OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN, ST. PAUL'S.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4955, 8 February 1877, Page 3

OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN, ST. PAUL'S.

January 25th, which in the Chpch calendar, was icommemorati 'ts of' the conversion of Sf; Paul, was selected as the occasion on which the new organ, at St. Paul's Church, Thomdon, should be opened by a special service, and accordingly in the evening the Church n crowded to excess t We fiave 9* the worfc <? f building proceeded from time to time feportep progress, but it may be as, well again to give a few lines as to the lending features of £he jaew organ Firstly, however, it may be mentioned that a new organ was scarcely thought of two . years ago About 1 that time several gentlemeh connected with the church interested themm the question of improving the mubical'Doitionof the services, and a committee was formec, with Mr. W. H. Warren, former secretary, to feel the way as $o getting ra organ. The result was ( eminently satisfactory, for subscriptions were promised, so freely that the order for the organ almost immediately Bent Home. Messrs Lewis and Co., of Stjock} well, near'London, were entrusted ( with Ijhy order, M. C. D. Barraud doing gAod service in England by loofcng after the interests the congregation fre* of'all cost** The instrument was received bythe/Avalanche a month or si ,ago,£udiMr. Donedirv, who unfler| jtgok the superintendence of ther ereotiony-haij placed it in the chamber hullt for its receptiori in'a manner which reflects the highest credi| on. his celerity, skilL and pare The; i organ " made up as follows Great organ » ' > itieblkU Goclnct 16 (eet I Open Diapason 8 „ jJcbUch Gedacfc .. <» . .. 8 [., , 1 Saliclonal (ten C grooved for bass) .., 8 „ Octave ■ .' .' V-' • •• * l Flute, > i ~ .. r ' * ' ., f., ,!„..,» i Swell organ— ... , , j'l ■ Bohrjlote x ..' ..' «■*-'•;•„? , I Geigen principal (ten C grooved fc>; DM*) \ 8f * Gelgen principal .. >. r *s» ,i f) Horrt ' '.. ;•• ~. ■• 8, » Oboe and Bassoon /.; .. ' French Viole de ganiba(C 0) i >< | VoU CMlestesitenor 0) r , ' Pedal organ- , l r,« -t , Open bass .wood ; ,.. > .. > •• / ( , f 10 eei | 1 Sub bass • .- ~ f .- , - 18 ( Three composition pedals r | The organ is blown by hydrauljc power, andj the cost hi LoDdoa was £BOO j fitWd in Wel-i hngton, say £IOOO. 0 \ > Now, however, that the instrument is fitted' up,and in, playing order the congregation is tb| be its possession Mr. Towsoy, } Mr.lMwards, and other gentlemen competent | to ( form an opinion are satisfied that l the organ is what it purports to be, a first class instrument, but the want of the trumpet stop in tho great, organ is regretted by all, ' The seryipe last night was choral throughout, but plain, and was wejl rendered by an emcient thoir under Mr Mowbray, tho punstaking loader.and.asannouncedjthoorganwaainobarge of'Mri A J Tbwsey, the celebrated organist, of Dunedin »But it must bo stated that that gentleman, with extreme delicacy, and in accordance we behove with professional etiquette, hud asked Mr Edwards to play thft opening voluntary, which he did. Batiste's andante, the piqee selected,- by Mr. Edwards, in .which' the,softer registers, pf -the instrument predomi* nated, <vas 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' (Kimboult in G.,.and Purcell in G.), . Cantate in ■E; (J. Gobs), Deus Misereatur in E. flat (Henly)i and the Anthem, O Lord is the Greatness" (Kent), and also ; -the-Well-known hymn;- "The strain upraise." But it was in the offertory Adagio flute conicerto,""by GiovornicHe; and the closing voluntary Allegro vivace, movement from Jupiter sinfonia (Mozart), that he shone most: brilThe exquisite execution "of the delicate silvery runs in these pieces charmed all who heard him. 'lt is not quite correct per-, ..hapsfto'criticise ajserformarice in the ordinary course ofj a service ; ,but under the circumstance the'impropriety must be excused. l ■ ; < -The Kev.- Ci'DeGastro'read the le3soins and succeeding, prayers.in the Liturgy, and \'> • The sermon, was preached by the Bev. B. 'VV'..Harvey, incumbent; \vho, chose for his text Psalm, verse: KPraise ye,the Lord,' for it is good to sing praises untoour ,Gi?d;;. for it is pleasant, and praise is comely." iHe're-. ferred Wthe fact that on the subject'ofj music in the House of God very different viewswere* Jbeld by equally good, ancLearneat.men, but that music formed a very important if not essential element irl public- worship" 1 -he-'thought none' could deny. .He went on to argue that music, was calculated to draw forth the noblest aspirations of ihanTbut said he was not disposed: to admit it must necessarily have a good and; elevating effect," for there was music ]which:| ' inflamed the" worst - passiori-'bf bur;nature. It had been said poetry, was the natural,language' of excited feefihg'; ""it J 'mighfc 'beequaliy'well said music .was .the: natural language of the heart stirred with love and gratitude tqwards "the" supreme"object" of '.pur best'/and holiest /feelings/ ' : "He pointed" to"'the 'use of music, jjn the, Jewish •Church,; as evidenced by the. •text,";and»traced its"historyiin;the.Christian, iphurcb! from 'tie 'timefof [(Acts. i which, the musical, portion of .the ceremony of the ,Churph?Bhould l must be. regtiiited-Jbya ; desire to honor God alone. The' ' music 'required was> thatniW.hich; .would j fully express gratitudeitoGbd, J and would linger jrt, rthe"rnind:;during, thef-toil/of ...the; week Jas a sweet 'mem'bry.'.bf.the'Sabbath ; and tHeyjmust aim at keeping;their -.church music free;from anything.which-might appear effective, over-.. drawnj L or 'theatrical:' 'Everything must- bereal and-, simple.;' Thpre were,, however, occasions such as-Christmas, Eaßter, or suqh. as that nighty wßMservices'might be more lughly musical"" than { upon' 'ordinary;, occasions, i He 'panted' striven for"m'.ctirrch music' as''in everything. !"else ;'"arid' that Christian music must be ; re-; ,';garded;:merely iaS),an*radjunot ito • theiseryice,', proper and good in its effect ~if7the;us-e-qf It highest ana'-bes^'motty^s.^',;'.;;,';;.,'-,p'.;i, n ;./V' *; [-_ •;' ,',',',' ,'JrS- collection, wasjthen.taken, amounting, to. the small: sum- large ppngregatioii) bf"£l6'".],os s "4d;V l 7i,v s i,- i .;• Mr" Towsey-piayed thp .clqsing.vbluntary.jas previously! < mentioned J but - as i many >' remained: to hear tbe-whole-of-itrheralso-rfavpred; them 'with' ;;March;" .and PffertbireilJ/Minbr-(Batiste).-:, ,f.■;;!/:' j - ■,, ;, The.f j '';,'\