ORGAN RECITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1921, Page 5

ORGAN RECITAL.

MR. R. N. RENAUD’S WORK. The public of New Plymouth have had opportunities of late of hearing many music makings, programmes of many and very varied descriptions being presented, and the programme played last evening in St. Mary’s Church by Mr. R. N. Renaud was not one whit behind any submitted for a considerable period. The organ is an instrument which readily lends itself to baneful inanities. The recitalist very wisely kept before his hearers, not only a worthy selection of works, but in every case a definite story was told and presented in an. artistic manner, which was both captivating in its beauty and virile in its intensity. How some of his effects were produced is best known to himself; but in the delightful Schubert “Serenade”, and “Anitra’s Dance”, from the suite by Grieg, some delightful tone-painting was obtained, which was very satisfying in its finish and left nothing to be desired. The organ possesses a vast range of express’ ve playing, and in such a programme as Mr. Renaud presented every shade of expressive style had full play. The opening finale from an organ symphony by the great French writer, C. M. Widor, was a masterly illustration of the virile style of that eminent musician. His writing seems to demand some considerable executive ability, brilliant scale passages occurring in the movement, interspersed with massive chord effects that were quite startling in their intensity and verve. Two Schubert numbers followed, of which the more striking was the second, the well-known “Serenade”, which was played as only an artist, can play it; the accorapanimental work being delightful, and with the “Ballet Music” from “Rosamunde” was a pleasing illustration of that most melodious writer. Three Mendelssohn numbers followed, of which Mrs. A. M. Wilkes’ singing of that plaintive air, “Jerusalem, Thou That Killest the Prophets”, from the oratorio “St. Paul”, was one of the gems of the evening. The nocturne from the “Midsummer Night’s Dream” music, and three movements from the C minor Sonata completed the series.

Mr. Renaud’s playing of the organ works and his accompaniment to the vocal solo were very skilfully handled. Possibly he showed to best advantage in the accompaniment, where he took every care to make his effects as nearly as possibly or-

chestral in’ tone quality. The overture from Tschaikowsky’s “Nutcracker” suite followed, which has a character peculiar to itself, nothing having been played being in any particular quite the same in harmonies, or style, or treatment. The first three movements from the “Peer Gynt” suite followed, in which the organist gave some delightful effects. The last number was an organ transcription of that tremendous orchestral movement known as

‘‘The Ride of the, Valkyries”; the few remarks appended to the programme give , but a faiut idea of the stupendous oharac*

ter of the work. Mr. Renaud t quite caught the wild laughter of the warrior maidens, and the shrieking of the storm winds, while their chorus shouts were very effectively portrayed. It was a difficult movement to play, and the organist deserves much credit for the very effective rendering he secured.