"Good wine needs no bush," and therefore it is not surprising that the Cathedral was well filled on Friday night to hear the new organist, in spite of the fact that the programme had not been published. The Recital opened well with Bach's glorious "Toccata and Fugue in D. Minor." The arpeggio passages were given with brilliance, and the short series of antiphonal phrases in the fugue received a scholarly interpretation. It isa far cry from Bach to the modernity of Dvorak, but the composer of the "Spectre's Bride" has seldom written anything more tender and tuneful than the largo from the "New World Symphony." The organist's choice of stops in this piece was most tasteful, and his subdued staccato pedalling was one of the best features of an exceptionally fine rendering. Barnett's "Offertoire," with its haunting melody, was th piece, after which came The player chose Raff's well-known "Cavatina in D Major." The double-stopping at the close of the piece was finely given, and the whole performance was remarkable for purity and beauty of tone. 'Then followed a graceful "Allegretto" by Wolstenholme, and the recital closed with West's sonorous "Festal Commemoration March." The vocal numbers comprised a characteristic song by Henschel, and the difficult aria from the Elijah' ough in which Mr.
Meyer's fine voice wxs heard to advantage Mr. Ward's playing cannot fail appeal to all lovers of good music. The fatal fault, common to so many organists, of " certain blurred manner iv playing fugal music, is conspicuous by its absence in Mr. Ward. The organ, which has lately been giving trouble with the reeds, was in its best condition; and the programme was not too long. We missed the great name of Henry Smart, that prince of writers for the organ; but in a hart programme it is of course impossible to draw upon many composers. We hope that Mr. Ward will soon favour us with snather recital, and that his next programme will be equally interesting and eclectic.
Dorrep Quaver.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.