A CELEBRATED ORGANIST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8154, 2 June 1906, Page 5

A CELEBRATED ORGANIST.

In another column residents of the Wairarapa and surrounding districts are reminded that Mr Lemare, the famous British org&si&t, will give three more reoitaJa only in the Town Hall, Wellington. The final organ reoitals will bo given to-day, Tuesday and Friday next. Commenting on one of Mr Lemare's recitals in Wellington, the Evening Post says:—"Mr Leinare opened his recital with a composition in erery respect worthy of the instrument, Guilmaut's flue "Marche Religioso," on a theme by Handel, "Lift np Your Heads." The great theme was never for a moment lost or obscured by its arrangementopening softly, the melody distinctly marked, it gradually soared to a grand orescendo, it maintained its predominance throughout the beautiful fugue, and it stood out in all its majesty in the closing passage on the full organ above the powerful pedal accompaniment in octaves. A great outburst of applause followed, and the composer quietly proceeded with the seoond item, Hollina' "Spring Song." Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" is one of that class of works in which a composer s exuberance flu da vent in musical humour. The first part closed with one of Mendelssohn's greatest works—the "Sixth Sonata" iu Ave parts. A breathless silence followed its close, succeeded by euthusiastio applause. The second part opened with a "Romance" and "Pastorale" by :he performer. Both were characterised by quiet beauty of theme, and by the subtle harmcnioß and perfect taste distinguishing all Mr Lemare's work. Hnndel's "Largo" from "Xerxes," an opera remembered only by this single aria, was the next item. It is a great and dignified pieoe, in every way worthy of the great composer, and Mr Lemare's interpretation was fine and sympathetic The most magnificent piece of work in the whole programme, howover, was reserved till the close—the "losing soene from Wagner's "Rheingold." All the resources of the organ came into play in developing the majestic theme. Peals and crashes of thunder that shook the building, lightning actually jooroed to flash in tho jagged arpeggios, the Rhinemaidens wailed, and trumpet blasts broke into the inore]j restful passages. Tho request in the programme that tho audience "keep their seats until the close" was superfluous—no one, present would have missed a note. To those whose knowledge of music is confined to what they have heard in Wellington, the city organ, unde the hands of so accomplished a master, has opened a new world.

CABLE NEWS.

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