Organists from around the country attending the Dunedin Organ Festival 2024 ended their four days of activities yesterday afternoon with a concert in the Dunedin Town Hall, where Norma — the city’s unique symphonic pipe organ — reigned supreme.
First up was Micah Xiang (organ graduate from University of Otago) who chose Litanies, by Jehan Alain, and the first movement of Symphonie No 5, by Charles-Marie Widor which was a set of variations, ideal to show the many "voices" of this organ.
Light and dainty to strong and heraldic — all confidently delivered with great performance ability and professionalism.
Burchell followed with light playful settings for a scherzetto, by Whitlock, a very fast typically contrapuntal work (BWV 36) by J.S. Bach, Piece Heroique, which proved to be an amazing symphonic workout for both performer and instrument, and the second movement of an organ symphony by John Wells (commissioned for this organ a number of years ago.)
Max Toth, an organ honours undergraduate from Wellington, contributed Fandango from Three Basque Dances, by Naj Hakim.
This was a very fast, colourful and percussive piece which showcased the organ’s vast array of sound combinations as well as the extreme ability of this organist.
Burchell completed the recital with a berceuse, highlighting the softer melodious voices of the organ, a triumphant forward-moving delivery of Mendelssohn’s popular War March of the Priests, Marcia di Vittoria Op.80 No.4, by Fumagalli, and the Finale, from Widor’s sixth symphony.
Altogether this was an excellent concert and a real treat to hear Norma the town hall organ in such a variety of stops and special effects, proudly demonstrated by a brilliant organist and two very talented organ "rising stars".
