ORGAN RECITAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13939, 26 June 1909, Page 3

ORGAN RECITAL.

AT CHALMERS CHURCH

Recitals have been given on, Chalmers Church organ bv musicians whose reputations stretched beyond - the bounds of their native countries. The sacred building has been the scene <>t many a musical and artistic triumph shedding lustre on the virtuoso, and imparting to the audience that feeling of elevation which one experiences when the perfect pays an all too short call. The recital given on the sweettoned instrument last night by Mr Frederick Moore, A.R'.A.M., brother .of Mr Irvin Moore, the church organist, was. a musical treat. . y The programme was a lengthy one- 1 -an hour , and twenty minutes without an interval. Those* who had the ' pleasure of being .present at the pianoforte recital,which Mr Moore gave here recently need not be told tnat he is an artist whose virtuosity brooks no denial, consequently mik'ii was,,expected of him last night, and needless to say no one went away disappointed.; Doubtless be was handicapped by "the limitations of the organ, but his adaptability was .frequently in evidence, and ins, choice of combinations and . mosaic-like 'detail was ail education and a revelation of the possibilities of the .instrument. The programme opened with Chopin's Prelude. No. 20.' Its prayerful: opening, with its revolving melody gradually Increasing 'in volume, was well worked up, and the diminuendo-which brought it to a close s let the melody die away in solemn Bach's Aria in C Minor the question after the opening was treated with great delicacy and speaking effect, the harmony being supplied by the. left hand. The phrasing in Bach's Wellknown Fugue in E flat was simply splendid; it. • was a yeritable pleasure to follow the cycle of repeats as the variations of the simple theme flowed in their majestic periods. The final brought out the. full power of the instrument. The Introduction to Act 3, Lohengrin '(Wagner), was <dven wifh vigour and line'.effect. The rousing melody rang a triumphant paeon that caught the imagination and almost made the voice add to its 'strength. The accompaniment was .prettily worked, and the runs before the final grand- repeat were < surpassing daintiness. The whole was strongly reminiscent of the late Exhibition, orchestra's rendition of the, -same work. Chopin's Prelude in B minor, a dirge, the melody of which seemed to spring up from a well of sorrow and then gently fall back a«xain, was given n feeling and sympathetic interpretation. Le ma re's sweet i'astorale in J'i, and Guilmant's Cautilene in B minor, were well received. , Dubois' Toccata in G was an exposition of splendid tempo kept in rapid ...igering. It w<"« taken a little faster than is usual.- Mr Irvin Moore's Pastorale in u was p„ij»u with,much expression, as ,was HenseltBrewer's "Ave Maria.V The programme ended with \Vid'>r's Finale from sth Symphony,. its vigorous movement, flying tempo, with an occasional weird snatch of connected melody, making a suitable climax to an artistic programme. • Occasionally, particularly in Bach's Fugue, the notes failed to sing in the runs with the rapid fingering, owing to the coldness of the atmosphere. The applause was frequent, every item getting substantial marks of appreciation, and in. some cases items had to be repeated. The attendance was good, and had it not been for the numerous counter attractions in town the church would undoubtedly have been tilled. New Zenlanders, should be proud to have suc.?i a son to represent them in the world of music in the Old Country, and the members of Chalmers deserve the thanks of the community for giving th.public of Timaru an opportunity of hearing him on their sweet- organ.