Metropolitan Fair – Organ Concert in Aid of the U.S. Sanitary Commission

“The organ concert given at the South Baptist Church in Twenty-first street, last evening, for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission, was in most respects a musical success. The audience was appreciative and enthusiastic, but not quite so numerous as the programme and the charitable object should have commanded. The vocal portion of the concert was sustained very creditably by Miss Colman and the well-disciplined choir of the South Church, and comprised two or three solo and chants excellently rendered. Miss Colman’s ‘Gentle Lark,’ as seconded by Mr. Bristow’s flute-like accompaniment upon the organ was a chief feature of the evening.

The organists present were Messrs. Bristow, Hopkins, Hardenbrook and Elder, each of whom won the applause and admiration of the audience by their skilful [sic] manipulation of the instrument. Perhaps the most remarkable performances were those of Mr. Elder, the blind organist of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, who most happily rendered a Fugue in C minor, of his own composition, and also during the evening charmed the audience with a series of brilliant variations upon familiar airs. Mr. Hopkins’s ‘Wedding Music’ and ‘Don Pasquale’ were applauded, as also was Mr. Bristow’s fine performance of Auber’s overture ‘Crown Diamonds.’

Although not as costly an instrument as many others in this city, the new organ of the South Baptist Church is one of the finest in New York, and by professionals has been pronounced as excellent. The edifice is perhaps disproportionately small for so powerful an organ, but when manipulated artistically, and with discrimination, the instrument has few equals among our city organs.”