Centennial Hall, Sydney, Australia

[myorgan]

Recently, I managed to find historic document primary sources online for organists. In one of the documents from 1892, it talks about the Dedicatory Recitals of the Centennial Hall organ in Sydney. They were performed by Mr. Best. I've transcribed the concert listings in the attached document.

What was interesting to me is to consider that this year was the first issue of some of Widor's Symphonies, much of Marcel Dupré's music had not been written yet, and some composers we now play hadn't even been born yet!

I hope you enjoy the listings.

Michael
SydneyConcertHallRecitals.pdf

[myorgan]

Also in the same publication was an article regarding the attendance of organ concerts and recitals. Evidently, 600 was considered a "good" crowd! I've NEVER seen an organ concert with 600 people present-even for an organ dedication!

Enjoy the document.

Michael
SydneyTownHallCrowd.pdf

[bananafingers]

Very interesting reading. Have often wondered what items comprised WTB`s recital programmes in Oz.
Would love to know of any anecdotal evidence surviving regarding The Great Mans comments on his Australian visit , especially with regard to his audience at the recitals.
If things were not going well then his style could be a bit, shall we say, " frosty "? !

Apparently I have read that at some recitals there was background chatter and humming and whistling! The writer put this down to " Australia still being a young country " (sic )
Regardless, the recitals given by him must have been a marvellous experience.
This Hill instrument is truly magnificent and it is heartening to know that it has undergone a couple of full scale restorations and is still used regularly ( well, up to recently ! )

I believe what makes this instrument stand out from other large Hill instruments, and those of other companies, is down to the fact that due to the huge distance from Blighty - Hill was able to introduce new ideas re` design/ tone/ scale which his fusty, musty, dusty English critics would have sniffed at!

I will never make it to see the beast in the flesh but the recordings by Robert Ampt and Jane Watts well make up for this, plus You tube of course.