COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1598, 15 November 1912, Page 6

COMPETITIONS.

THE DOMINION CARNIVAL. SOPRANO CONTESTS. DELIGHTFUL SINGING BY BOYS. CRITICISMS AND RESULTS, ■• Tho New Zealand Competitions Society's second annual festival was continued at the Town Hall yesterday, fair weather inducing fresh enthusiasm end lnrge attendances of the public,. THE DAY'S IMPRESSIONS. OF PLATERS, SINGERS, AND RECITERS. Mr. Wolf (judge of tho music contests) commenced with a class of twenty-two entries—a piano solo, for students under 15. Tho youngsters, who were- given a simple "Nocturne" (by Field), maintained a good junior standard pretty well right through. Occasionally, mostly through nervousnoss, the music became a little incoherent, passages were "rushed," but on the .whole the playing was good of its class. At 11.30 a.m. five soprano singers and ono niez&o-soprano faced the judge with the gladsome waltz song, "Nella i Calma (from Gounod's opera of "Borneo ■■' and Juliette")—a bright, florid number, with exacting shakes and trills; the type of song to display a cultivated voice in the sunniest light. The talent in this number was very good, though none of th» contestants shone conspicuously. One Could , not understand the judge recalling one of the competitors—an uncompromising "mezzo," who should not have entered.m the class. The mezzo quality was maintained'right to the top of the singers natural register, then there wae a break, and a few higher notes of-markedly diminished strength and quality. If a mezzosoprano is allowed to compete in her own as well as ttuj soprano and contralto classes, she gaine an unfair advantage over competitors- whoso voices arc more definitely placed. There are classes 1 or all voices, and each ehould be confined to his or her respective class. ' . Of the. morning's performers, Miss b. D Barker was, on pure vocalism, the best—to her tho lilting refrain cmnft easiest, and her runs and trills were nicely executed. But there wns no freedom or v indication of exuberant joy in her tones. Miss Grant was better in that .regard. Mrs. P. 'Lewis, who has a strong, clear voice, sa'ng the song very correctly, but in quality she was jiwt a triflo hard and unsympathetic. Miss Vora Bamford had by fat the Ix-st operatic idea of the number—she_ save quite an animated reading, and indicated th* possession of a sense of dramatic abandon. Miss Muriel Bennett was out of her class, and Miss Lillie. Sill was out of her depth. • The Boy Sopranos. The musical joy of the morning was, however, the boy sopranos, particularly the singing of Masters Pankhurst and Varnham. The formeris the sweetest boy a fond mother cmild wish, and ho sang Charles Willeb/s pretty song, "Little Pilgrim," angelically. His voice was a thread of purest silver-«ever bo true and tenderly sympathetic. Though the judge stated tliat tho song/should be enng as simply as possibly, he awarded th* second prize to a lad with, very little voice, but who had obriowly b!en_ coached in interpretation, and.'shoved it. In our opinion, Master Varnham, owing to his beautiful quality, was easily second. His voice , is strong, swiet, ■ and quite appealing in its sympathetic quality. There was jiomo really excellent singins' in tho sacred solo for ladies (own sekc-. tion) during the afternoon; At least ha,lf a . dozen voices were of really fine quality, and as their respective possessors chose the number they believed they could best performance wns averago of the quite high-class. In addition to thcee - recalled—Missse O'Keefe and Bennett, aitd-Mesdamcs Lewis and Symes— Miss Brittain and Mis 3' BamforcV were quit* equal to the.average of the vocal arid interpretive quality, of those. repealled. ' ■•'•.'