Article October 5, 1907 Issue

The third recital, on July 31, at The First Church of Christ, Scientist...

Musician

[That the organ recital which was given in The Mother Church was considered one of the features of Boston's "Old Home Week," is apparent from the following.—Editor Sentinel.]

The third recital, on July 31, at The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was memorable in many ways. The organ at this magnificent temple is a large four-manual instrument, with a set of twenty chimes operated by compressed air and played from the swell manual. It was made by the Hook-Hastings Company, and is one of the largest and best of the many built by this well-known firm. This recital was the first ever given in the church, and Albert F. Conant, the organist, made the most of his exceptional opportunity,—doubly so, from the fact that although the temple seats somewhat over five thousand people, a low estimate of the size of the audience present was over sixty-five hundred. Probably it was the largest audience ever present at an organ recital in the country; at all events, it will become a historical event in the annals of organ playing.

The immense audience was a study in many ways. It was a composite of the simply curious, the enthusiastic Scientist, and the musical element of the better sort,—a remarkably interesting audience to look upon. Mr. Conant's efforts were artistic and authoritative at all times. He gave the Bach Toccata in D minor, besides Claussman's Fantasie on Adeste Fideles, using the chimes to accentuate the theme in one of its variations; also an excerpt from Handel's fourth concerto, and other numbers and arrangements by Franck, Delbruck, Moszkowski, Faulkes, Callaerts, Hastings, and Dubois. There were two solo numbers for contralto by Helen A. Hunt.

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