This was a further recital in the series given by Richard Hills on the theatre organ at the Colosseum. The audience had been invited to send in requests. The result was a nostalgic programme of light music best remembered by older listeners, but well worth the attention of a new audience which we may hope will be attracted to hear it.  Favourite numbers such as The Dambusters March from the classic film and songs such as Singing in the Rain and Those Foolish Things from well-loved stage musicals made up Richard's programme, as indeed at his previous recitals here. More ambitious requests were for music composed by Albert Ketelbey and Percy Grainger, for instance; for these, even Richard, who usually plays from memory, had the printed music in front of him. I wonder whether further expansion of his repertoire might attract a larger audience.

The event tested one's memory of music that was universally known and popular in its time but has hardly been heard for half a century. These pieces may rightly be described as classics of their kind. They inherit the easy rhythms, simple harmonies and memorable tunes that derive from the romantic music of the 19th Century. Much of the charm of Richard's performance is due to his expert use of the theatre organ's resources.

A good theatre organ such as this is remarkably versatile. Loud or soft, fast or slow, dance or march or song, appealing and sometimes surprising tone quality, the technique of three manuals, pedals and a full range of stops and other controls - he is the master of them all, as this programme again demonstrated.  Watford is fortunate in having acquired this sort of organ, but perhaps it sometimes tempts him to use its maximum volume when it may confuse the listener.

Richard said in his opening remarks that this is one of the finest instruments of its kind surviving in this country (most such theatre and cinema organs of the mid-20th Century were lost as public tastes changed). It is to be hoped that the reputation of these recitals will be widely circulated and will contribute to the revival of some excellent music.

Graham Mordue