•• In tho-Concort Chamber Taul R«vere's Ride," a colourless poem' at tho best, awl one which, in any ■ case, is not suited to young ladks, was the subject of elocutionary effort. On the. whole, it was a rather dreary ride—grey' clouds and dusty roads all the tray. The boys' violin solo, class, judged by Mr. Leon Cohen, concluded the .day's contests. • One of .'the boys did not play one single i note in time—rather a trying' orSeal for the audience; THE RESULTS. The results of tho various competitions are as follow :— ' Soprano Solo. Soprano Solo—Tost Piece, "Nella Calma," from Borneo and Juliette". (Gounod), First prize, £2; second, " £1; third,' Certificate. , Entrants— itra. P. Lewis, Wanjanuj," Miss Muriel Bennett, Wellington; Miss Lillie Sill, Auckland,- Miss D. I. Grant, Christchurch; Miss G. D. Barker, Christchurch; Miss Vera I. Bamford, Nelson. , Recalls—lire. P.. Lewie, Miss Muriel Bennett, Miss G, D. Barker, Miss Vera 1. Bamford. Result-1, Mrs, P. Lewis (133 marks); 2, Miss Bamfota (131 marks); 3, Miss Muriel Bennett (103 marks). ' ■ Piano Solo (Under 15). Piano Bole (under. 15)— Test Piece ''Nocturne" (Field). First prize, • Silver Model,• second, Bronze Medal; third, ; Certificate. Entrants—Master G. Mackay, Wellington; Miss Ethel Bignell, Wangariui; Miss Ivy Pink, Lsvin; Miss Ruby Jones, Levin; Miss F. Van' Borrssum, Roseneath; Miss Laura V. Hyde, Wellington r Master L. Hod?e, Karori; Master C. Kellett, Wellington;. Miss E..M. Barratt. Wellington; Master H. L. Moody, Christclmrch; Miss J. E. Harris, Wellington; Miss A. J. T. Perkins, Wellington;' Miss. E. E. Watson, Masterton; Kiss Rita G. Smith, Auckland; Miss Dorothy Budd, ,Tudg*ford; Miss Stella Boon, Seatonn; Mis* A. A. O'Brien, Wellington; Master "F. Mantlerson, Lower Hutt; Miss F. Fitzgerald, Wellington; Mis* Elsie .Tndd. Otalrfj Miss E. Na'ughton, OtaM;.' Miss Phyllis Bead, Northland. Bcealls-Masler G. Maekay. Master H. L. Moody, Miss F. Fii.7,»erald. Result—l, Master G.' Mackay and' Miss F. Fitzfernld (327 marks).; 2, Master H. L. Moody (125 marks). Recitation (Boys Under 16). Recital ion (Boys under 16)— Test Piece, "Vitai Lwipnda" (N&wholt). First prize. Silver Medal; second, Bronze. Medal; third, Certificate. Entrants—Master F. Reeves, Wellington; Master W. F. If-olwon, Napier; Master L, Power. Wellington; Master S. Shaw, Lower Hutt; M-ister" L. A. Riddell, Wellington; Master C. L. Risliworth, Lower Hutt; Master W. Brown, Otaki; Master R. -Nicholls, Wellington; Master R. Dortfwell, Northlands. Eccalls—Masters P. Reeves, L. Power, and W. Brown. • ■ Result—l, Masters Beeves and Brown (134 mnvksVj 1 L., Power (133.marks)." Before announcing the recall in this section, Mr. Montagu* said that ho could not understand bow it was that there were not move entries in these- sections, Re. did not wish, to conclude that the schools were against competitions. If that were so, it was a matter for regret. In Duncdin, in such classes they received between. CO and 79 entries. Ho was almost forced to conclude that the schoolmasters in Wellington did not approve. That was a pity. In Auckland they had one schoolmaster on the executive, and the University wns ft!so represantod. It was singular that in Wellington the competitions did not Keoive the support of the educational establishments. They must bo considered to be of great benefit to tho students in irrimary schools. Tho recalls were Nes. 1, 3, and 7 (Masters F. Reeves, L. Power, and W. Brown). Sight Reading. Sight Beading (under 10). First prize, silver modal; second, bronze medal; third, certificate. Entrants.—Master W. Brown, Otaki; Master h. A. Uiddell, Wellington; Master W. Robson, Napifir-. Master C. L. liishworth. Lower Hutt. ■ Result.—lv Master C. L,. Rishwerth;. 2,

