THE ORGAN RECITAL AT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3516, 14 October 1882, Page 2

THE ORGAN RECITAL AT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

The organ recital last night was most successful. The church was crowded to the doors with a delighted audience, who were only prevented from showing their satisfaction in the usual manner by the sacred character of the building. After a few Temarks by the Rev. de Berdt Hovell, the inauguration music commenced with the full power of the organ, changing to soft passages with good con- V trastß of tone. We were very agreeably surprised with Mr Sladc's rendering of " Thus eaith the Lord," from Handel's MeFsiah ; he showed a good knowledge of the music, and acquitted himself well in a difficult solo. Next was an air from Mozart's on the organ by

Mr Browne, in which the solo part was taken by the open diapason contrasted with the oboe in the swell. " Turn Thee unto me," from " Eli," was sung by Miss Mitchell (who proved herself a

thorough artiste) with great expression. The "Representation of Chaos" is a difficult piece of music, requiring sudden contrasts of tone, _ and changes from fortissimo to pianissimo ; it was very strikingly performed by Mr Browne, but to render it properly requires a larger organ than that of St. John's. Mr Hampton saog with feeling "Return, O God of Hosts," from Handel's Sampson; the enharmonic change in the second part was very good, but a° little more firmness at this point would have been an improvement ; Mr Hampton's voice, though not strong is very sweet. The Andante Sostenuto by the Rev, Dr. Dykes was most delightful, having a beautiful running bass, on which is built most charming harmonies. " Come unto Him," from the " Messiah," was sung with good expression by Miss Hitchings, who, we were very sorry to notice, was evidently suffering from a cold ; Scotson Clarke's " Marche dcs Jacobins" struck us as being peculiar, beginning with short staccato notes, and giving out a pleasant theme ; the idea was well worked our, resolviDg itself into a lovely solo for the open diapason, with answering passages on the oboe, then the two parts combined, making one of the happiest musicial ideas we have heard for a long time ; the piece forms a good specimen of the modern style of organ music. "Pro Peccatis" _______p*fg by Mr Aplin, who worked up well, and delivered tbe piece with dramatic effect. Miss Ellison Bang with good taste, " But Thou didst not leave," from the " Messiah " ; the articulation and pronounciation were very good, a point to which amateurs in general do not pay as much attention as they ought. Rossini's " Inflammatiis" gave Mr Browne an opportunity to display bis skill on tbe organ. The accelerandos and ritardandos, and the changes from fortissimo to pianissimo, together with the grand modulations, almost compelled one to exclaim, "This is music indeed ! " " Ecce Deus" by Clifton is really a fine composition, and was done justice to by Mr Girdleston, who sang with taste and feeling, and attacked the runs in the second part with firmness and precision. The andante by Lefebure Wely is a most graceful theme for the swell, with pedal bass, has some very marked modulations, and is accompanied throughout with graceful and light flute passages, producing a ravishing effect. Miss Mitchell sang with rare delicacy and pathos, and in her accustomed finished manner, " 0 Come Hither" by J. Morgan, a very fine composition in F sharp major ; the intricate modulations of the air produced most happy effects, which were extremely pleasing. The recital terminated with Mendelssohn's bright and ever pleasing " Wedding March." In conclusion wo must congratulate Mr Browne upon the juccess of such a high-class recital, and on his mastery of that most difficult but king of instruments, the organ. The proceeds reached over £20, which will be acceptable to the Church of St. Augustine, for the benefit of which the recital was given.