The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-27
THE SELLARS CONCERT
Noted Organist's Wonderful Control
of Instrument.

Some men rule people by political
power, but Gatty Sellars, h noted
English ~organist, who played on the
big pipe organ at the Auditorium last
night. seems to rule the world and
the forces of nature, large and small
For with the magic of his fingers, his
music ranges from melodies as soft
and sweet as a baby's sigh, to grand
sweeping ton poems, which have the
power n sway of a tempest.
When he played one of his W
heard a mothers lullaby blending with
the tinkle of tiny bells as the cows
came home in the evening-heard the
chime of distant church bells and the
evensong of the birds.
And when he played 1.-THE Storm"
the bolts seemed to be loos-
ened n in the big building in which
the lights had been turned off, you
heard the crash of thunder, the WIFI
ee-ish" of the rain and the 100000
if of the wind, while the great Audi
torium seemed to be shaken in the
hands of the storm giant
Another time by his wonderful rem
dering of Rubenstein's Russian Pa
troll" you heard the approach of the
cavalry with their trumpets sounding,
heard the clinkity-clank of the saberS
and the "suff-soughs' of the soldiers
leather boots against the
As If in a Church.
But when he played Medelssohn's
First Sonata said to show the in
huence of Bach upon the composer
and considered one of the best organ
compositions ever written you thought
you were in a great cathedral. heard
the grand ryan play and heard the
voices Of a choir, so faint and sweet
at times was the near-voice effect,
that it almost seemed thai the music
came from celestial singers, trying to
breathe to earthly mortals a message
of hope and comfort from a better
world.
Then the organist played among
other popular pieces, "Swanee River,
and somehow or other to the mind
eye, while his hands gl1ded over the
KEYS. came a picture of cotton nelos
contrast to the dark faces of the ne
groes and you saw, too, a big, OLD rasn-
Toned house with its pillared porch in
the distance.
This was heard by a SINAI Tut ap-
preciative audience.
The concerts here are under the
auspices of the Topeka AID club.
He will give another concert TINS
with the following repertoire:
Toccato in c., Mansfield; Cradle song,
Sellars; Pilgrims chorus,
bv Wagner; Toccato in D minor, Bacn'
La Garde. representing approach, pass
ing by and gradual disappearance or a
military band, Sellars; Storm at sea-
(a) calm; CD sailors cnorus, Ncl SUN
during which Nearer My God 30
Thee is heard. coronation music as
performed at the coronation of King
George V and Queen Mary. Westmln
ster Abbey, introducing fanfares as
played by the kings trumpeters, the
chorales. coronation marches, Officer
Sir Edward Elgar and Frederick Cliffe:
with the strains of the Eng
lish national anthem and fanfares OF
trumpets. The cathedral chimes 81
the Queens Hall, London, will be used
with the organ.
Tonight is the 100 successive con-
cert of the 300 concerts I am giving in
the United States" said Mr.. Sellars as
he arose from the organ bench after
the concert las night. II am on my
way to the Pacific coast, and am
making a record-breaking tour. Do ]
mind the warm weather? o, not much.
Yes, this organ is a fine instrument.
It needs a little o~verhauling, but it j
one of the best I lave ever played"