Dramatic Recital. i Dramatio Recital (ladies)— Test piece, . "Paul Revero's Ride" (Longfellow).—First j prize, £i; eeoond, i!l; third, certificate. ; Entrants—Miss A, Towilsrad, Master- • ton; Miss M. Prentice, Stratford; Miss D. Abernetliy, Wellington; Miss M. Sievwright, Uieborne; Miss B. Purdoro. Island Bay; Miesß. Luke, Wellington; Miss 1 F. Dix, Welling+on; Miss D. Blanohard, I '< Wellington; Miss P. Brown, Otaki; Mrs. M. Pcarce, Pahncrston North; iliss I. < Pearson, Wellington; Miss D. Churchill, 1 Dwiedin; Mrs. Cairns, Masterton; Miss i G. D. Shepherd, Wellington; Miss Marie I , Fix, Wellington; Miss Ada M. Moller, i Wellington, Miss Ethel M. Phillips, Wei- ; - lington; Miss E. M. M'EWowney, Welling- . ' ton; Miss I. Hargreaws, Wellington. i Bccalls.—Missee B. Purdom, E. Chttr- 1 chill, M.ario Fix. i Result—l; 'Jlissos Purdom and "Fix (145 | marks); 2, .Miss Clmrchill (139 marlts). ( Commended, Missos Blanchard, Brown, - ant! Luke. . j In announcing his decision the judgo (Mr. Montague) said that though his i maximum number of points was 200, he , I wished it to bs understood that if a ] candidate did not. sw/uro more than ISO ( ' point's he would uot think much of her | ■ or of him. In many cases tho competi-- i > tors came so close ,■'• together that really i [ the difference simply amounted to What ; tho judffo's taste counted for, so that thoso wne were not in it should not be , ' discouraged. . i ; Song (Boys Under 15). Song (boys under 15)— Test pieoo, "Lit- : [ tie Pilgrim," C. Willoby. First prize, ■ i Bilvor Medal; second, Bronze Medal; tliird, Certificate. ' I Entrants—Master J". C. Varnham, Wei-- '; . lington; Master R. A. Pankhurst, Wades- .- • town; Master G. iiadigan, Napier; Mas- : ter H. I. Moody, Christchurch; Master • Gordon Aiteheson, AVellington. Result—l, Master R. A. Pankhurst (129 L- marks); 2, Master H. L. Moody (127 : marks); 3, Master J. C. Varnham (123 ; marks). l Tho judge eaid that the song wae . a ■ simple melody, and should be sung very : ; simply by boys. He thought everyone , would agree with him in allotting the - first prize to No. % (Master Pankhurst), . ■ who sang it just as it ehould be sung. L ' ' ' . '■ ' i Sacred Solo (Ladies). ■■ '■ Sacred Solo, Ladies (own selection). First ' \ \\ prisie, second, .£1; third, Cortifi- ' Entrnnts-Mrs. 33. J. Fraser-Tytler ("There is a Greed Hill Far Avar), • Blenheim; Miss Lillie Sill ("Oh, Had I • Jubal's "Lyre"), Auckland; Miss C. ! O'Kecfe ("Ho Was Despised"), Christ--3 church; Mrs. T, N. Johnson. ("I Will " Sing of tho Great Mercies"), Wellißßton; 1 Miss Muriel Bennett ("Rejoice Greatly"), • Wellington; Miss Ethel V. Carter ("O > ltest In the Ixird"), Auckland;- Miss r Georgio M'Donald ("0, Divine Eedeemt or"), Auckland; Jliss Ivy Jones (r-ecita- » tion) ("O, Worse ThaS Death ), (air) t ("Angels Ever Briqht and Fair"), Wel--3 linprton; Mies Daisy/Isabel Grant ("With 1 Verdure Clad"), Christchurch; Miss 3 Georgine D. Barker ("Rejoice Greatly," t "Messiah"), Christchurch. Mise Dorothy t Jones ("Sun of My Soul"), Wellington; Miss B. Brittain ("Hoar Te. Israel"), Wellington; Miss. Kathleen Wood (Gounod's "Ave Maria"), Wanganttis Miss Lulu Foster ("To Living Waters"), Wa- ' n»anui; Miss Blanche Clark ("But the i Lord is Mindful of His Own"), Bulls; 1 Mj-s. P. Lewis'("Angels Ever Bright and ' Fail-"), Wanganui; Miss Evelyn Badde- ' ; ley ("Pieta Signora-"), Feilding; Mrs. I. : 3 Symes ("O Thou That Tellest Good Tidv ings"), Wanganui; Miss Gwen Moody 1 ("Sun of My Soul"), Ohristchurch; Miss ' 5 V. I. Bamford ("The Lord is My Light"), - ? Nelson. ■ ■■ ,-, . 1 Rccalls-Miases O'Keefs, Miss $unel 3 Bennett, Mesdiwnes P. Lewis, I. Symes. •■■ ■ ■ ' R*sult-1, Miss Cissio O'Keefe (133 ' 1 marks); 2, Mrs. Symes (132 marks); 8, < ' Mrs. Lewis (130 marks), ' ■ ' 3 Violin Solo (under IS). ,- Violin Solo (under 15)— Test Piece, "Re- ■ membranoe." Romance by Maurice I!