Norma is one of this city’s grand old ladies.
She was born in Britain in 1919 and after an adventurous early life, emigrated to Dunedin, where she now lives in her own apartment in the Dunedin Town Hall.
She is unique and admired by many, and in particular by her good friend David Burchell, who happens to be one of New Zealand’s best organists.
Norma is a symphonic organ with a great variety of "voices" and yesterday afternoon Burchell chose various combinations and settings from her 3500 pipes to match the range and style of repertoire for an outstanding recital, enjoyed by a good-sized audience.
The opening number Fantasia and Fugue BWV542, by J.S. Bach, demonstrated Burchell’s phenomenal skill in operating four limbs totally independent of each other, plus 10-digit scalic dexterity, while stylistically shaping a fast, bright contrapuntal Baroque work.
Cesar Franck’s Choral No1 was more resonant and lyrical, allowing for contrasting dynamic colouring of various passages.
Fantaisie in E Flat, by Saint-Saens, a quieter, secular piece, was followed by Toccata in DWV140, by Buxtehude, which required some very speedy finger-work. The familiar hymn tune in Chorale Fantasia on the Old 100th, by Parry, opened with a rapid, commanding introduction, before traversing many settings and textures, sometimes barely discernible through subtle harmonic camouflage.
Fantasy-Variations on a Northumberland Folksong, by Arthur Milner, showed a softer side of Norma and a chance to air some of her different solo voices, such as bagpipe and flute.
The last movement of Guilmant’s Sonata No1 created a strong full-bodied finish to a brilliant recital by Dunedin’s city organist and Norma.
