COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 5

COMPETITIONS.

MUSIC; ELOCUTION, DANCING

AN INTERESTING DAY.

■Increasing interest is being manifested in the New Zealand Competitions Society's Festival, which was continued at the Town Hall yesterday and last evening. In the afternoon there was a fairly good audience to hear the first section of the aspirants in the champion piano section (which is to be continued to-day), and at 4 o'clock the Concert Chamber was. filled to the back doors to hear the humorous recital, tenor, and

girls' singing contests. Mr. C. N. Baeyertz. took advantage of the big attendance to remind those present that the society was suffering from the prevalence of the strike, and asked all ►interested to do'' what they could to 'bring along their friends to hear and seo the bright talent that was concerned in the competitions. , The following were the results of yesterday's competitions: — - PREPARED READING. , Prepared Reading (ladies and gentletaen)^— "Hymenaeal Rumours," from "Diana of the Crossways," by George Meredith. • . First prize, £1; second, 10s. Entrants—Miss Marie Fix, Wellington ; Mr. Ernst F. Luks, Wellington ; Sir. Francis R. Picot, Wellington; Miss Constance Douglas, Wellington; -Miss Lydia J. V. Macdonald, Wellington; Miss Florence Sander, Wellington; Mr. Chas. E. Madden, Pahiatua; Mrs. B. Iveson, 'Masterton; Miss Kate L. Tasker, Wellington; Miss Lilian Pritchard, Melbourne; Miss Ada Marie Moller, .Wellington; Miss Gwen D. Shepherd, Kilbirnie; Miss C. Graham, Masterton; ■Mrs. Margaret Pearce, Palmerston North; Mr. K. S. Dillon, Greymouth; Mr. L. W. Hanlon, Wellington; Mr. W. iW. Crawford, Dunodiii; Mr. D. P. M. Bennett, Wellington; Mr. B. P. Brown,

Otaki; Miss Alice Quinney, Wellington; Miss May Mason,' Wellington; Miss Janie Petrie, Wellington; Mr. K. E. Shorney, Wellington; Mr. ■ Thomas .'Auton, Wellington; Mr. Sydney 'i'ingey, [Wellington; Dr. Normnn Hales. Recalls—Miss Lilian Pritchard and Dr. Norman Hales. Honourable mention—Miss Janie Petrie, Messrs. K. E. Bhorney, and E. F. Luks. , In giving judgment, Mr. Baeyertz 'said that he supposed the piece must be accounted a difficult one. It was full icf traps, and awkward parentheses. Result —1, Miss Lilian Prichard, 121 {marks; 2, Dr. Norman Hales, 118. GIRLS' RECITATION. Recitation (girls under 12)— Test .piece: "A Child's Evensong," Richard fe Gallienne. First prize, silver medal; Second, bronze medal. . Entrants—Miss Eileen Maguire, Wellington; Miss Inez' Mitchell, Palmerston -North'; Miss Marjorie Rait, Pair merston. North j Miss Peggy Reeves, .Wellington; Miss Madge Shearer, Lower Hutt; Miss Phyllis M. Adams, (Wellington; Miss Irene Cain, Wellington; Miss Ngaire Lemmon, Wellington; Miss Bertha Cross, Lower Hutt; Misa Alma Brasbing, Palmerston North; Miss Ethel Jones, Otaki; Miss Gladys Page, Khandallah; Miss Zo® Large, Lower Hutt; Miss Althea Stevenson, [Wellington; Miss Marie 0. Manthel, Wellington; Miss Telma M. Crosby, [Wellington. Recalls—Misses Inez Mitchell, Peggy Jteeves, Alma Brasbing, .Tglma,,Crosby. Honourable mention—Misses.,, [EileenMaguire, Phyllis Adams, Marie Manthel. ■ ■ ■ _ . . In this section the judge said ,he would recall "four competitors. There was one other little girl who was very clever, but whom he did not hear very well. That was No. 1 (Miss Eileen Maguire). She would receive honourable mention. Result —1, Miss Alma Brasbing, 107 tnarks; 2, Miss Peggy Reeves, 104; 3, Miss Inez Mitchell, 103. Honourable mention —Miss Telma Crosby, 101. BOYS' RECITATION. Recitation (boys under 16) —Tost piece:. "The Gay Gordons," Henry Newbolt (from "The ■ Island Race"). ■First prize, silver medal; second, bronze medal.

Entrants —Master Leith A. Riddell, iWellington; Master Leonard Power, Wellington; Master Eric M'Millan, 'Wellington; Master Winton Brown, Otaki; Master. Fergus Reeves, Wellington, Master H. Wood. Recalls —Masters'L. A. Riddell, L. Power, Fergus Reeves, and H. Wood. Honourable mention—Master W. Brown.

