COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 2

COMPETITIONS.

IUSIC, ELOCUTION, DANCING. : - IMPROMPTU SPEECHES. J Yesterday's contests at the Competi;ions at the Town Hal! were perhaps iho most interesting met with during he whole of tho Competitions. The following .are the results of the rsiriaus competitions: — PIANO SOLO. Piano Solo—Test pieces; <n) Ktinte O Sharp Minor. Op. 25, No 7, "Chopiii. (b) Hoxentanz: Macslmvell. (Both pieces required.) First prize, £3; second. £1. .„ ~, , Entrants-Miss P. P. Banity, Kngtonj Mr. H. P. Briasco, papier; Miss Jean BorMwes, Climtchureh; Miss Nellie BcMiett, Wellington; Miss Nita Green, Palmerston North; Miss K. CresswelL Ashtarton; Mr. )\iltred Hampton, Miistor,ton; Miss M. M'Boan, Woilmgtai; Miss G. Kil'tlic'judge (Mr. Gregson) rmnarkwl that the playing in this section had been on a' higher piano than in tlie recitai class. It had been qmte a pleasure for him to judgo worn at sucu a standard. -He lug M.v ..commenced Miss Green and Mr. Bnasco.. In the course of an interesting comment on the test piere, Mr, Crcgson said: "Tho mechanical aspect oi this etude in C sharp minor is not excessively difficult. Kullak says, 'It created to serve ns a stufly in delivery.It is sad throughout. One write has adopted as a kind of mottor for it, liie heart hns not lost something, it has lost everything.' This study—or perhaps one might almost call it a nocturne—is written as a kind of duet,. in which olio seems to hear a human voice sustained by a'cello obligate, in© opening phrase reminds ono or_ t« ■S minor Ballade, but it is emphatically a 'cello phrase.' Chopin was fond oi the 'sella, and it is well known that he imitated tho style of passages peculiar to,that instrument. Tho whelo ffork mist bo played slowly, with inuch sadness, and with great simplicity and expression. Tho Hesentanz or Vt itches Daftce is in complete contrast to tlm Oliopifi etude, and portioas must bo played with as delicate a touch as possible—with the lightness of gossamer. Recalls—Misses Hsraify, 13orrow.es, and Cres-swoll. , KesuJ't—l, Miss CrcsswcH, 106 marks; ■ 2, Miss Burrowos, ISO marks; 3, Miss j Hanify, 147 marks. LADIES' IMPROMPTU SPEECH. Impromptu Speech, Ivumorous (ladies). Subject—"lβ Marriage a Failure i Time-limit, five minutes. One mimi'to to prepare. First priafr, £2; second, £1. Entrants—Mrs. R. Jansen, AVollington; Mrs. J. Hannah, Wellington; Mrs. G. M'Guiro, Wellington; Mrs. A. O.'SrfKvan, Wellington; Mrs. A. H. Hawkins.. Wellington. There wore only two of. the ongffla entranta left in this section. A call was made for lady volunteers from ■ among the- audience. After a good deal of gentle persuasion four ladies supplemented the two original entrants. The ensuing contest was a, most amusing one. The first, speaker was Mrs. H. Jansen, and, speaking as n woman married for a number of years she considered that marriage was not a failure in any so-nso of t.Ho word. She did-not put forward any proofs in support of her statement, but contented hersoif with giving a, word of advice to young peopto with hyfiienial prospects in view. "Tho next speaker, Sirs.. A- O.'Stfllivan, launolied out in quite an origins! fashion, niu! licaped coals of fire on tho masculine head,' in tho sliapo of quotations from a number of writers', All depended on tiio men, slw considered, attd granted their conscientious support-, marriage was a distinct success. "It all dopenls ou your lui&fcand." said Mrs. J. Hannah. "If ho is ■just your husband, and not a friend, then marriage is going to ho a very bad failure.'" _ The well of eloquence- in Mrs. A. H. Hawkins, the nest speaker, had runtfry before she had spoken her allotted time. She hncl viaio to. remark, however, that tlio subject was a very delicate one. If you got too mwAi of pot cleaning and minding the children, marriage was a A similar fate befell Mrs J. M'Gftiro. She remarked that she had found marria«o a huge s«c-:cßs, and it was tho happiest state in life. Having got So far, she could not proceed ijny furtlief . Rosult-l, Mrs. Hannah, 110 marks; 2, Mrs. O'Sallivan, 102 marJtß; 3 Mrs. Janeon, 85 marks. IMPROMPTU SPEECH (SERIOUS). Itnpioniptu Speech, serious (.ladies and gentlemen), 'lime limit,. 8 minutes. One minut'o to propara. First prize, hi ; secondj £1. • ~, Entrants-Mv. Henry E. Moston, \YaMr. Clifford 13. Holmes, PainerstoH. North; Oscar Borer, Wellington; Mrs. 13. Jansen, Wellington; Mi° A. J. Humphreys AYellu'.RUm: Mr. L W. Hanloß, WeHiugtou; Mr. A. h. Airton, WolUngtfm; E. Casoy f AttcWattd. The subject for debate vas '■Iho JJefocis of Onr Modern Education.- , x>o matter was dealt with in divers ways by the different speakers. Some of the speeches were interesting and others unintentionally humorous, One speaker, a lady, commenced by saying after a moment's thought, that, she tho opinion tliat our education system htul just one or two little Haws in it. felie gathered uw strength as sho pradeeded, and by the timo stie liad reached the ond tho "little flaws" had grown io "appalling and striking defects.Mr. Casey, 110 ma.tks; 2, Mr Auton, marks; 3, Messrs. Borer and Humphnys, 09 maiks each. CHARACTER SKETCH. Character Sketch. Pathetic or dramatio (In costume and with make-up.) Chal-aeters must bo chosen from standard authors. Time limit, *ight minutes. Selection to bo submitted at tinio ot entry. First priM, £3; stolid. ». Entj-ants.-Miss L. Pnclwrd, Melbourne ("Comedy and Tragedy'); Miss Jauo i'ctrie, Wellington (Potion bcmie, "Borneo and Jnlint"); Mr- .Sydney finccv, Wellington ("Mark. Antony's Lameiit Over the Body of Caesar," Julius Caesar, Act 111, Scene 1); Mr. Norman ■ Aitken Wellington ("Clarence's DreWh; Mr, P. P.i M. Beimot, Wellin.l-* ("i)uko of Gloucester Meditating • the . Death of his Brother Clarence"); Mr"W W. Crawford, Ditnectui ('\Kicn--1 ard the Third's Despair"); Mr. B, P. ! Brown, Otaki ("Cinrenoe's Dream ); ' Miss P. Brown, Otaki "Potion Scene," i "Itemeo and Juliet"); Mv. Ernest F. ! Luks, Wellington ("Due do Roich- ; stadt." L'Aiglbn); Miss G. D. Shop- • herd ' Wellington ("Aiuio Boloyivs Ap--1 peal to Henry VIII"). • lkcalls—Misses Lilian Pr-icliai-d, Pau- ' liiio B.ro\vn. and Mr. E. V, Luks. Hon--1 ourablo mention was given to Miss i. ' Pofcrie and Ttlcssrs. N. Aitkeli, and W, \ W Crawford. ! Besult—l, Miss Prichard, 126 marks; 1 2, Mr. Lwks, 115 marks; 3, Miss • Brown, 112 marks. GENTLEMEN'S SOLO. Solo (gentlemen). Competitors must sing an operatic selection and a lied, song or ballad. No competitor can qualify "for chanipiciiisliii) modal unless lie compotes in this section. First priue, ii\ (donated by British and Coutiiiontal ' Pimin Co., Wellington);'second, £1 10s. Entrants.—-Mr. T. H., Heketa, Kiibirnio, (a) "I'hantasio Wolframs," (h) "luviclus" ; Jtr. Herbert llano, Weljiiigtflii (a) '"She Alone Cliarmeth," (b) •'Four by th<- Clock"); Mr. Jonathan ' B. Boivnian, Wellington, (a) "Lend mo '• your Aid," (b) "Tho Wooinn of t)ie Raso"; Mr. .Ocorjj« H, Anarmva, Ti-

