THOMAS MOORE FESTIVAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 3

THOMAS MOORE FESTIVAL

HUSId AND ELOCUTION CONTESTS

BEGG AND BRISTOL SHIELDS

Thomas Moore, Ihe most beloved and pre-eminent of Irish poets, hardly occupies the place even amoiii; ' iio Irish that Bums does among the Scots, yet e-ery line he.wrote almost breathes that spirit of melancholic beauty so lunch appreciated by the eons and daughters oi Erin no mutter where they way be. At the festival in honour oi the poeli held in the Sydney Street Sclioolruoin on Saturday, Mr. P. J. O'Kegaii, who acteil lie judge of the elocutionary ;;tction, •taled a bald truth that the senilis of Moore was not so much appreciated nuv were his works so well known aniosg t!ie Irish as they deserved lo be, <"iid he hopea that the rising generatior, oi' tiie descendants of Irish people would seek to maintajn and'foster a love and veneration for the poenis and songs of -Moore. It was Moore who had given permanent lifn In those fine old Irish melodies that would never die, and all his works preserved tlie traditions and sentiment of the Irish people in a very beautiful and appealing way.

It is gratifying to aeo t ; iat the Moore festival is becoming an established annual institution in Wellington. ' : !)is year the competitions were, as usual, to have been hold at the Concert Chamber, 'and the hall was booked for /that purposp, but almost at the last moment the manugement was informed that they coiild not have the liall, as the Town-planning Conference would require it. This seriously affected the result, for the Sydney Street Hall is by no means central, and the financial results were not what they would live l)een" had they had the use of the Concert \Chaniber.

As it* was ■•the entries were never heavier. There were 78 individual entries, including some sixty children irom Petone (who sang as a choir as well as in the solos and duets), and the. performances generally, particularly in tho musical section, were exceedingly meritorious. Two choirs in particular showed the degree of perfection that can he obtained by careful and intelligent training. The referonco is to the girls' choir from Guilford Terrace (Thorndon) and the Thorndon Marist Bros.' choir. The competitions lasted the whole of the day and up till 10 p.m., and were thoroughly enjoyed bv all who were present. The public will be able to 'lear the winnein at a specially attractive concert to be given in the large Town Hall on Wednesday evening, when adult artists will also pay tributes to the memory of Moore. In the music sections, which preponderated. Mr. Frank Oakes acted ns judge. Mr. P. J. O'Restan officiated as judge in the elocutionary sections, and Mrs. Ellis 1 played the accompaniments. The results were as follow.—

Choir Section, Begg Shield.—Open to bona-fide pupils of any Catholic primary school within n radius of 20 miles of the G.P.0., Wciline ton. Test pieces: "The Valley Lay Smilins" and "Erin, the Tear" (unaccompanied)— Tasmaii Street Jfariet Uros.* Choir (160 points), 1; Thorndon Marist Bros. (152), To many present the result came ae a very ?reat surprise. Bristol Shield.—Open to 'bonn-fido pupils of .primary schools, both public and private. Test pieces: "Canadian Moat Song" and "I Saw from the Beach" imiaccompanied)—Thorndon iianst Bros.' Choir (150) t 1; Tasmaii Street Variat Bros. (147), 2.

Special Chall?n»e Shield.-Girls' choir*/ Open to bona-fide pupils of any Catholic girls' primary school. Test nieces: "Ltvp s Young Dream" and "Oft in the fc*"ly Night"—Petone School (UD, 1; Thorndnn (Guildford Terrace) School (145), 2. In this cjass the best choir did not win, simply because they elected to einj; both pieces in unison instead »f in harmony, but in refinement of tone, nhrasing, and expression the Guildford Terrace girls gave the most delightful exposition nf ensemble singing of the evening, and it will a great pity if they are not included in Wednesday's programme.

Miscellaneous, -Soprano Solo .for Girls.--Teat piece, "The Young May Moon": Molly Koating (Petone), 66 points, 1; Millicent ffanl (Pntone), 64, 2.

Soprano Solo for :?oyß.—Test piece, "She is Far From the Laud": Thomas Goorge (Thorndon Jfarist Bros.), 79, 1; J. Waters (Thorndon), .76, •}. in both cases these boys eang charmingly. Duet for Girls—Test piece, "The Meeting of the A¥aters"i Marie Keating- and Ajainie Gaynor (Petone). Gi, J: Molly iieating and — Kearns (Petone), 6, r >, 2.' Alto Solo for Boys.—Test piece, "0 Breathe Not His Name": Cecil Waters (Thorndon), 7-1, 1; Eric Murphy (Tasinan Street), 62, 2.

Dnet for Boys—Test uiece, 'The Mooting of the Waters": John and Cecil Waters (Tkorndon), 77, 1; Frank Witty and. William Cate (Petone). 42, t. Boys' Solo.—Test piece, "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms": J. Waters (Thorndon;, 75. 1; Thomas George (Thorndon), 71, 2. Girls' Solo-Test piece, 'The LnstEose of Summer": Millicent' Ward (Petone), 68, 1; Millicent M'Kay ('f horndon), 52, 2.

' .. Elocution. ; Girls' Jtecitnl.-Test piece, "The Pilgrim": Eileen Higgins, i 8 points, 1; Millicent M'Kay, US, 2. Boys' PLecital.—Test piece "The Dying Warrior": C. Knight, 45, 1; F. Began, 41, i.