minuter, at the outset, and burst out with brief intermissions until the party retired from the rostrum.. Oa behalf of the trustees Mr. J. 11. Cook gave a short address. Ho mentioned how Mr. Gawthron's interest in the school was of old standing, and had been evidenced from the inception of "the- institution. Especially was liis practical sympathy evinced on. the occasion of the erection of the present buliding. The speaker then recounted a fact unknown to many of ihis listeners. "Mr. Gawthron's _ liberality had been responsible' for giving £3000, principally in cash, to the funds of the School prior to 'his latest donation, .which brought his total benefactions in this connection up to" £5000. The applause following thJ3 .statement was such us could leave no' doubt in Mr. Cawthron's mind as to the light in which his open-handedness was viewed by the .residents of Nelson, and he> v.-as visibly impressed with the sincerity of the outburst. Mr. Cock proceeded to say that the School could not have progressed as it had but for the assistance afforded to it by Mr. Cawthron. Music in this town had been advanced by the School, and no Jess than twenty of its students- had become so highly proficient .that they had sought further study at Home and on the Continent. The 'speaker concluded by saying that he, hoped Mr. Gawthron would for long enjoy the yellow notes produced bv'his magnificent organ. Mr. Cawthron then formally handed over the organ to the trustees, and in a few words thanked the audience for their interest as displayed by the large audience, and for their appreciation of his gift. On the cell of Mr. A. T. Msginnity three

cheers were given for Mr. Cawthron, who bowed his acknowledgment.

'Hio second part of tlio programme w.as then proceeded with. T}i« evcrpopuLir "Spring'"Bong" of the Wind organist Hollhis, the,, latter -part of which vvas repeated, was followed., by tbo concluding item on the programme, Mr. Barnofct's own' Fant«T.sia. on Niitioiijil Airs. In- this piece Mr. Barnott exhibited his spJondkl techniquo.-h.nd-tho power of the instruiTient, working np • his themes thrtrngh various elaboration? to 4 xnagmfic^it volnnuvof. Gountl;1 and- finally to the full■*'b.r4"ijjoniesi 'of tho'National-Anthem'..