Result —1, Master L. Power, 118 ■marks; 2, Master Fergus Reeves, 105; 8, Master Wood, 104. Honourable mention—Master L. A. Riddell.

MUSICAL MONOLOGUE. Musical Monologue .Owh selection First prize, £2; second, £1. Entrants —Mr. Will. R. Millier, Wellington ("Sn^wflakcs"); Mr. B. P. Brown, Otaki ("Crossing the Bar"); Mr. ErnsE F. Luks, Wellington ("The Quitter"); Mr. Alfred Spencer, Wellington; Mr. Francis R. Picot, Wellington ("His Pipe"); Mr.' Charles Edward Madden, Pahiatua ("The Dream Ring of the Desert"); Mr. Kenneth Aitken, Levin ("Mad Carew"); Mr. Kevin 8. Dillon, Greymouth ("My Pal Tim"); Mr. L. W. Hanlon, Wellington; Mr. D. P. M. Bonnet, Wellington ("If"We Only Knew"); Mr: W. W. Crawford, Dunedin ("Devil May Care"); Mr. J. A. Walsh, .Pahiatua ("An Old Bachelor"); Mr. Norman 'Aitken. Wellington; "Mr. K. E. Shor-1 ney, Wellington .("The Green Eye of j the Little Yellow God"); Mr. Peter ! Al6x. Jones, Wellington. Recalls—Messrs. E. F. Luks, K. S. Billon, Norman Aitken, and. P. A 'Jones. Honourable mention—Messrs. B. P. Brown, F. P. I'inot, W. Hanlon, W. W. Crawford, and K. E. Shorney. Result—l, Mr. K. Dillon, 140 marks; 2, Mr. P. A. Jones, 134; 3, Mr. Norman 'Aitken, 130. Honourable mention— \lr. E. Luks, 127. HUMOROUS RECITAL. Humorous Recital (gentlemen)— Own 'selection. First prize, £2; second, £1. Entrants—Mr. John J. Casey, Roseneath ("Snorkins"); Mr. B.'P. Brown, Otaki ("Tho 11.69 Express"); Mr. Francis Raymond Picot, Wellington ("The Cynic"); Mr. Ernst F. Luks, . Wellington ("My Mate Bill"); Mr. Clifford B. Holmes, Palmerston North £'Onr Guido in Rome") ; Mr. Charles Edward Maddon, Pahiatua ("How Sockery Set a He.u"); Mr. D. P, M. Bennett, Wellington ("The Broken Bowl"); Mr. W. W. Crawford, Dunedin ("Snorkins"); Mr. L. W. Hanlon, Wellington; Mr. Kevin Dillon, Greymouth ("Tho Dog's Funeral"); Mr. Norman Aitken, Wellingon ("The 10.30 Down Express"); Mr. K. E. ' Shorney, Wellington .("The Cynic"); Mr. Sydney Tingey, Wellington ("Paradi-v"); Dr. Hales, Wellington ("Casey"*).. Recalls —Messrs. K. E. Shorney, W. W. Cr.fiT.'/ord, and Dr. Hales. Honourable msntion —Messrs. Picot, E. Luks, L. W. Hanlon, and K. Dillon. As is usuaT the humorous recital for gentlemen produced a crop of valiant hunters after the elusive laughter of (in audience. It is curious to note that the gravest audiences at tiie competitions aro thoso listening to humorous recitations and songs. It would appear that they are not there to laugh, but rather to coldly criticiso. They sit stonily—interested, intensely, jwtojeeste(L

—but are rarely if ever guilty of laughter, and the performer who surprises it may consider himself an easy winner. One audience sat unmoved whilst a .young man gave a very passable recital of that passage from Mark Twain's "Innocents Abroad," usually called "Our Guide in Rome." It is packed with delightfully dry humour, but throughout the recital there was no luughtor—faint smiles only encouraged the performer at, rare intervals. Ono experienced performer stopped short after the first half dozen lines, and seeing the judge looking for the lines to prompt him, said to him: "Never mind, I'll go and have a game.of bowls!" And off he went. Ono competitor was Scotch —tho real thing. So much so that few could plumb .the depths of Caledonian humour the piece involved —"The Broken Bowl." T\ra competitors proffered "Snorkins," which involved some characterisation. One was rather tame and stodgy in the attempt, but the., other was bright and chippy and rattled along at a lively rate and. his characters were all kept clear and distinct, and with no littlo Humour. The audience actually giggled at this performer's capital assumption of inebriation. It seems to be impossible to avoid the tattered old burlesque on "Tho .Charge ofjhe Light Brigade." It popped up yesterday in tho humorous recital and made one feel sorry both for Tennyson and the per"The Cynic" was twice given and enjoyed. The success of the afternoon was Dr. Norman Hales, who gave a _ rambling sequence of Irish stories with immense gusto and natural humour. ' ■

In referring to this class the judge said that many of the pieces selected involved a dialect, and in the greater number of cases this was faulty. There was one perfect .dialect, No. 9 (Mr. D. P. M. Bennett who unfortunately, from an elocutionary point of view, lost, marks.

