COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1905, 13 November 1913, Page 10

COMPETITIONS.

CHURCH CHOIR CONTEST.

FEILDING MM SHIELD.

The audiences yesterday at the (Joni-, petitions held in the Town Hail woro the largest sinco tho opening day, the largo hall being practically lull at tho evening perferinaneo. Tho chief attraction was the chufcli choir contest, held -last' night. There were only two entries, cach choir consisting <of 25 Voices. Tho first prize consisted of a >ihrer challengo shield., presented by Ciiarics Begg and Co., a.nd il2o, and' the second prize was £10. The contestants were the Feildiiig Wesley Choir (conductor, Mr. Temple White), and tho Grafton Road Methodist Clioir, Auckland (conductor) SirlE,- J. Gat-land). There were thres testa., each choir being required to sing, "The Sun Shall be lie Slore" (Woodward), the hymn, "Abido with Me.," and their own selection; that chosen by the Feilding choir being '"'Weary Wind <if the West,'' while Auckland's choice . .was "The Parting Kiss, 1 ' Tho latter suffered f-Mm faulty intonation and flatness, -but they made batter effects ih the liynrn. Another treat was provided by the Shakesperean recital by gentlemen. the test piecos being, "On Kiijgty Greatness" and "Death and Honour." This drew fifteen competitors, and such excellent interpretations of King Richard II and Falsiaff were given that the* judgo selected four to appear in the final. In the Scotch song class, "Annie Laurie" was tho favourite, though two of the four comnetitors who had selected this popular air failed to face the judge. Two of tho three who woro recalled had made this selection,. whilst Mr. Blackio (Duuodift), a pure tenor, gave a masterly rendering of "Mary of Argyle." All t-lio ten entrants in the baritone class faced the judge, and soitio capital renderings wre given of Schubert's "Dor Leiermaim," one of the greatest stings evor written. Mr. Spillajie (Wanganui) sang it in the original. Tho results were as follow: — CHURCH CHOIR CONTEST,

1, Feilding Wesley. piece, 189; own selection, 148; hjrain, 146; total, 433. 2. Grafton,.Road Choir, Auckland--test piece, 131; own sclcction, 144 ; hymn, l lsl; total, 423.

PIANO SOLO. Piano Solo (under 21). For competitors who hikvo never won a first prize at previous competitions. Test, piece; Sonata, iii D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (Beethoven). First movement only required. First- prize, £1. IQs.; second, 13s.

Entrants.—Mattie Gilpin,- Kilbirn'e; Gwen D. Shepherd, Ktlbirule; Leo. E. von Keisenherg, Wellington; Nellio Bennett, Wellington; Blanco Crump, Wellington; Doris M. Easson, Kilbiriihs; M-arjorie H. Shepherd, H.ilbirnie; Nor* man K. 'Thomson, Wellington South. Reealls.—'Misses Shepherd and "Bennett. Hoi). mention—Miss EaßsiFti. _ Result :-~-l, Miss Shepherd, 126 points; 2, Miss Bennett, 123; 3, Miss Ea'Sson, m

Mr. Gregseu, in making his award, said that the test piece was one of Beethoven's most dramatic compositions, the first movement being very different from other sonatas, being .known as the recitative sonata. Miss Shepherd hud some conceptions of the dramatic element of composition, but there was far too much pedal used by Miss Bentiett, who showed too many technical blemishes. . SCOTCH SONG. ' Scotch Song (gentlemen). Own selection. First prize, £2; second, El. Entrants—Mr. George H. Andrews, Tiffinru ("The Border").; Mr. Percy 11. .Davie, Masterton ("Annie Laurie")! Mr. A. (4. Thompson, Nelsoii ("Lassie wi' the Lips sae Rosy").; Mi". George J. Blackie, Dunedin ("Mary of Atgyle")- Mr. C. I. Spillatic, Wangamii ("Annie Laurie"). Recalls —Messrs. Davie, Blackie, and Spillano. Result—l, Mr. SpiMane, 131 points; 2, .Mr. Blackie, 130; .3 Mr. Davies, 128.

