IT is always going to upset the purists to see old organs dismantled and digital pipe-less organs put in their place.

St Anne's in Bewdley has, therefore, shown great wisdom in leaving the 1854 Holdich organ in place and intact for future generations to restore when money allows.

In the meantime Bewdley can boast a new three-manual Makin digital organ with all the "bells and whistles" normally confined to the great cathedral instruments.

The inaugural recital on Saturday by the president-elect of the Royal College of Organists, Dr Roy Massey, proved the worth of this new instrument.

The informal style of the evening, which included some witty asides, was well balanced with magnificent playing, particularly of Bach and Saint-Saens.

In so far as the evening was about showing what the organ could do Massey certainly produced some remarkable musical colour.

He clearly liked the acoustics of the building and the organ's vast pallet of tone and timbre - no less than 42 different pipe effects.

If there was one regret it was perhaps the absence of any of the more substantial masterpieces in the programme.

This can surely be remedied and it would be nice to think that more organists will be attracted to St Anne's in future on the strength of this organ.

In the meantime the large audience will certainly have gone home hoping for an early return visit and more of his magnificent playing on this fine instrument.

DL