Result—L Mr. W. W. Crawford, 117 marks; 2, MpT K. Shorney, 110; 3, Dr. Norman Hales, 103.

CHAMPION PIANO SOLO.

Grand Champion Piano Solo—Test Piece: Ballade in, G Minor, Chopin. First prize, £130 Chappell Grand Piano, presented by F. J. Pinny, Ltd., Wellington; Beyond prize, £o. Entrants ( Miss K. Quill, Otaki; Miss Gertie Blackloek, Wellington; Miss Nita Green,' Palmerston North; Miss Amy Remington, Wellington: , Miss Mary Vickers. Auckland; Miss D. R. Watkins, Wellington; Miss P. P. Hanify, Wellington;, Miss Madoline Webba, Auckland.

; Only. the first section of this class — I eight performers—were taken, yesterday afternoon by Mr. Ha'old Gregson, | the judge. The best of the performers were Misses K. Quill, Amy Remington, P. P. Hanify, and Madoline Webbe. The "Ballade" is a work that calls for a very complete technical equipment, refined temperament, and not a little physical strength to givi forceful expression to the tumultuous passages. Of yesterday's performers it would not be amiss to mention that both Miss Quill and Miss Hanify gave remarkably good readings. - PIANO SOLO. Piano Solo (under 16) —Test Piece: "To the Spring," Greig Ist prize,, silver medal; 2nd, bronze medal. Entrants: Annie Thomas, Kilbirnie; George Mackay, Wellington; Dora Wilson, Wellington; Freda Feear, North Kilbirnie; Phyllis Road, Northland;

Florence Fitzgerald, Oriental Bay; Ruby Jones, Levin; Eva Harris, Haitaitai; Gwen Pike, Newtown; Alberta Muir; To Horo.

Recalls: George Mackay, Florence Fitzgerald, and Alberta Muir. Honourable mention: Ruby Jones and Eva Harris." Result—l, Miss Florence Fitzgerald, 132 marks; Miss A.' Muir, 125; 3, Master Geo. Mackay, 120. Mr. Gregson stated that Greig's charming little piece was a little beyond mo9t of the young players he had heard that afternoon, not in Tespect to execution, but temperamentally. ~ The winner had given quite a delightful performance, better that evening than in the afternoon. She had used the tompo rubato effectively, but had made some slips in the arpeggi. TENOR SOLO. Tenor Solo —Test" piece: "Ichabod" (Tschaikowsky). First prize, £2; second, £1. Entrants—Mr.' George J. Blackie, Dunedin; Mr. Jonathan B. Bowman, Wellington; Mr. L. Bowser, Blenheim; Mr. Alfred Mottershead, Levin; Mr. Percival Martin, Wellington. Recalls —Messrs. G. Blackie, J. B. Bowman, and L. Bowser. Tenors are as rare as -black pearls. Yesterday's competitions for that class of vocalist did not give any promise that the market would ease at all. The first tenor was a light baritone. The quality of the second singer's voice was nasal and astringent—the rest were not nearly equal to the demands\ of the Tschaikowsky song. Result—l, Mr. George Blackie, Dunedin, 113 marks (one prize only); 2, Mr. ■

