COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1601, 19 November 1912, Page 10

COMPETITIONS.

| FIFTH DAY. THE MUSICAL MONOLOGUES. AND "LADY GODIVA." The New Zealand Competitions Society's festival progressed another stago yesterday in tho presence of large audiences, particularly during the afternoon ami ovening. Tho classes appear to become moro interesting as the festival continues. Yesterday, for instance, thcro was an "own selection" song contest, open both to ladies and gentlemen, ami this produced a great variety of voices, from some thirty competitors, tho general averago beiug distinctly good. In the afternoon thero was, in tho large hall, the baritone solo contest, the duet for ladies, musical mouologuo, while in the Concert Chamber' there was the "Lady Godiva" dramatic recital and tho rec'itatiou for girls under eleven years of age—a fair day's work for tho judges, and a day of exceptional pleasure for. those in a position to bo present at the various sessions. ' THE DAY'S IMPRESSIONS. THE DRIFT IN TENOR SINGING. ; The clarionets—two of them only—did hot matter. What did, however, was tho. commendably high avcrago. of the vocal talent displayed in Class 43, tho song (own selection) for ladies and gentlemen. Listening to voice after voice, none of them bad, and many of them really excellent, one gathered the conviction that tho general average in the vocal sections was a deal higher in quality th'in was the case at last year's competitions, and this may be taken by tho promoters as distinctly encouraging. Mr. W. '■ I' 1 . Howse, tho light, tenor, whose memory played him a nasty trick in tho "UoodNight, Beloved," class last week, snug Blumonthal's "The Message" charmingly.. His voice is purely lyric—small, very sweet, and has, been well-tutored. Another delightful effort was that of Mi. Harry Phipps, whose voice is also light, but soft, round, and "fluty," in quality. It is rather extraordinary that the competitions have not yet produced even the beginnings,'of a dramatic tenor— the type ' of. voice with a stock of • big chest notes of .a ringing, ' dramatic' quality. The local trend seems to-be to train vrery budding tenor down, down, down, and down to the finest possible point, and then dress up his vocalisation with pretty little mezzo-voce effects. That is the reason why we have no robust tenors coming on, and that, also, is the reason why all the choral societies have the utmost difficulty in obtaining tenors for oratorio work without importing. But this, by the way. Among the most creditable performances in the class- under notice 'were those of Miss Muriel Bennett, a steadily-improving.mezzo, who sang "I Hear. You Calling Me" most artistically. Miss Nola Haybittle, who sang very sweetly an attractive and uncommonv song entitled "If in the Great Bazaars" (from one of Amy Woodforde Finden's Indian albums)! Another fair competitor who commanded attention, was Miss, Elvira Cameron, who sang "Night Thoughts" (Cornelius) with a simple charm that pleased everyone. The singer has a voice of good quality, and its owner has temperament in the bud. Mr. Stan Hutton was vocally too heavy for "The Trumpeter," and Mr. Lance Jones was too light for "My Old Shako." He is a wise singer who knows the songs that suit his voice and personality. Miss Miriam ICutner sang "Thora," essentially a man's song, and was inclined to be sharp and "edgy" throughout. A waltz song was a novelty for a mail—yet there was one awful example of this on the'bill. It would take a Caruso to win the class with such a song. Mrs. P. Lewis was hardly sunny enough for "0 Bid Your Faithful Ariel Fly"—she was just a. trifle hard and pallid in the runs and trills with which this beautiful song abounds. Mrs. Symes exhibited her robust contralto in the aria "All Rendi Mi," sung with a good deal of expression. Reciters, Old and Young, Tennyson's "Godiva" is far from easy verse to recite', but as it embodies a touch of-character, more than a gleam of emotion, and a nice descriptive vein, the prose poem formed a very good test. . The common fault was the competitor's failure to note that the pceiu should be spoken— not declaimed—as prose in narrative form; for.plainly it is a narrative written, with a fine sense of rhythm. Most of the competitors recited it with ..the dramatic emphases "laid on thick," so to speak, and some recited it in a stilted fashion. >Mr. Rankin was probably the best of the quintet who competed, inasmuch as he did not become excited, but adhered rather to a style of delivery more nearly.in keeping with the Tennyson narrative of the bad old