- Telma. First prize, Silver Medal;. 1 second, Bronfco Medal; third, Certifi- i ' Entrants-Miiss 1.. B. Thomson,, TVel- j ■linßton; Master J. Ridlcr. Wellington; 1 " Hester J.. C. M. Flitter, Wellington; Mas- .' } ter B. O'Brien; Wellington. . ' 1 Eisult—i, Master B. O'Bnett (91 ' ' ,marts); 2, Master 'J:' Ridler (72 marks); \ 3, Mies I. R. Thomson (61 marks). ' In nnnonncing the results, Mr. L. Cohen : said the class was rather disappointing, ' inasmuch as'all tho competitors •frere i • Very yoiiiisr. Tlie competition pi«ce (which 1 he did not choose) hail perhaps kept those 1 ' of more ability and ndrattced years from- ' " competing. It was a sentimental thins, i \ and not one calculated to bring out music ■ '' in one more than another. One of the competitors had stood tmt from thfe others, i • but ov*h he -Tiad slurred' where he should : 5 have attaclted, and played an attack when i J he should have 'slurred. Tho winner- had : r certainly shown tho b«st tone and feel- •■ ing, and his playiii? was generally jn ad- ; vajiee of the others. i THE EVENING CONCERT. AND. THE JUDGES'COMMENTS. ■■ , As anticipated, the attendances thrqugh- " .out yesterday's sessions were appreciably ■ l better thai! on tho first djty, aiid last. ■ ' evening a very large and highly enthusias- • tic audienee listened to the concert pro- ' ' vided by the "judges', best" in the com--1 petitions held during tho day. Among ■ those who appeared \va« Master Panic- ' hurst, who gave a cliarniing reading oi Willeby's pretty little ballad, "Littls 1 Pilgrim,". though not so good . aa that 1 given i& the morning. Tho lftd wa? . evidently a little-nervous'at-appearing be- • foro so large an audience. Miss Cissi* 5 O'Keefe (formerly of the Pollard Operi Company) gave an outstandingly, fine rendering of that gem from, oratorio,. "Ho Was Despised," which she approaeh- • ed with an air of the deepest, revcrojico. • and sinoeritr. The judge stated that she , was troubled, with a "nasty tremolo. The tremolo .was there on occasions,' but , - few musical people among the audience 3 would sgree that it wae "nasty," or even ; obtrusive. Another good performance was 5 that of Master F. Reeves, jn the reoita- . tian, "Vital Lampada,"who in tho writer's - opinion was ten points beyond any of the ;' other boys who recited last evening. The . 3 judgo (Mr. ■Montisw) wae pleased to . bracket him with Master Brown, who was , much mare theatrical without beiflg so - dramatically convincing. Th* evoninr ; concluded with the second act of thfet . clever comedy, "Jedbnry, Junior," soiart- - ly played by the W«llin£ten Dramatic - Society. The Playing of a "Nocturne." . In commenting last evening upon tho classes in which hs had adjudicated, Mr. Wolf first referred to tho piano solo 3 "Nocturne" (for contestants under 15 years of ago). Hβ said that nono of tho competitors knew what a nocturne was, .' . and some of them ' played it as a waltz. A nocturne referred, of , course, to night; it was sombre in colour :' and was of a calm and contemplative t nature. The principal fault maclj was 5 in the accents, overdoing the accents, and an exaggeration of the rubato. None ' should play rubato until they have learufc " to play in strict'time,. Time was one of • the most important things in music—it . ' was like tho. pulse of the body, and none • should play tricks with thno'until they. ' had mastered it. Then, and not till then, : r they could do as they pleased. Ho bracketed Nos. 1 and 20 (Master Maekay • ' and Miss Fitzgerald), both having scored the same points that evening as in tho 1 morning. They had.a better idea of tho nature of a nocturne, the other boy (MasV ter Moody) had better fochniqua. e Some Good Sinners. ; e Tho singing had given him th« greatest ,t pleasure, and ho had thought he was , n soinj; to havo a bad time. There- was not !