Organ Music

Source: The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Vol. 40, No. 672 (Feb. 1, 1899), pp.
95-96
Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd.
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3365970
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 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-FEBRUARY I, 1899. 95

employed by Marcello for Psalm xv., spread beyond

but this the boundary lines of the Anglic
is now
the only one in general use. JewsChurch,
resident in that the Nonconformist Churche
seeing
German lands have known and loved it since, at have a very extensive organisation of the kind,
least, the fifteenth century, and they have at times
reared in a healthy spirit of unity and maintained b
associated it with some four other hymns for the the exercise of marked energy and a large measu
same feast of Lights. It is not originally a Hebrew of artistic judgment.
melody, being clearly traceable to the old German Recitals with organ and orchestra, with vocal
folk-song-- music interspersed, seem to be quite the rule at
So weiss ich eins, das mich erfrewt, All Souls' Church, Halifax. The pieces given
Das Pluemlein auff preyter Heyde.*
at one such performance not so long ago included
The medimval Jews often ' lifted' a folk-song for use Overture " Son and Stranger " (Mendelssohn),
as a hymn-tune, but so did the Gentiles, their Reverie (A. Somervell), and Mendelssohn's "Athalie"
neighbours. This very tune was the first which March. The vocal movements very properly had the
Luther adapted for sacred use, setting it to his advantage of accompaniment by the orchestra. This
well-known type of combined recital is daily finding increased
Nun freut euch lieben christen mein.
favour in many directions.
Thus the tune came to be handled by Bach, and, in The Church Orchestral Society continues its good
later sequence, the melody has become familiar towork under the guidance of its founder and hon.
the congregations in English churches under thesecretary, the Hon. Richard Strutt, and its conductor,
name of 'Erk,' to the verses commencing 'SingDr. Huntley. This excellent Society has its own
special difficulties to face. One is the unaccountable
praise to God who reigns above' (Hymns Ancient and
Modern, No. 293). neglect by amateurs of such useful instruments as
the viola and contra-bass, not to mention sundry
" It may be possible that the tradition enshrined
in 'Erk' has deviated less from the medimvalmembers of the wood-wind family. Here is matter
original than the melody used for the Maccabman which presses for prompt attention, and players upon
the instruments named would do well to make their
Hymn, for this synagogal form was first written down
only in 1815 for Nathan's 'Hebrew Melodies,' thequalifications known to Mr. R. Strutt, in view of
aiding a most desirable movement. Then Church
collection of Jewish worship-music (nearly all modern)
for which Lord Byron wrote his famous verses. In authorities, often pressed by urgent claims and
unfamiliar with details of orchestral wants, are
this collection it is set with the song ' On Jordan's
banks' (p. 29). English Jews of the last generationfrequently unprepared to meet the most reasonable
expenses. In this and in other directions the
further varied the tradition by introducing a modula-
tion to the dominant in the second section, which musical
is public should aid the Church Orchestral
not yet known on the Continent. The SynagogueSociety with a much larger measure of sympathy and
version of it affords an interesting contrast with liberality.
'Erk,' the Church form." The Christmas music, dearer by association to all
Mr. Cohen has promised to contribute an article of us than, perhaps, any other section of the " Sacred
to these columns descriptive of the music in theOratorio," was given twice at Chiswick Parish
Synagogue service of the present day. Church during the proper season, together with a
brief selection of modern carols, under the direction
of the organist, Mr. T. King Holtham. Needless to
CHURCH MUSIC. add, the number of similar renderings of "The
Messiah" Christmas selection may be described
AT the conference of the Incorporatedas Society
legion. of
Musicians, Mr. W. H. Cummings, in his inaugural
One stirring and annual feature of the past month
address, referred at length to the present
was thebroad
performance of the large selection from
selection of music from secular sources for Church
Mendelssohn's " St. Paul" in our Metropolitan
use. It is entirely within the scope of such on
Cathedral, an St. Paul's Day, under Sir George
important body as the Incorporated Martin's
Society ableof
direction.
Musicians to discuss a question affecting the Gounod's
music"1Gallia" and " De Profundis" will be
of the Church; and the general spirit sung ofatMr. Hampstead Parish Church, on March 3, and
Cummings's words, based upon the proposition
Schiitts's "that
Passion " and " Seven Last Words" on the
it is undesirable to introduce into public worship
24th inst. art
The services
strongly impregnated with worldly associations, was at Grahamstown Cathedral on Christ-
accepted in a sympathetic manner. Of mascourse all
Day included Te Deum (Lowe in C), Holy
questions rest upon degree as well as upon prin- (Woodward in E flat), Offertorium,
Communion
ciple. The clergyman who quotes Shakespeare" Rejoice greatly " (" Messiah "), Ave Verum (Gounod),
and Tennyson in the pulpit and objects to the
and anthem, " Bethlehem" (Gounod). At the con-
musical presentation of the more seriousclusion
portions of
of Evensong a short recital was given by the
Wagner's " Parsifal," is evidently in an inconsistent
organist of the Cathedral, Mr. W. Deane.
position. Probably no very hard and fast line can be
drawn in this connection, though the sound principle
embodied in the wise assertion that there is a time and ORGAN MUSIC.
place for everything should be duly borne in mind.
As in every
The matter is one calling for no hasty action, but other department of life, the world
organ-players
rather for sound judgment, tempered by that patience has its "vexed questions," accom-
and charity whereby all things may be setpanied,
right. necessarily perhaps, by the conflict of differing
The appointment of Mr. W. H. Bellamy opinions.
as con-To name only one point which is exercising
the minds of those who love the organ, there is the
ductor of the Choral Association in the Archdeaconry
by of
of Coventry gives evidence of the vitality no means
one of new but still "burning question," the
use of
those important forces, the Diocesan Choir arranged music.
Associa-
tion, which have done good service to the It seems
causetoof be too much forgotten that the faculty
Church music and represent a movement ofwhich
adaptation
hasis ever one of the most influential
powers of all the arts and sciences, and of Nature
* Boehme, Altdeutsches Liederbuch, No. 635. herself. So long as books are translated, pictures

