George W. Morgan Organ Concert

Event Information

Venue(s):
Odell Brothers Organ Factory

Price: $2.00

Event Type:
Chamber (includes Solo)

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
22 June 2012

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

12 Mar 1866, Evening

Program Details



Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Handel
3)
Composer(s): Bach
4)
Composer(s): Weber
5)
Composer(s): Meyerbeer

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 11 March 1866.
2)
Review: New York Herald, 13 March 1866, 5.

“A small but critical audience assembled last night in the hall of Odell’s organ factory, No. 163 Seventh avenue, to enjoy the musical feast prepared for them by this accomplished artist. The organ used was the one built for Dr. Grant by Messrs. Odell, and described before in the Herald. Mr. Morgan unlocked the treasures of harmony it possessed and poured them forth in the most ample manner in several of his best selections from Handel, Bach, Weber and Meyerbeer.   We have seldom heard such beautifully voiced reed and metal pipes in the great organ and such admirable blending of tones without the slightest degree of harshness. Mrs. Marie Abbott, a soprano of a very high order of talent, and Mr. Lumbard, an equally acceptable basso, sang several pieces. Mr. S.B. Mills dashed off one of his electric tarantellas on the Steinway grand, and responded to an encore with one of his most brilliant gallops. The concert was, as far as the performance went, an unequalled success. Such an organ in a large hall on Fourteenth street would enable us to have oratorio and sacred music instead of the flimsy stuff that is daily ground out by dyspeptic vocalists and wheezing instruments.”

3)
Article: Dwight's Journal of Music, 17 March 1866, 208.

“Mr. Morgan, the well-known organist, is displaying his technical abilities on the king of instruments in a series of concerts, the very mixed programmes of which cause in us the liveliest regret that this performer should commit such a mistake, as to supposed it is necessary to do such things, and not do better things.  The old-fashioned and old fogy days of trashy programmes are gone by; when the artist thought it necessary that the flies should outnumber the plums in the pudding.  Not that we would have all Bach, all Handel, all Mendelssohn; but give us good light and short things, and clear away the rubbish and clap-trap.  Far be from any intelligent American citizen the barbarcism of musical know-nothingism, but we cannot avoid holding out for the imitation of this English organist, the example of our native player, the modest and talented Mr. Warren, whose admirable playing and well-chosen programme of organ music, displayed as much good taste, as sound information in the literature of his instrument.”