COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1597, 14 November 1912, Page 6

COMPETITIONS.

THE DOMINION CARNIVAL. OPENING DAYMUSIC AND ELOCUTION. RESULTS AND CSITICISMS. Without any flourish of trumpets, the second annual festival of the New Zealand Competitions Society was commenced at ■the Town Hall yesterday morning. At an hour when there are, generally speaking, few footsteps heard in the tiled corridors save those of the municipal official;, to break the calm that pervades the civic edifice, the place was invaded by scares of young ladies and dozens of.men of all ages, keen to sense the peculiarly infectious, atmos-phere which characterises' the big annual Eisteddfod, to renew acquaintances formed a year ago, to chatter over the music nnd literature set for competition, and to discuss the judges who wore to decide their individual fates. ■ It Was a scene of considerable animation, marked by a note of , eager enthusiasm respecting the .items on tho bulky programme, end the contests nearest their hearts. The lofty entrance hall bubbled with chatter and laughter, and courteous officials darted hither and thither in. their' efforts "to jet the thiug going," as the energetic secretary; (Mr. Jos. Dykes) put it. After the gentlemen of the ■ committee had met to sav, "How d'ye An !" to the judges, Ah. Sidney Wolf (of Punedin), judge of music, took his seat- at an elevated table in the big Town Hall, and Mr. J. F. Montague, judge of the eloclutionary sections, repaired to the Concert Chamber, and with the tinkle of those officials' bells the Competitions of 1912 commenced. The Official Opening. The official opening of the competitions took place in the evening, before a : failattendance of interested people. Dr. Arnold Izard, president of .the society, who appeared on the stage with the judges and members of the committee, said that in the absence of his Excellency the Governor it fell to his lot to open tho competitions. His first duty was to welcome tho judges, Mr. J. F. Montague, of Auckland, and Mr. Sidney -Wolf, of DunedinThe fact that the judges were not the Ennie as last year Was not to be .taken that they (last year's, judges) did not give every satisfaction. The. change made was onij of policy to'change the judges each year, and it was deemed to he. ifi. the interest of tho society that ,it should be so. It was the desire of,the.committee to en* • courage Hhe" social side of the competitions, and with that end in'view he invited, the competitors to take afternoon tea with the committee.. this (Thuis" day) afternoon at 4 o'clock, and also rvn Tluirsday next, when his, Exceltetoy would be tendered a. farewell by th* citizens in the Town Hall: It-vra* proposed to tender the competitors a harbour -excursion, weather permitting. He had to-thank the donors of special prises, chief among whom were Messrs.- JF. 3: Pinny, Ltd., who had presented the; Ghappell grand piano. ■.-■■■ ■ • • "I would' like to -say this," said . Dr. Izard, "that last year the people, who came and , saw the Town Hall pacted on demonstration nights had asked: 'What is to become of the profits? , I can tellthem that .we only ■ just managed to pay our way. I think thiit .the personnel. of .th* committee yon see around me. is sufficient guarantee that, the pi-onts, , if any> will be devoted to/some legitimate purpose such as art, literature., or Some such kindred object. I wottld like to express my gratitude to all the officers of the society, chief whom is Mr. James Dykes, our energtic, resourceful, and worthy l secretary. Widlso have again as stage manager Mr. Alan M'Blwain. All who remember sowoll his work in tlwt .capacity last year will be pleastd. to see Mr. M'Elwain here again. (Applause.) 'A Protest Committee; -he- added, had been set up "last year,...but'he w&i pleased to say that -to be called to-' rgetter: He'fcadWaiinfrmare'to'eaj than to' extend a. hearty Velconio to the visitors from all parts of.New- Zesl&nd, and. to declare . the--, oompetitibns -.open. (Applause.) /■; ■■.'.■ . ':■ , The general arrangements-for the competitions 1 are -as near- perfection as' possible; and reflect credit on the officers far the year. They, are- as follow:—Patron, his' Excellency Lord Islington'; president,. Dr. Arnold Izard; Kev, Father Hickson, Messrs. \V, H. Atack And J. M.-Clark; committee, Rot. E. 0. Blamires, Messrs. R. A. Keenan, -P. W. Havbittle, G. Winder, -B. A. Bluljdell, J. ■M.'Gcddis, J. H. HclliweU, p. N. Cathie, T. W. Brown, F. ,T. Fr-Aser,. E. C. Levvey, H. Plimnier, W. A. Flavell, W.