J. B. Bowman, 100; 3, Mr. L. Bowser, 91. GIRLS' SONG. . Song (girls under 21)— Own Selection. First prize, £2; second. £1. Entrants —Miss Myrtle Boutell, Lyall Bay.; Miss Myfanwy Owen, Wadestown; Miss Doris M. Signal, Foxton; Miss Olga M. Nicholson, Levin; MiBS Elvira Cameron, Auckland; Miss Annie E. Potrie, Wellington; Miss Maggießhynd, Brooklyn; Miss Ivy Stewart, Brooklyn; Miss Doris Symes, Wanganui. Recalls —Misses Myrtle Boutell, Signal, Nicholson, and Stewart. The most arresting voice that this section produced was that of Miss Olga Nicholson, of Levin, who sang "Home, Sweet Home" in Maori. She has a soprano voice of singular purity, prettily tremulant with sympathy, rotund, and extremely musical. Her performance induced a hearty and spontaneous burst of applause. Other talented performers in this section were Misses Doris Signal, Elvira Cameron, Maggie Rhynd, and Ivy Stewart., A tiny little six-year-older, Miss Doris Symes (daughter of Mrs. Ivo Symes, of Wanganui) also sang very prettily, displaying a good voice in embryo. The judge (Mr. Baeyertz) said that the little girl who performed last, though she could not win, gave an interesting performance. She 'was nervous at the outset, but improved towards tho end. She was & coming champion. Result—l, Miss Doris' Signal, 111 marks; 2, Miss Olga Nicholson, 106; 3, Miss Ivy Stewart, 105. Honourable mention—Miss Myrtle Boutell, 103; A word of forgotten commendation is duo to Mr. Christian Hellemann,i whose accompaniments are proving to be one of the features of this year's competitions. He is always helpful and sympathetic, and the society is fortunate in having scoured his services. STORY WITHOUT WORDS. Story Without Words—Own selection. Entrants —Miss Lissack and Mr. Norman Aitkon, Mr. C. Bentley Russell and Mr. N. Moss, Mis 3 Prichard and Mr. Ernst F. Luks, Mrs. M. Mil-' lar and) Mr. C.'Bentley Russell, Miss Ethel Lissack and Dr. Norman C. Hales, Mrs. J. R. Lundon (Auckland) and Mr. .Ernst F. Luks. Result—Miss Ethel Lissack and Dr. N Hales, 1: Mrs. M. Millar and Mr. C. Bentlev Russell, 2; Miss Prichard and Mr. Luks, 3. EVENING CONCERT. Again there was a somewhat sparse audience at tho Town evening, one that was not at all commensurate in size with tho merit of the entertainment provided. There is little doubt that a great many pcoplo who would, in the ordinary course, attend these concerts are really afraid to leave thpir homes of an evening owing

to the scenes of .violence that havo occurred in certain localities. These, however, are far removed from the Town Hall, where all is peace and harmony. Tho threo children who wero recalled in tho piano section (No. 16), Master Geo. Mackay and Misses Florence Fitzgerald and Alberta Muir, faced tho judgo in the final test, playing Greig's charming pastoral, "To the Spring." "A Child's Evensong" (ltichard le Galicnne) was very prettily recited by Misses Inez Mitchell, Peggy Reeves, Alma Hrasbing, and Telma Crosby. In the song for girls under 21, Miss Myrtle Boutell, who was obviously nervous, sang vfcry sweetly the old song, "Consider tho Lilies." Miss Doris Signal selected Gonng Thomas's charming song, ''A Summer Night," which she treated with artistic discretion. Miss Olga Nicholson, who possesses a pure and very beautiful soprano voiice, wan accorded something like uli ovation for her singing in Maori of "Homo, Sweet Home." Her solo fault was her phrasing, which was not so very deficient either. Doris Symes, aged six, pleased the audience immensely in "My Treasure." Emotional' musical monologues, all with a toucli of the lugubrious were contributed try Messrs. E. Luks, K. S. Dillon, N. Aitken, and P. A. Jones. There is a need for someone to write a few monologues imbued with the sunshine of hope for present-day examples seem to riot in a gloomy sentimentality that must be fearfully depressing to- the emotionally-inclined. "The Gay Gordons" was brightly recited by Messrs. ,L. Power, Fergus Reeves, L. Riddell, and —. Wood. We will pass tho tenor division—tho onry one who sang Ischaikowsky's fine song, "Ichabod," reasonably well was a light baritone. Miss Lilian Prichard read a passage from "Diana of the Crossways" with much charm and intelligence, and Dr. Norman Hales was little less effective. In tho humorous recitals, Dr. Hales scored as a laughtermaker, though his Irish yarns' could hardly be classed as a recitation. They were, however,' richly humorous and well told. Mr. P. A. Jones was inclined to bo ultra dramatic in tho musical monologue, "Devil-May-Care," and Mr. K. Dillon was effective in "Sly Pal, Tim." Tho entertainment concluded with several very cleverly-acted "Songs Without Words."

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME, A grand Chappell piano, valued at £130, presented by Messrs. F. J. Pinny, Ltd., is the first prize for tho grand champion piano solo to-day. In all, twenty-four competitors have entered. Twelve were heard yesterday, the remainder will appear before tho judge this afternoon. Four will be drawn for the finals, which will be taken in the evening. _ In addition to tile foregoing, the evening's programme will consist of recitations for boys, soprano solos, and humorous recitals' for ladies. By special request, Miss Lilian Prichard, of Melbourne, champion lady elocutionist at tho 1911 competitions, will recite Ophelia's mad scene, from "Hamlet."