The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-16
THE NEW ORGAN OPENED.
The First Presbyterian Church Filled
with a Delighted Audience.

The First Presbyterian Church Filled
with Delighted Audience.
The new organ'at the First Presbyterian
church was formally opened last night
with a sacred concert, and organ recital by
Mr.. James Hayden Morris of Now York,
which were listened to by an Overlooking
audience
If the recital is to be depended upon as a
fair criterion Of the excellence and capacity
Of the organ, it is fully up to the highest
standard. In appearance, size, number Of
pipes, stops aud combinations, quality and
volume Of tone it is in every sense satisfac-
tory and effective.
The opening number was an andante
movement from Schumann, followed by a
larghetto movement from Chopin. Both Sc
lections were given in a masterful manner
by Mr.. Morris. Technically his manipu-
lation of the instrument was without a
flaw, and, what is more the dramatic spirit
of both compositions was reproduced
in n truly eloquent style. In the
sixth selection, showing the various stops
of the organ, the audience felt that it was
listening to an instrument and performer
both great and extraordinary. Beneath his
fingers the organ yielded a sweet, rich,
singing tone that seemed to emanate from
some human voice, not from an apparatus
VI WODu duI Iuebdls ub anu OIL
liant voicing Of the bourbon treble,n on
the swell organ, and the deep sonorous
tons of the bourbon bass" on the pedal
organ were finely brought out and made
apparent to the audience.
Prof. Leo MehrtenS gave an exhilarating
overture on the organ. The composition
selected was we'll suited to show off the or
CAMS "Open diapason," and the professors
ability to carry through with force and
much technical fiuency. In the opening
symphony the performance was conspiou-
GUS for the superb ease and clearness with
which the professor solved passages tn at
were exceedingly difficult and involved
The physical endur nee of both organ
player and organ-blower was remarkable.
HandePs brilliant and inimitable Halle
luiah chorus terminated the organ recital.
While hearing Mr.. Morris play this compo-
sltion even the person who knows nothing
Of music must instinctively feel its deep
poetic feeling.
with a quartette, 30 Be Joyful in the Lo d -
by Mendelssohn. In this piece the deep
pervading sound of the bassoon on the swell
organ almost drowned the voices The aria
81 Know That My Redeemer Liveth,n by
Handel, followed This exquisite gem is
considered one of the sweetest melodies that
ever charmed the sense Of hearing, and it
lost none of its magical beauty last night at
the hands Of Mrs. Postell. Every word of
the song was infected with faith and hope,
and her voice revealed great sweetness of
tone and sympathy of expression. In the
last cadenza, especially where the words
and music breathe and glow with the light
Of the resurrection day, the singers voice
more than filled the measure of hope sug-
gested at the beginning.
The next number on the programme was
a duct. 81 win Magnify the Lord" by
Mrs. Wells and Mr.. Smith, after which Mr..
w b. Williams OF New York sang the
palms" by Faure. He was accompanied
on tho organ by Mr.. Morris.
Medals well known trio, "Protect us
Through the Coming Nigh )" was given by
Mrs. Postoll, and Messrs. Mackenzie and
Walker. IL was finished performance.
and so well rendered that the audience
forgot that they we're in church and ap-
plauded heartily.
After another trio, Lift Thine Eyes"
by Mendessohn, Mr.. Rebarer, who is
al wavs in demand on such occasions, sang
In Native WORTH classical gen by
Haydn. His rendering OF the piece was
admirable.
The concluding anthem, praise Ye tho
Father" rendered by double quartette,
was highly effective and the choral
beauties of the piece were all we'll brought
out The volume and variety OF expression
was quite marked and clearly showed the
advantage Of a chorus Of voices as COM
pared with a quartette choir for church
singing especially.
The concert was under the direction of
MIR, Willard Y. Smith.