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 96 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-FEBRUARY I, 1899.

transferred by the engraver's skill-so Mr. Roger

long, Ascham continues his series of organ
indeed,
as all the arts mutually serve each other by recitals at Feather Market Hall, Port Elizabeth; the
recital on the evening of Christmas Day included
imitation, an art in itself-so long will music, the
most pliable of the arts, continue to be presentedGarrett's
by Postlude, " Christmas," and Mendelssohn's
the medium of adaptation. Concerto in G minor, the pianoforte part being taken
It may be, however, that there is at first sightby
anMiss Biden.
almost too pronounced employment on the organ
keyboard of arranged music; but perhaps this is only
SIR HUBERT PARRY ON THE DUTIES OF
a seeming excess, to be attributed to a still marked AN ORGANIST.
paucity of original organ music which adequately
SIR
employs the wonderful store of tone-colour impulses HUBERT PARRY, the President of the Roya
of the modern organ. To bring this needed advanceCollege of Organists, distributed the Fellowship
Diplomas on the 7th ult., when he gave an exceeding
about, not only will our writers of organ music have
to turn their attention more and more to an extended interesting and instructive address, of which t
but still judicious use of organ tone effects and following is a digest.
mechanisms, but some more extended means of The attainment of the Fellowship diploma was a
stating such music clearly on paper will have toimportantbe point of departure in the life of ma
developed. an organist. But it was as well to remember that
It may be well to record a recital given as far back examination was not an end in itself, but merely
as December 26 by Mr. W. Hoyle, at St. Michael's, proof of attainment of a certain kind of knowledg
Coventry, as a very desirable Bank Holiday pleasure The object of education was not knowledge, b
for the people ; who by a very large attendance to action. Knowledge is of no use until it is applied
some definite end. All life is a kind of examina-
proved their appreciation of the good spirit which
must have prompted the institution of so admirable tion, and happy the men who have their life's
a provision for the public good. This was the fifthexamination ready marked out for them. Organists
Bank Holiday recital given in the stately old church. are happy in this respect, for they have their distinct
Mr. Maughan Barnett has been continuing his spheres and great powers for good and evil. The
recitals in the various churches of Wellington, New state of the branch of music which they are especially
Zealand. His recent programmes have included responsible for does not tend to show that they have
specimens of English organ music from Wesley toused their power exclusively for good. No doubt they
have great difficulties to face; such, for instance, as
sundry rising young composers of the present day. Dr.
influential people with no taste whatever, and well-
S. Corbett, a gifted blind organist, gave two recitals
in the Mechanics' Hall, Nottingham, on the 7th ult. meaning persons with mistaken ideas of coddling,
His selections were admirably varied, including, as instead of bracing the suffering and downhearted.
they did, pieces by Bach, Mendelssohn, W61y, Freyer,Organists should be the pillars of what is good and
and A. Hesse. The music of the last-named dignified, though not necessarily only supporters of
composer would appear to be again what is merely
claiming thecalled classical. Music ought rather
general recognition of organ players. to be
At divided into what is good and what is bad than
Hawarden
