OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN, ST. PAUL’S.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4944, 26 January 1877, Page 2

OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN, ST. PAUL’S.

Yesterday, which in the Church calendar, wag commemorative of the conversion of Sir. ' Paul, was selected as the occasion on which the new organ at St. Paul’s Church, Thorndon, should be opened by a special service, and accordingly last ‘ evening the Church was crowded to excess. We have as the work of , building proceeded from time to time reported progress, but it may be as well again to give a - few lines as to the leading features of the new organ. Firstly, however, it may be mentioned that a new organ was scarcely thought of two years ago. About that time several gentlemen connected with the church interested themin the question of improving the musical por- - tion of the services, anda committee was formed, with Mr. W. H. Warren, former organist, secretary, to feel the way as to getting a new " organ. The result was eminently satisfactory, for subscriptions were promised so freely that the order for the organ was almost immediately sent Home. Messrs. Lewis and Co., of Stockwell, near London, were entrusted with the order, M. C. D. Barraud doing good service in England by looking after the interests of the congregation free of all cost. The instrument was received by the Avalanche a month or so ago, and Mr. West, of Dunedin, who undertook the superintendence of the erection, has . placed it in the chamber built for its reception in a manner which reflects the highest credit ■on his celerity, skill, and care. The organ is made up as follows: . .’Great organ - ... -.. • LieWich Gedact 10 feet . Open Diapason .. .. .. .. 8 „ Lieblich Gedact .. .. .. - .. 8 ■ Salioional (tenC grooved for bass) .. 8 „ Octave .. .. ... .. 4 ~ Flute .. .. •• * Mir tore, IS, 19,JZ2- .; -nS'• - • .. 2 Swell organ— ' Bohr Flote .. .. .. s,. .. 8 . G eigen principal (ten C grooved for basi) ... 8 Geigen principal .. .. .. . ’ Horn 8 Oboe and Bassoon .. , ’ French Viole de gamba (C C) Voir Cdlestes (tenor C) Pedal organ— * Open bass wood .. .. .... 16 feet Sub bass •> .16 Three composition pedals. The organ is blown by hydraulic power, and' the cost in London was £BOO ; fitted in Wei- , lington, say £IOOO. Now, however, that the instrument" is fittedup and in playing order the congregation is to be congratulated on its possession. Mr. Towsey, Mr. Edwards, and other gentlemen competent to form an opinion are satisfied that the organ is what it purports to be, a first-class instrument; but the want of the trumpet stopin the great organ is regretted by aIL The service last night was choral throughout; but plain, and,was well rendered by an efficient choir under Mr. Mowbray, the painstaking leader, and, as announced, the organ was in charge of Mr. A. J. Towsey, the celebrated organist, of Dunedin. But -ft must be stated that that gentleman, with extreme delicacy, and in accordance we believe with professional had aeked Mr. Edwards to play the opening

voluntary, which ho did. Batiste’s andante, the piece selected by Mr. Edwards, in which the Hotter registers of the instrument predominated, was given with much feeling and fine execution by Mr. Edwards. He also played the accompaniment to the introit “ I will ■ arise ” (Cecil). Mr. Towsey then took the organ, accompanying very elaborately the versicles (Marbeck, arranged by Josh. Warren), Psalms (Rimboult in G., and Purcell in G.), Cantate in E. (J. Goss), Dens Misereatur in E. flat (Henly), and the Anthem, “ Thine O Lord is the Greatness ” (Kent), and also the well-known hymn, “The strain upraise.” But it was in the offertory Adagio flute concerto, by Giovorniche, and the closing voluntary Allegro vivace, movement from Jupiter sinfonia (Mozart), that he shone most brilliantly. The exquisite execution of the delicate silvery runs in these pieces charmed all heard him. It is not quite correct perhaps to criticise a performance in the ordinary course of a service ; but under the circumstance the impropriety must be excused. The Rev. C. DeCastro read the lessons and succeeding prayers in the Liturgy, and The sermon was preached by the Rev. B. W. Harvey, incumbent, who chose for his text Psalm cxlvii., Ist verse: “ Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God ; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.” He referred to the fact that on the subject of music in the House of God very different views were held by equally good and earnest men, but that music formed a very important if not essential element in public worship ho thought none could deny. He went on to argue that music was calculated to draw forth the noblest aspirations of man, but said he was not disposed to admit it must necessarily have a good and elevating effect, for there was music which inflamed the worst passion of our nature. It had been said poetry was the natural language of excited feeling ; it might be equally well said music was the natural language of the heart stirred with love and gratitude towards the supreme object of our, best and holiest feelings. He pointed to the use of music in the Jewish Church, as, evidenced by the text, and traced its history in the Christian Church from the time of the Apostles (Acts iv. 24) to modern days. As to the extent to which the musical portion of the ceremony of the Church should be carried, that must be regulated by a desire to honor God alone. The music required was that which would fully express gratitude to God, and would linger in the mind during the toil of the week as a sweet memory of the Sabbath ; and they must aim at keeping their church music free from anything which might appear effective, overdrawn, or theatrical. Everything must be real and simple. There were, however, occasions such as Christmas, Easter, or such as that night, when services might be more highly musical than upon ordinary occasions. He pointed out that the happy mean should be striven for in church music as in everything else; and that Christian music must be regarded merely as an adjunct to the service, proper and good in its place, but of none effect if the use of it did not spring from the highest and best motives. The collection was then taken, amounting to the small sum (considering the large congregation) of £l6 10s. 4d. Mr. Towsey played the closing voluntary, as previously mentioned; but as many remained to hear the whole of it, he also favored them with Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” and offertoire D Minor (Batiste). This evening Mr. Towsey will give an organ recital in the church, the following being the programme:—1. Organ, flute concerto (Rinck). 2. Anthem, “ Stand Up, and Bless the Lord” (Sir John Goss). 3. “Hallelujah,” " Mount of Olives ” (Beethoven). 4. Soprano solo, “ Jerusalem,” “St. Paul” (Mendelssohn). 5. Organ, Largo from Symphony 2 (Haydn). 6. Anthem, “As Pants the Hart ” (Spohr). 7. Voluntary, during which offertory will 1 be taken. 8. Organ, offertoire, C minor, (Batiste). 9. Soprano solo, “ But Thou Didst not Leave, “ Messiah” (Handel). 10. Organ, “ St. Ann Fugue” (Bach). 11. Anthem, “I will Lift up Mine Eyes” (Dr. Clarke Whitefield). 12. Organ, “Be Not Afraid” “Elijah” (Mendelssohn). 13. Chorus, “Gloria,” 12th Mass (Mozart). 14. Organ, “ Hallelujah Chorus,” “Messiah” (Handel).