ORUAN RECITAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1492, 15 July 1912, Page 6

ORUAN RECITAL.

If every number that figured on the programme'of Mr. Maughon Barnott'e oi gan recital on Saturday evening appeared at tho head of the request list there is hope for Wellington from a music advancement point of view, for the programme was certainly one of-the most interesting compiled this season. It opened with Handel's Fjfth Concerto, a work aglow with those shimmering melodies and readily nmleratood harmonies which make the composition of Handel overywhere popular. Ono of tho most interesting items was the "Preislied" from "Der Moistereingers," the lightest of all Wkigner's operas, and the one which is written closest to conventional form. Tho excerpt adapted for tho organ iii this case is the prizo song sung by Walther von Stolzing when contesting for. tho prize 'beforo the master singers, which prize in this carries with it the hand of Eva, the belle or Nuremberg.. The song is instinct with joyous spirit of spring, and is used in the opeiw, as the love theme whenever Walther and Eva appear. Sir. Barnett played the number quite charmingly. Another operatic offering was a fantasia from "Carmen."' Bizet's opera has seen a curious return to popularity during'the last decide, and such, is the lure of its music that it has been nclapted for the gniml organ—a fact that would have horrified tho organists of a quarter of u century ago. Now the opera has besn arranged for performance in concert form, which is Btill more surprising in view of the nature of the theme as apart from the beauty of the music. The Fantasia 'included most of the principal airs, and was rapturously received. Other numbers were the late Alexander Gnilmant's ''Adagio in p Pint" from the symphonycantata "Ariaue," and threw movement;) from Widor's Second Symphony. Miss Muriel Bennett, of Wellington, was tho vocalist. She wng "With Verdure Clod" (Haydn), and "Should He Upbraid" very nicely indeed.