Earl and the lady who did. Mr. Kenny was good—a strong voice, but inclined" to be too dramatic. His half and quarter gestures and shifting pose did not aid him much, if at all. Mr. L. W. Hanlon and Mr. A. Treseder, who were recalled, wore stilted in style, and frequently misread tho sense of the story by making pauses at the cud of lines, where none are provided'. In the opinion of tho writer Messrs. Rankin and Kenny' were tho only ones to' recall. Tho judge's decision in this case was inexplicable. The children's recitation class packed tho Concert Chamlrer—or was it the appearance of little Cecile Haines? There is a distinct charm in hearing the kiddies recite, and after each effort the Chamlier simply buzzed with tho chatter of critical comment. Tho test piece was\a bit of humorous verse entitled "Going on an Errand," in which the child in repeating over, and over again what she is to get at tho grocer's becomes comically muddled,, referring finally to "A pot of eggs, with a dozen pegs, And a rasher of new-laid jam.". Of the half-dozen clever children, little Cecile Haines was much the best, her innate sense of comedy, as well as her intelligent reading of the verses, made her an easy winner. Of Solos and Monologues. The baritone solo (the Toreador's Song from "Carmen") was a distinct disappointment, poor in quality and weak in the.dcclamatory force the solo.demands. . The ladies' duet section occupied the attention of Mr. Wolf for some threequarters of an hour. The test, Gotze's sotting of "Stiil is tho Night," rather troubled some of tho performers' sense of perfect tune and bjenu. The musical monologue for ladies attracted half a dozen entries, and a large audience.. These recitations to a musical accompaniment are becoming very popular in social circles, and if well dono are very effective. The talent in the class was very fair indeed. Clever Miss Purdom was not quite so good as , she is usually in sketches—her light voice became a trifle, monotonous. Miss Dix was Tather better—moro sincere—in a monologue entitled "If." Miss Churchill,. of Dunedin, presented .".The. .Green Eye of the Yellow God," a grim little tragedy with an Indian flavour, and conveyed tho spirit of the piece quite effectively.- She got a good- deal of expression into her "work, and was brightly intelligent throughout. Miss M'Eldowney, who did tho "Christmas Bells," was slavishly attached to the accompaniment (which sho played herself), and withal was too hard ami matter of fact. Miss Pauline Brown, the final performer, was quite good in the monologue, "In the Crowd." Her elocution was. sound, and she played her ac- ■' compa'niinent with taste and expression. THE RESULTS. Tho results were as follow:— Song (Lady or Gentleman). Song (lady or gentleman)— Own selection, not humorous. (Open only to competitors who have been resident in Wellington Province for tho preceding 18 months). First >prae, ,£1 10s.; second, 155.; third, certificate. Entrants-Mr. W. F. Howso ("Tho Message"), Wellington; Miss Dorothy Jones ("Mignon"), Wellington; Mr. Harry Phipps ("Evening Song"), Wellington; Miss Lulu Foster ("The Lady of the Lea"), Wanganui; Mr.. C. I. Spillano ("The Two Grenadiers"), Wanganui; Mr. W. H. Church ("Comrades of Yesterday"). Wellington; Mr. F. Cray, Wellington; Miss Nola Haybittle ("If in tho Great Bazaars"), Wellington; Mr. Percival Martin ("Maid of Malabar"), Wellington; Miss Hilda Ann Minifie, Wellington; Mr. Francis E. Gooder ("Requiom"); Wellington; Miss Muriel Bennett ("I HeaT Thee Calling Me"), Newtown; L Miss EUeji Johnson JVoV

lington; Mrs. G. S. Davidson .("The 800 and the Flower"), Wellington; Mr. G. S. Davidson ("I'll Sing Theo Songs of Araby"), Wellington; Mr. Albert Garfield Hay ("Tho Trumpeter"), Wellington; Mrs. Sifieet ("At My Window"), Wellington; Miss Miriam Kntner ("Thorn"), Wellington; Mr. Stan, Hutton ("Tho Trumpeter"), Wellington; Mr. Lance Jones ("My Old Shako"), Wellington; Miss Blanche Clark ("The Promise of Life"), Bulls; Miss Elvira Cameron ("Night Thoughts"), Wellington; Mr'. W. E. Saunders ("Catch Not Thy Breath, . Go Not Happv Day"), Lower Hutt; Mrs. P. Lewis ("(/ Bid Your Faithful Ariel Ply"), Wanganui; Mr. Henry Fitzherbert Green ("Tho Last Watch"), Masterton; Miss Evelyn Baddelcy ("Pur Dicesti Lotti"), Feilding; Mrs. Ivo. . Symes ("Ah Rendi Mi".), Wangamii. Recalls—Mr. Howse, MisS Muriel Bennett, and Mrs. Symes. Result.—l, Miss Muriel Bennett (130 marks); 2, Mrs. .1. Symes.