Parish Church, on the 3rd ult., Mr. into R. classical
W. Pringleand popular. Every kind of music, from
gave a good selection of organ music, symphony to folk-song, can be good, though what is
including
6" Variations " by A. Hesse and Tours's called popular is generally that which is merely vulgar,
excellent
" Fantasia." Mr. Cardinal Taylor's programme blatant, and obvious.
for But to be able to judge between
a recital given at St. Saviour's, Leicester, good onand the
bad, 15th
an organist specially needs to keep in
ult., comprised, among other things touch
of with everything which is outside his mere
interest,
Scherzo in C minor, Widor; " Marche Solennelle," organist's routine. He should hear orchestral music,
Mailly; and " Alla Marcia," Petrali. quartets, and any kind of art that keeps his sensi-
The announcement that Mr. A. H. Griffin is bilities alive and prevents him becoming stodgy and
appointed organist at the Alexandra Palace, mechanical.
and willMoreover, he should keep in touch with
give numerous recitals there, is a matter the of
progress
satis-of the art and know the really best music
faction. Lovers of organ music will again of his
be time,
able and
to not judge things too much by
hear Mr. Henry Willis's gigantic and magnificent their technical qualities. Dexterity is an inevitable
organ, one of the finest-some good judges part ofhave
art, but fine thoughts that are expressed
declared it to be the finest-of the many noble withoutinstru-
much dexterity are often of infinitely greater
ments he has built. In this connection, however, value, though
the the peculiar training of organists often
leads them to think otherwise.
effect of the enlarged and renovated organ in St. Paul's
Cathedral will be regarded with marked interest.
Quite models in their way are Mr. E. H. Thorne's ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY.
Bach recital programmes. Two of the present series
IT is not too much to say that the performance
of four have been given on the 2Ist and 28th ult.
Handel's " Messiah," given by the Royal Choral So
The schemes included some of the well-known on the 2nd ult., at the Royal Albert Hall, was,
Preludes and Fugues and Toccata and Fugue in C. of the rendering under Dr. Mann's direc
the exception
The Sonatas in G and C minor, works which Mr. June 13, 1894, at King's College, Cambridge, the m
Thorne has done so much to bring into more interesting that has been heard by the present genera
general use, and sundry of the choral Preludes, and although the attempt to secure an approach to H
in effects of tone colour can only be regarded in the l
were also interesting pieces of these well arranged
performances. of an experiment, Sir Frederick Bridge deserve
Miss Edroff performed an excellent selection atwarmest
her praise for his endeavour. Much time and
had manifestly been spent upon the project. The om
recital in St. Michael's Church, Stone, on the Igth
of Mozart's " additional accompaniments" necessita
ult., when her programme included Mendelssohn's revision of the string parts. This was entrusted to M
Third Sonata, Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor,
W. Bourne, whose special study of the music of the
and Lemare's Pastorale.
century, and particularly of " The Messiah," well fi
A series of organ recitals have been givenhim
recently
for the task. In this edition (which is based ent
at St. Luke's, Kentish Town, by Mr. George Aitken,
upon original authorities, and which we hope wil
Mr. Walter Alcock, and Mr. Herbert Cookepublished
(organistby Messrs. Novello) many wrong readings
of the church), in aid of the organ fund. been corrected, and Handel's bowing and marks of

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