ORGAN RECITAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9844, 24 October 1924, Page 4

ORGAN RECITAL

DR, HAIGH AT ST. ANDREW’S

CHURCH

Since the announcement that Dr. T. Haigli, Mus. Doe.; F.R.C.0., was to favor Gisborne with an organ recital, music lovers in the town have been eagerly looking forward to the function. Nor were their expectations disappointed in the actual performance which took place in St. Andrew’s Church last evening. The church was filled to capacity with a very appreciative and representative audience. -

The programme chosen was an exceedingly attractive and melodious or.c. No better composer could , have been chosen for the j opening item than the ver- | satile, , over-fresh Mozart,. whose i Fantasia' in F Minor was played, j ’Jliis sweet, graceful fantasy never I falls on its hearers, no matter how | often heard, and the andante move- ' meat takes one on the wings of me’.- ! ody, for from the irritating petty cares of everyday life. Two selections of Brahms, that wonderful Hungarian tone-poet, were given next. The j Choral was a perfect specimen of its type. One could almost imagine the slow, stately steps of a choir and its pastor in the procession into church. The sustained ending of this is perfect. The second .Brahms piece was I one. of those sweet lilting airs ot

which ho is such a master. Boellm.inm’s “Suite Gotluquo” was the finest item perhaps given. This number consists of three main movements, tlie whole constituting a treat in technique and finish hard to excel, going from grand crashing chords to sweet hushed passages. A Prelude by Debussy was characteristic of that eccentric French composer. Although Ins chords are most peculiar at first haring, his style is fascinating and unique. That wonderful master,of organ music, Bach, was well represented on the programme hv His Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. However heavy Bach may be in piano playing, there is no gainsaying he is a master of the gan and {his number,- if not his masterpiece, is at least one of his most pleasing compositions.. The opening item in the second half, ail Allegro Cantabile by Vidor, was rendered in a masterly manner by the organist . The bus's accompaniment to a particularly sweet air in the treble was a wonderful piece of 'technique. Another Allegro (rn G Minor) by the same, composer was also 'plaved. This was in a minor key. and, while not so charming an the first, was a brilliant item. Two compositions by Schuman followed next. The first, a Sketch, was to some the prettiest piece on the' programme. Certainly Schuman always gets to the heart of the musical punl'e. Jn the Canon, also by Schuman the repetition passages were wonderful. Hheinbcrger’s Agitato, _ which followed, was an exceptional y brilliant item, characteristic of the composer. The organist also played one of his own compositions, namely, Cradle Song. This type of mus : c is alwavs popular, and no sweeter cradle song could have 1 can wished for. An Overture l;v Hollms made a perfect closing item. The ending ot tills was particularly vemarkah.e, and out of the ordinary.

The Rev. . James Altken. in a short speech thanked Dr -Heigh fur tiie pleasure he had given the audience and hoped that the visitor would take a wav as pleasant recollections of bis stay in Gisborne ' ,as Gisborne would have of him. Great credit and thanks are clue to Mr J. Moore, for it was through his agency that Dr. Haigh was induced to give the recital.