mam (a) "Even Bravest Hearts May > Swell, (b) "Kip Van Winkle"; Mr. /3> Frank Titnley, Wellington, (a) "Withm &» Those Sacred Bowers," (W "Tho Wind-. S mill"; Mr. A. G- Thompson, Nelson _<a) ■ fti "Clouds Alay Hise," (b) "I Hear You 13 Callinc Mo"'; Mi-. C. 1. Spijlnno, Wa- | ngamii, (a) '".Toreador," (b) "Two | a Grenadiers." ' sj Recalls—Messrs. Harre, Andrews, and I a Thompson. HonournMe mention was ;j fciwn to Mos-srs. Hekcta and Spillane. i Result—l, Mr. Andrews.2so n>nrks;i'fj 2, Mr. Thojnnstin, 246 marks) 3, Mr. | Harrc, '243 marks. ? BOYS' BECITATION. I Ilccitatinu <[boys yuulor 14) who li.avo | lievpf.won n first prizo at previous ooni- | p«titkms. Test piec-e, "Jlessiuatos," p ilenry Nosvbolt. (From "Tho island | l(ace,"s First prize, filvcr. medal; see- | and, bronzo medal.' I Untrante —Master Selwyn Marry&tt, g Levin; Master % Soon-Brown, Dun- | edin; Master h. A. Kidd,ell, Wellington, r ■ .Recalls —Master Jlarrj'att, beoit Brnwn. and lliddsll. Hosult—l, Master R-iddell, 102 marks; 2, Master Marryat, 03 marks; \ I 3, Master Seou Brown, 91 marks.- s HUMOROUS IMPROMPTU SPEECH, jj The contest fot fhe lminorous ini- ( promptu speoelu as was anticipated, was ; a most Cutcrtaiiiing contest, and some | of tlie speeches were genuinely kumor- | ows. Tiiere wore sewn competitors— Sj Messrs. C. Treadwell, C. B. Eoimes, A. ,j 3. Humphreys, Jj. W. Hanlon, L. Autou, \ J. Andrews, and E. Casey '] The subject for the speech was "Wo- ; man." i> Result—l, Mr. Treadwell, 120 marks; fl 2, Afessrs. Casey and Humphreys, 102 \ marks each ; 3, Messrs. Auton and Martyn, 100 mark's each. CONTRALTO SOLO. ,| There were only two entrants for tho contralto solo—Sliss Aiiiiio Wood and ] Mrs. Victor Astill, Tlio test, piece was » "Uoat Song" CH. Ware)Result—l, Mrs. Astill, 117 marks; 2, „ Miss Wood, 115 marks.