-E. Fuller; J.' D.' 1 Seivwright; tecietary, Mv. Jttmes Dykes.. ... . •-,' The judges are as follow:—Music'(vocal asd pianoforte), Mr; Sidney Well;strings, Mr. Leon Cohen ■; eloeiAion, Mt. J. F. Montague; oratory and debating, Rev. Father Hickson and Mr. J. M.-Gla*k. The stage management.is in the capable hands of Mr, Alan M'Elwain. The Day's Impressions. : ' During the dny Mr. Wolf judged two classes of pianoforte competitioas'-a test for students under 12 yeijrs of age, and ■». : sight-reading test for ■ those ovof 18 years 'of 'age, and also adjudicated on mezzo-soprano and contralto rmcc>. Among the latter were some most promising singers, with good, full voices..of excellent quality, but they mostly fell short in the interpretation of the numbers set, In the struggle to ptese and onunoiate they overlooked, the meaning of the fong. For instance, .there was only one singet in the. contralto section who attempted to express something of the poignant regret embodied in the words of Mozart's "Adieu." Some of the: classical fampos«rs wrote songs without words, but never songs without meanins.. The- oame re-, mark applies to the mezzo-sopranos, who t were riven Sullivan's "Orphem With His Lute" to sing. If that delightful pagan Orpheus had played his lute as dolorously at many of 'th'». contestsnti fang of both, he would probably hav* been thrown to th» lioiu. Orpheus was t joyful soul, who would never think of exerting ~him'self 'self to depress anyone. In short, sinjing is ■ a means of expressing the. emotions m ■tht most attractive form, and the emotional- appeal comes not altogether from, the voice, but rathef from the manner in which it is used to convey the inner and deeper sense of the song. This is not a preachment—it is a fadt, and odmpetttors, if they wish to succeed, might well 1 bear it in.mind. Upstairs, in the Concert Chamber, Mr.. Montague and others listened to Juliets of all manners, sizes, and colours, rapreasing her wild doubts as to the potion she is to take te conjure- up & "borrowd likeness of shrunk death," in D-rder to escape marriage with the County Pans. There were bold Juliets, shy -Tuliets, plaintive Juliets, and Juliets ■.■nth an "afternoon tea" air, but amongst them were some who shot out a gleam here ai.d there, and who fairly realised Juliet's feeling that she is risking her life, and life's happiness in a charnelJiouse. The comuvim fault was ever gesture—and, seemingly, always ...will be. It nas George Titheradge who said that the most • difficult thing to do .in the actor's art was to keep still, and it is well known that that most reposeful actor was always most effective in, his gestureless moments. Of course thero arctimes when gestures ore natural—essential. To find out when they are not aji' pears to be Ihe, difficulty with the ami-' teur. Tho "potion scens" is a very difficult one—difficult for an experienced actress, so that those wlio' did only fairly well yesterday are to bo congratulated. Mr. Montague's judgments were -sound throughout. The competitors in the recitation for boys i did not reach a very high standard. THE RESULTS. The results of yesterday's competitions are ae follow:— ' : Piano Spld (under 12). Piano Solo (under 12)— Test piece, "Scherzo" (No. 2), Bagatelle Op. 33, . Beethoven. I'irst prize, silver medal; second prize, bronze . medftl; third - prize, certificate. Entrants—Miss M. Shannon, Wellington; Miss Grace Coy, Wellington; Master N. C. Izott, Wellington; Agnes M. Blake, Wcllinston;. Miss ]i. E.. Wnteon, Mastertonj Miss Uit-a O. Smith, Anefclaiuli Ifiister W. Batten. Kclbume; Master D.-H.'Shortt, ISaetljeurue; Miss E. A. Dor{sin, Wellington; MlM.try E, GiUwt, Newborn; Miss Doria Janco, Tawa , fWi

Miss Helen Buick, Porirua; Miss A. A. O'Briep., Wellington; Miss Kvatt, Inland Bay; Miss Eileen Nauglifon, Otaki; Master L. A. Eiddell,- Welhngfoa; Miss G-. E. Collins, Nowtown; Miss M. I. Atkinson; Wellington. Recalls—Miss May Evatt, Master D. H. Sliortt, Miss Ivy E. Gilbert. Miss Eita Smith, Master N. C. Izett. Et'siilts—l, Miss Mny Evatt (1U points): 2. Miss Ivey Gilborfc and Mastef Shortt (125 points); 3, Miss Eita Smith (121 points). • The judge spoko encouragingly to those not recallod, and in tlss kindliest msnner pointed out their weaknesses. Somo, he said, had played tho piece ns if it were a Czorny. esercise. Briglitness and vivaoity were always required in a Scherzo, Sliakcsperean Recital (Ladies), Shakespearwm E-ecitnl Oadifts)—Test piece, Potion scene, "Borneo and Juliet," Act IV, Seen* 111. First prize, £2; second, .