- a bad voi<S4 among them, and tho younger it voices were especially good, and will do : ',9 better with more experience. There was s plenty of voioo was not at its 1- bast until 45. (Laughter.) That was so— •- it matured, tinder propor eaw, with ther body. He advised tho singers generally (1 to read poetry and dovolop their imaginail tion. Even if it took eighteen months to "- loam a phrase correctly, it Was worth s while. It was Frangeon Davis who said that if it took him eighteen mollis to '• perfect a phrase he felt that he had done )• good work. In the "Nella Calina" number no one'was outstanding. It was a song full of -joy, happiness, and love. . Mrs. Lewis had gained 6 points that .evens' ing. Miss Bennett forced her top notes, ' arid was faulty in her breathing. Miss ; Barker had fine technique. Sho should ;'- develop her study in tho direction of inj. terpretation. In the sacred solo section. Miss Bennett I oshibited » good voice, with certain fault? iJiW«KJKi--Aa ( t .slwadijig-iated, jmt^MiEil

I O'Keefe'a was another good voice, but sho i had a nasty tremolo, which she should ■get rid of. Mrs. Symes wns not nearly so gtwd ae earlier in the day—she lucked j inspiration. : The Sporting Spirit. Mr. Montaguo (judge of elocution) said that there was a very even contest in the Boys' Recitation, so much so that ho did nit 6uppo?o anyono could decide who wss tho winner. They were so close that tlirae different judges might easily Kivo three different decisions. He had bracketed Nos. 1 and 7 (Masters Reeves and Brown) with 134 marks, and Master Power was only a point behind them. At this point Mr. Montague advised tho ■ competitors to be good sports and take. i their beatings in good part. Ho _ was not defending, nor was ho apologising for himself, but pointed out what good sports "the competitors wero in Duncdin," where they had had a good deal of exi perience in competitions, and thought Wellington might emulate them by not talking about their defeats, even if they or their friends thought they had dono j bettor than the judges happened to think. (Applause.) lie pointed out as a primary ( guide to reciters that tho verb was the i most important word in a'sentence, and I tho noun came t nqxt, .which wa3 often forgotten in the'giving of emphasis. In "Paul Eevers's Ride" there had been a closo and interesting , contest between two of the performers. Miss Fix had a charming presenco nnd stage- manner, but Mis.* Purdom appeared to havo had more experience. He had bracketed tho. two for first place with 145 points. Mrs. Churchill (139 points) was inclined, to] drop her voice at.the end of a line—her performance wa.s rather monotonous. Sho .-would, he thought, do better in heavier work. Ho commended Misses Blanchard, P. Brown, and Luke, ffhb had only come a point or two behind tho others. . to-day'sTrogramme. In Town Hall—9 a.m., Piano Solo (under 18); 11.15 a.m., Sonff (girls under 18); noon, Male Quartet; 2 p.m., Humorous Soiig (lady ot gentleman); 3.45 p.m.. Tenor Solo. In Concert Chamber—9.3o a.m., SightReading (ladies and gentlemen) s 11.15 a.m., Recitation (boys under 14); 11.30 a.m., Reeitation (girls under li); 12.30 p.m., Yiolin Solo (under 21); 2 p.m., Character Sketch (in costume, with i(iake-up). Owing to the confusing, manner in which the judges intermixed their official pronouncements with' criticism, it was inadvertently stated that Miss Blanchard came second in the Shakespearean recital of tho opening day. On reference to our notes it was found that the jndtfe. (Mr. J. P. Montague) referred to No. 15 CiXim •Bla.nohard's number) in the second place, and No. 18 (Miss Churchill's number) s»bse«nently. It would bo helpful if the judges would deliver their decision straight out