Mexborough & Swinton Times, October 8, 1926

Organ Recital at Conisborough
An Interesting Programme.

The organ of the Conisborough Parish Church, which was reopened after renovation and improvement last Thursday, on which occasion Mr A. H. Bennett, organist of the Doncaster Parish Church, gave a short recital, was further tested on Sunday afternoon, when Mr Bennett gave another recital which was listened to with great enjoyment by a fairly large congregation. The latest renovation of the organ is the third which has been undertaken in the incumbency of the present vicar, that is to say, in the last 30 years.

The Rev W. A. Strawbridge, in a few remarks to the congregation on Sunday mentioned this circumstance, and added that the organ had gradually been built up from quite a humble instrument of four stops and one manual, and had recently been valued by an expert at £900. The latest renovation has been undertaken by Messrs. A. Keates and son, of Sheffield at a total cost of £107.

A new trumpet stop on the “Great” has cost £62 and a new acoustic stop, coupling two notes and giving the effect of a 32 foot pedal, has cost £18. Mr Keates has also, without extra charge, transferred the original clarinet stop from the “Great” the swell box, which is a decided improvement. The fund to defray the cost of these improvements is being gradually raised by various special efforts, principally musical services and recitals of the type given last Saturday.

Mr Bennett in the course of his recital succeeded in demonstrating to the full power and beauty of the instrument and his programme was admirably chosen for that purpose.

It included free movements of Handel’s “Concerto in F”, two preludes by Stanford, F and G minor; a Largo from Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” A prelude, fugue and variations from Caesar Frank, and a march by Guilmant, based on a Handelian theme.

There was also a beautiful little group of lighter pieces, an air and Gavotte by Bach, “Ceciliano” by Scarlotti, and “Le Concon” by Dequin, a little piece irresistible in its humour, delicacy and gaiety while in addition to the organ items, we had some beautiful singing by Miss Dorothy Jones, a Doncaster soprano, whose items included two of Bach’s sweetest songs, “weeping, sighing” and “in faith I quiet rest.” And afterwards. “The legend of the Christ child in the garden” (Tchaikovsky), and an old Carol on a similar theme by Corner.