(l29 marks). Clarionet Solo. Clarionet. Solo—Test Piece, "La Militaire" (Wm. Raymond). First Prize, £2; second, £1; third, certificate; Entrants—Mr. , James Candy, Wellington; Master F. A. Ciinino, Wellington. Result—l, Master F: A. Cimino (123 marks); 2, Mr. J. Candy (10G marks). The judge (Mr. Wolf) said that the winner's tone was much more like what a clarionet should be. ■ Dramatic Recital. Dramatic Recital (gentlemen)— Test Piece, "Godiva" (Tennyson). First Prize, £1; second, 10s.; third, certificate. Entrants—Mr. L. W. Hanlon, Palmerston North; Mr. S. Rankin, Wellington; Mr. T. H. Kenny, Dunedin; Mr. Alfred Treseder, Lower Hutt; Mr. A. L. Treseder, Masterton. ' Recalls—Messrs. L. W. Hanlon and Alfred Treseder. Result.—l, Mr. A. Treseder (134 marks); 2, Mr. L. W. Hanlon. The judge (Mr. J. F. Montague) thought that the piece was rather difficult for a class restricted to those who had never won a prize before. Still, it was good stuff, and was not at all a bad piece for recitation. Perhaps ho had expected too much for the class. ... Baritone; Solo, Baritone Solo—Test Piece, : - "Toreador Song," from Carmen (Bizet). First ';, Prize,- £1;. second, 10s.; third, certi--Vficate., • /Entrant's—Mtv'A: H. Robins, Wellington; Mr. A. M'Donald, Christchurch; Mr. F. E. Gooder,-Wellington; Mr. C;-'I. Spillane, Wangamii; Mr. W. J. Spratt, Wellington; Mr. D. C. Henderson, Wellington. ' ' . . *• ■ Recalls—Messrs. A. M'Donald, C. J; Spillane, W. J. Spratt. ■• Result.—l, Mr. A. M'Donald (129 marks); 2,.Mr. W. J. Spratt (128 marks); 8, Mr. C. J..'Spillano (125.marks). i ' .'. Duet (Ladies). Duet (ladies)-Test Piece,' "Still as the Night"'(Gotze). -First Prize, £2; second, £1; third, certificate.' Entrants—Miss Helen M. Anderson and Miss Nola Haybittle, Wellington: Miss Georgie Mac Donald and Miss Ethel V. Carter, Auckland; Miss K. Wood and Miss Lulu Foster, Wangamii; Miss B. Brittain and Miss G. Brittain, Wellington; Misa E. -Baddeley and Miss B. Clark, Feilding; Mrs. Ivo Symes and Mrs. P. L>wis, Wanganui. Recalls—Misses H. M. Anderson and Nola Haybittle,'and Misses B. Brittain and G. Brittain. Result.—l, Misses Haybittle and Anderson (133 marks); 2, Misses (2) Brittain (128 marks). . / Recitation (Girls Under 11). Recitation (girls under 11)— Test Piece, "Going on an Errand." First Prize, '. silver medal; second, bronze medal; third, certificate. Entrants-r-Miss L. Rowntree, -Wellington; Miss Thelma Coy, Wellington; Miss Marie 0. Manthel, Wellington; Miss Eileen Maguire, .Wellington; Miss Moyra Thompson, Opunake; Miss Cecile Haines, Wellington; Miss Bertha A. Cross, Lower Hutt. \ / Recalls—Misses Marie 0. Manthel, Moyra Thompson, Cecil© Haines, and Bertha Cross. . The judge said that as so many of the children bad performed cleverly he would recall fou'r-'of them to appear in the evening. Result.—l, Miss. Cecile Haines (150 marks; 2, Miss Marie Manthel (132 marks); 3, Miss Bertha Cross ( — marks). Musical Monologue. Musical Monologue (ladies); own selection. Dramatic or pathetic; not humorous. First Prize, £2;- second, £1; third, certificate. ' Entrants—Miss Margaret Sievwright ("The Bells"), Gisborne; Miss Betty Purdom ("In the Crowd"), Island Bay; Miss Florence Dix ("If"), Wellington; Miss Ethel Churchill. ("Green Eye of tho Yellow God"), .Dunedin; Miss E. Marion M'Eldowney, "The Christmas Bells." Wellington; Miss Pauline Brown ("In the Crowd"), Otaki. Recalls—Misses Florence Dix, Ethel Churchill, and Pauline Brown. Result.—l, Miss Paulino Brown (195 marks); 2. Miss Churchill (190 marks); 3 Miss Dix (184 marks), The maximum murks in this class was 250. THE EVENING CONCERT, A PROTEST, AND THE RULE. A large audience favoured the evening concert, which was really a capital entertainment. In order to allow the children to get homo to bed, the "recalls"-in the recitation,' "Going on an. Errand," were placed first on the programme. There was only one child in it—clever little Cecil© Haines, who brought out every atom of humour in tho piece. (• It was announced by Mv. J. Dykes (secretary) that owing to an objection having been lodged by a competitor against tho inclusion of Mr. W. F. Howse' amongst the recalls in Class 43 (song for lady or gentleman), on the grounds''that ■ he was a pupil of Mrs. Qucree (the official accompanist), the latter had withdrawn Mr. Howse from the class. The rule on this point states that "An official accompanist will .156 provided, and no other will be allowed, except for choirs, musical monologues, humorous songs, and 'open to all' classes. The official accompanist will, however, be available for these if desired." The singers of the "Toreador's Song" from "Carmen" were hardly up to operatic standard. Fire and finish were lacking in each case. The duet, "Still is tho