£1; third, certificate. Entrants—Mrs, Cairns, Mastertoft; Miss Pauline Brown. Otaki; Miss Bolle Luke, Wellington; Miss Ivy Har-jraives, Wellington; Miss C. L. L. Nelson, Wellington; Miss Melba Prentice, Stratford; Miss iB. Purdom, Wellington; Miss M. A. Townsend, Masterton; Miss G. D, Shepherd, Wellington; Miss J. D. Pcttie, Wellington; Miss E. M. M'EMowney, Wellingtons Miss M. Sievwrig-ht, Wellington.; Miss F. Dix, Wellington; Miss D. Blanchard, Wellington; Miss Marie Fix. Wellington; Miss G. Nfcholls, Wellington j Miss E. Churchill, Divnedin. Recalls—Miss B. Purdom, Miss D. Blanehard, Miss B, Churchill. ! Results.—l, Mite Purdom (140 poinl-e); : 2 ML?s D. Blanchiird (138 pc-ints); 3, Miss Churchill (137 points), Mezzo-Soprano, Solo (Test). ' MezzQ-Soprano Solo—Test piece, "Orpheus i with his Lute," A. S. Sullivan. First, wE2; second, M; Jhird, certificate. Entrants—Mrs. E. J. Fraser-Tytler, Bknheim; D. I. Grant, Ohristchuroh; Miss E. Cameron, Wellington; Miss E. Baddeley, Feilding; Miss D. M. Tonntnt, Wellington; Miss G. D. Barkier,. Christchurch; Miss 13. V. Carter, Auck-' land; Miss G. MacDoriaM, Auckland; Miss G. E. Moody, Cllristchureh; Miss Lillic Sill, Auckland: Miss H. A. Minifle, K.°lb«rne; Miss K. Wood, Wanganw. . Eecalls-Miss E. V. Carter, Miss K. Wood, Miss E. Baddeley. ■ Eesult.-l, Miss K. Wood (1-20 pomts); ■2 Miss Baddeley (121 pomts); 3, Miss E. V. Carter (101 points). Generally speaking, the sofig wae fairly well rendered, by the majority of the singers, and the judge confessed to a ' difficulty in placing the first three, as they were so tiven. ,He complained of a want of atmosphere. What was required was a little more life. The words should have indicated, something , to the angers, 'jhey were not sad, yet the singers sang them so. Technique was ■ essential, but the competitors paid- a too obvious attention to;it. •.-..-' fiecitatiofi (for Boy Scouts). Eecitation-frest piece, "Ballad of JohnNicholson" (Newbolt}. First, books-te value 10s.; second, books to value of 55.; third, certificate. Entrants— John W. Jenkins, Wellington; Fred., Bromley, Wellington; Frank Dornwell, Northland, -.■'.«»•..,„ • Final-1, Fred. Bromley (109.points); 2, J, W, Jeakins and F. Dotnwell ,(S2 The judge cottimeiited on the disappointing entry and the quality of the wprk. Out of a possible of 200 pomts, the beat boy of the three had only reached 109. The two boys placed second scored 82 ■ points each. . ■ Contralto Solo (Test). Contralto Solo-Test Piece, "''Adieu/' - Mozart. First, £%; eecond, &.-, third, certificate. > ' , _ „ Entrants-Miss Blamche qark,. Bulls; Miss Evelyn M. Young, .Kelburn©; Miss C O'Keefe, Christchftrolv; Miss y. AlacDon ß ld, ■ Auckland; Miss E. V.. Carter, Auckland; Miss Lulu Faster; Wanganw; Mrs. I. Symes, Wanjanui. / Becalls-Miss Blanche Clarke, Miss C. O'Kcefe, Miss-Lxilii Fteter. . '■■EesHlt.-!,' 'Miss Lulu Poster (127 points); 2, Miss C. O'Keefe (125 Mints);' 3, Miss Blanche Clark (122 'points). Piano Solo (Over 16). ' Piaue Solo-Siglvt'rtadin* (over MV.First; ' ■ £1 10s.; sscond, 15s;; third, certineate. '• Entrante-MiM F. IT. Bish, Carferton; •Mi's J. &recn, Pnlmerstoh .North; Miss (•P. .Kcan, ■Wellißgtonj.Miss 6. D.--Sh»P-, I herd, Kilbirnie; Miss, M. PlrflipSi Wel- : liiigton; Miss B. M. CniiPp, ; Wdlißßtari; i Miss A. H.'E. Sh*4rsbY, Wangwiui; Mr. W. Jewiinge, Wellington; Mass M. Mitchili; Au'cWawU , Mr. L. Frahauf, W«Uin(tton; Miss V. H. Smith. LyjU Bay; Miss B. B. White; AucWand; &., ; Mason, Blenheim; Miss MH.-Shepherd, Kilbiriiie; Miss P. Anketell, Wellington;■ 'Miss Grace 'Belworthy, Wellington. - ' Ewult-FiftVMiss A. H. E. Shwrsby. i <129 pomts); 2 Mr,-L. •Frufhaiirwid.Miss :■ Grace Belworthy (115 points); third, Jta 1 V, H. Smith and-Miss B. M. Crumr, (lift Wolf, who retired from the- stage [for ii few -minute* after judging this class, returned and said tl«it..not_one of the competitors could tell him. &<* niune of the piece or its character. Ntoo had taken the care to read iron the sheet, it wnT'a Seherzino, entitled ySjieflfloekerf' (Sndwlakes) by Nicolai von Wilm. Owiiif to not having dono so nfcmy all had played it without nieaniiig or ateosphere. It 'was brig-ht and dainty in character, vet some had.-played it very slowly. Many ; iiad played it corrcotly.Ut thnt was not. all'that was refluired-ono looked, lor. an intelligent readin? of the number in whieh the character of the piece would :be revealed. . ■