NEW ORGAN AT ST. MARK’S.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5821, 25 November 1879, Page 2

NEW ORGAN AT ST. MARK’S.

The new organ recently imported for and erected in St. Mark’s Church was inaugurated last evening, with the first of a series of three recitals. We published a few weeks ago a full description of, and all details in connection with, the new instrument, the recapitulation of which now is therefore needless, even would space permit. It will suffice to state that the organ appears to be of a size and capability tolerably well adapted to the pretty and comfortable little edifice in which it is placed, and the improvement it will afford to the musical part of the services will doubtless conduce in a great measure to the success of the Church. The proceedings of last night were inaugurated with a short service suitable to the occasion, and this was followed by a brief address from his Lordship the Bishop of Wellington, the principal feature of which was a comparison of the state of affairs as regards the church in the neighborhood a few years ago with what obtains now. The musical programme consisted of five organ solos played by Mr, Angelo Forrest, and nine vocal pieces, of various orders. We have seen programmes better compiled for such an occasion, but arranged as it was, there was no fault whatever to be found with its rendering. It is n .- Hess to comment on the manner in which 1 ’rc.'t played his solos, albeit some parts of Lae mechanism of the new instrument were not, as they could hardly be expected to be, in easy-going order—a fault which will be speedily remedied. The vocal pieces

accoiujxnied oa the oru'aa hv Mr. Forrest, were fully tiril in merit to the average of smli ptrfom.iucto, though there was a eon.iilerah’e Bameiiei.s ol.servable. The church was comfortably filled with listeners, many of whom came fituu distant parts ,the town. It m:i\ bemeitioned that the effect of several of Mr Forres’s pi mo p ao-oice s was considerably affrco.-l by the wind, which roared around the buildiu;. Altogether, however, the inauguration mist be pronounced a success. The second recital vill lie given to-morrow evening, when Mr. liojert Parker will be found at the keyboard. On Friday Mr. Forrest will again preside, aad that will be the last of tte series.