The winner, said the judge, gave a vory good interpretation, thotigh there Was a little teo much Ba.saJ resonance; Mr. Blaekie, who gave an artistic interpretation, exercised, fine restraint, but sang out of lune, his breathing aiso* being defective; while Mr. Davie's rendering was marred by the change to upper register. DUET. Duet (lady and gentleman). Own selection. Not humorous. First prize, £2; second, £1. Entrants.—Mr. W. A. Pfingle and Miss Ethel I'ringlc, Levin; Miss F. J. Paeey and Mi'. 6. J. Blaekie,-Duuedin; Miss Lily Brown and Mr. l'ercival Martin, Wellington; Miss Brittain and Mr. H. Phipps, Wellington; Miss Alice Wood and Mr. 0. I. Spillane, Wairganui, Recalls.—Miss Brown and Air. Martin; Miss Brittain and Mr. Phipps. Result—l, Miss Brittain and Mr. Phipps, 121 points; 2, Miss Brown and Mr. Martin, 118. BARITONE SOLO. J Baritone Solo. Test Pieeo: "Oer ] Leiormann,". Schubert; (Augener's Edi* i tiou, No, 8900 b). . First prize, £2;-' second, £l. Entrants. —Mr- Harold Aekroyd, Ha-, wera; Mr. Percy H Davie, Mastextoij; Mr. Ueorgo H. Bacon, Wellington; Mr. George W. Andrews,' Timaru; Mr.. George H. Ralph, Ilmraua; Mr. Bernard itounell, Ohristchurch; Mr. T. 11. Heketa, Kiltiiriiie; Mr. A. IS. Thompson, Nelson; Mr. 0. I. Spillane, Wanganiti; Mr. N. Hutchinson, Auckland. Recalls^—Messrs. Andrews, Heketa, Thompson, ami Spillane. Result.—l, Mr. Thompson, 123 points; 2, Mr. Heketa, 121; 3, Mr. Andrews, 119; 4 Mr. Spillane. ORIGINAL RECITATION OR SKETCH. Original Rcjcitatiou or Sketch {boys and girls under 16')- Not in character, •composed for or by competitor, to V.o j judged both on composition and delivery. First prize, silver medal; second j prize, bronze medal. i Entrants.—Miss Zita H.;' Chapman, Lower Hutt ("A Morning ; Master Leonard Power, Wellington ("Our Church"). . Result.—Miss Chapman, 1; Master Power, 2. The winner in this eontest, said Mr. Baeyei'tz, chose a very difficult piece, ■ and recited iV remarkably well. There ivera a few little technical defects noticeable, but on the whole she did very welt.

SHAKESPEAREAN RECITAL. Shakespearean Rocitni (gentlemen). Test Piece: (a) "On Kingly Greatness." Olio King, in "King Richard It., Act 111., Scene 2); (b) "Death and Honour. 1 ' (Falstaff, in "King Henry IV," Part 1). ■ First prize, £2 ; second, £1. • Entrants.—Sir. Kevin Billon, Greymcuth; Mr. Norman Aitken, W<?Hiiig* ton; Mr. L. W. H anion, Wellington; Mr. B. P. Brown, Otabij Dr. Norman St. C. Hales, Wellington; Mr. John Joseph Casey, Wellington; Mr. Sydney Tiugey, Wellington; Mr. Ernest if. litiks, Wellington; Mr. Francis R. Picot, Wellington; Mr. Alfred Spencer, Wellingtcn; Mr. A. J. Mason, Petone; Mr. David P. M. lk'linol, Wellington; Mr. W. W. Crawford,' DuiwdiviMr. K. E. Shoriioy, Wellington: Mr. '.Thomas Anton, Wellington, , • .

Recalls.--Messrs. Aitken, Brown, Tingey, and Dr. Hales. Hon. mention: Messrs. Dillon, Hanlon, Tingey, I.uks, Pieot, Spencer, Crawford, and Shorney.

Result—l, Sir. Brown, 119 points; 2 (oqiial), Dr. Hales find Mr. Aitken, 115; 3, Mr. Tingey, 112. The. judge remarked that this was the results were excellent, and there wore best elocutionary section lie had adjudicated uson in that cojajmtition. The

five honourable mentions in addition to those recalled. _ Falstaif was perhaps tho greatest comic figure in comedy, btit Sumo of the coinpc'.itors had made ''Death and Honour" t raged.), with tragic results. HUMOROUS RECITAL. Humorous Recital (girls Under 16')— own selection. (Time limit, 5 minutes.) First prize-, silvsr medal; second, brouza modal. Entrants.—Miss Inez Mitchell, Falmefston Jfarfh-; Miss Peggy Reeves, Wellington; Miss Hazel F. Jefferv, 'tV«t lihgtpii j Miss Phyllis M. Adam's, Wellington ; Miss lici'tha Cross. Lower llutt; Miss Zilo Chapman,, Lower Hntt; Miss Avyco Curtis, iPotono; Miss Sylvia TJet.v, Fetone; Miss \ r - Jolinsflii, 'Wellington; Miss; 51. Bishop. Recalls—Misses .Tefiery, Clmpman, and Vdy. Hon. mc-ntiori; Misses Mitchell, Reaves, and Cross. Result.—l, Miss Z?ta Cliiipiiian, 116 points; 2, Miss Udv,] 12 : 3. Miss Jetfery, 109. ■

P-XIGHT'S PROGRAMME. _ Tho Gommittioo of the Competitions Society hiivo extended the sections ili the choral worlt .'this year by adding, to the syllabus a grand choral contest, tho first prize for which is £50, Four choirs havo signified their intention of competing, viz., the Grafton. Road Choir, Auckland, the Feilding Choir, Wellington Gleo and Madrigal Olub, and the Wellington Amateur Choral Club. -Those choirs will perform this evening, when tho results will bo declared. *Fhere are into test pieces—(a) "By Babylon's Waves," and (b) own selection (secular)., There will also bo the finals for the children's dances, mezzo soprano solos, recitations, bass solos, etc.