Night" (Gotze) was quite charmingly sunn; by Misses Nola Haybittle and Helen Anderson, whose pretty musical voices (mezzo and soprano) blended capitalljV The entertainment concluded with tho scene from "The Sign of tho Cross," in which Marcus pleads to Nero for the life of Mercia. It was very well acted indeed, considering the circumstances. Mr. R. A. Keonan, who looked rather too burly and healthy for the palsied Nero, spoke the lines very well. Mr. S. Tingey looked well as Marcus, and acted with fine spirit, but ho was inclined to scold his Emperor overmuch,-.making the character somewhat an irascible one, and thereby sacrificing some of tho dignity of tho Protect. The Tigellimis of Mr./ Norman' Hales was excellent—voice, "makeup," gesture, and elocution. Ho has the stage sense, and was never at fault.' The Official Critiques, In his remarks on" the elocution classes of the day and ovening, Mr. J. F. Montague said that in the little girls' recitation, two of tho performers had that ovening forgotten some of their lines, ot\ misplaced them, which had to some ex-i tent destroyed their chances. Tho class had given him great nleasure, not only that night, but also in the afternoon. The winner was Miss Haines, with Miss Manthel second, and Miss Cross third. The dramatic recital for men was a restricted class for those who had never won a prize. * The faults of the performers were that they were stiff and mechanical, and so 'much alike was the style of the two recalled—Messrs. Treseder and Hanlon—that ho would not be surprised to learn that they had studied under the same teacher. The winner had the slightly -better voice. Referring to tho musical monologue, the judgo remarked that Miss Dix had given a very nice performance of the monologue "If." It was unfortunate that she became rather stiff and lost expression, and became mechanical at tho end- of each verse. Miss Churchill still continued to drop her voice at the end of each phrase. She had a splendid voice, and he was confident she could do better with it. Miss Paulino Brown was excellent in her repose, and graceful in her attitude at the jlLano, . Sao oieo .wedded tao .wojda t0...

I the music very well. Miss Brown was awarded the 'first prize, Miss Churchill second, and Miss Dix, third. Songs and Their Singers. Mr. Wolf (judge of the music) diseased at some length on the difference be-/ tweeu a ballad and an elaborate n>odern song, _ pointing! out that the former was the simplest form of song with a simple accompaniment, which had nothing" realistic or descriptive in it. In the song for_ ladies (pwn ' selection) he awarded first prize to Miss .Muriel Bennett, who had. sung very nicely, but' who. like many others, had not studied the composer's marks of expression. ( It was a . first essential in singing to get at the meaning of the words and study the composer's idea by noting the expression marks.. . Mrs. Symes. . came second. Somo parts she sang really Splendidly, in others she was out of tune. "If I were they, I would not sing it again," was Mr. AVolf's comment on,the singers of the Toreador's song from "Cannon." He did not want to bo hard, but it was a very diifficult song, and should only b9 attempted by singers with a great deal of experience. * , Inferring to the ladies' duet ("Still is the Night"), the judge stated that all the competitors in the afternoon had sung out of tune except the two recalled. In all "ensemble" singing, the 1 voices must blond and they must be in tune. In the afternoon he had disqualified tho Misses JESrittain, as he had thought that the class ' was meant for the soprano und alto voices, and both tho ladies were sopranos. But,, on looking through his book, ho found that tho word alto was not mentioned, and as they had sung in tune ho had brought them in again. He awarded, first prizeto Misses Haybittlo and Anderson, who had sung very sweetly and in tune., ' TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. ' Town Ha 11—9.39 a.m., piano 'solo (under 21), "Rove Angclique"; 11.30 a.m., flute solo, "Serenade"; 2 p.m., contralto solo; 2.45 p.m., sacred jolo_(own selection). ' ' Concert Chamber—Noon, recitation, (girls under 14, restricted); 2 .p.m., Shakespearean dialogue; 3.45 p.m., humorous recital (gentlemen). To-morrow evening a special attraction is offered in the contest between two of the best chwch choirs in tho North Island -the Grafton Road Choir (Auckland), winners of last year's contest in Wellington, and the Peilding Wesleynn Choir, which, lias been carrying all before it in provincial competitions,

yards, Havelock Nth., Hawko's Bay,