ORGAN RECITAL.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14409, 10 May 1917, Page 1

ORGAN RECITAL.

The outstanding feature of tho recital given by Mr Bernard F. Page on the Cawthron organ last evening was the remarkable orchestral effects obtained from tho instrument. Though the'organ is not a large,one, Mr Pago secured results most astonishing, and his interpretations of both pure organ music and arrangements from pianoforte and orchestral scores "were a revelation to those few who braved the elements. The first item on the programme was a Sonata by Felix Borowski. This work was the first of-two sonatas written by; the composer together with an organ suite written solely for the organ. Although not in strictly sonata form, it is a work of three movements which give ample scope for the performer to show his technical and t registering abilities as perhaps few modern organ sonatas do. Mr Page here at once proved his ability ay an exponent of tone colouring and technical resources. The two Debussy items which followed gave true significance to Mr Page's interesting programme note: "In Debussy's music there is a strange and exquisite artistic essence that "is" 'always interesting. • . . . His dissonances are founded on a very deep sense of beauty, and behind the composer's apparent waywardness there is a deadly logic that makes modern .French art" the technical despair of the English mind."-The 7 next item was a , Fantasia:; by Silas, written for the opening of the new organ at Blenheim. Palacej and was . undoubtedly an'item which gaire- Mr Page much scope, for the many' tonal colour resources which he finds hidden in our organ. It would be impossible to'elaborate on. every itenroft the. programme, for there was not one in which the audience did not find Mr Pago: s personality and wonderful command of his instrument always to the fore. Two items which call for special mention'were the Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in O major by Bach, and the wonderful Allegretto from the Symphony in D minor of Cesar Franck. hi the first there was an exposition of pure organ playing and a wonderful technical and ~ musical feat upon tne pedal board in the pedal solo of the Toccata' in which we find tne immortal giant of music, J. S. Bach, at his host. In the Cesar Franck item Mr Page undoubtedly proved hi s musicianship, for the Allegretto movement was taken from the Symphony of this great Belgian composer from a transcription that had been made by Mr Page from the full orchestral score. A delightful item which cannot be passed by was a tiny Prelude by the most modern of Russian composers, Scriabine. This number undoubtedly was a revelation to those present in registration. Those who had the courage to face the wet weather wore fully rewarded, as it is .seldom that such an artist is heard in Nelson.

Mr Page has been requested to give another recital on Friday night, which he has promised to do, and it is hoped that the School of Musi-j will bo filled on that occasion.