MASTERTON COMPETITIONS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10683, 10 July 1912, Page 5

MASTERTON COMPETITIONS

FIRST DAY. SUCCESSFUL OPENI-NG WFIOERS:

IVron, His Exce'.'oncy the Governor, lord Islington-; President, Dr P. IR'. Cook; Vice-Presidents, Messrs JR. w. iRoSb-son and G. R. Sykcs, M.P.; treasurer, Mr M. It. Varn3iam; vocal and elocutionary judge, Mt C. N. Baeycintz (editor Triad, Dimcdin); accomipanibt, Mks V. Bamjptfon; inatramental judge. Mr Harold G-regsan (Auckland); Cbmmittee, Mcirers G. H. OuClen, A. Donald, J. Georgosou, H. F. Green, 3F. .T- Hunn, T. Jordan, 0. P-rugnell, A. H. Vile, 45. R. Wilson, Und R. J. Young (chairman); secretary, Mir W. Gillespie.

Tlie Masterton Competitions Society opened its second festival yesterday morning. The entries received in the various sections arc large, and representative cf the lbc£it talent in the .Dominion, which should "be sufficient «fo en sure success for tbe gathering. JCommittccis Biave been .working with untiring energy for the past few months in brder tbat every prcparaJlaon should be made to ensure complete which are necessary to .make a function of the kind an a.i round success. TO& opening day indicated very elea.rly tJiat the general gjuiblfc are keenly interested in the <iampetitiojis,'*and, especially in the afternoon and evening, attended 'in. very Sfl.Tgo Biuatibtirte. The ISoeieity Bias in Mt W. .Gilleepie a very capable secTefa.ry, Who, along with his- strong jGoimmittee, is to .be congratulated on the rlrcndy-.ajrisuired success c!f the -competitions. The Society also benefits ccmsid'Cira.bly by the energy of-the (Da- Cook.)

. The entries, show a ccmsideiralblo increase over last year's figures, which goes to-' chow that competitors appreciated the 'efforts of ihe Society '-a

ats /initiial venture last yeiar. ExoelT-ent iinrangemeritb have been made for the convenience of the competitors, judges and comimitteem'en. Mr F. J. Hunn is again acting as ,«npn'\JECir, and fills the position admirably. . The President (Br Cook) presided larit evening, and will again preside ■to-night. To-jectow everning Mr vL R. Sykcg, M.P., will puteside, a.nd on Thursday evening Mr R. J. Young, chairman of tlie Committee, willl preside.

This year the Committee have introduced am innovation in the shape of. a auggpstiori book, in which visitors may write isuggesticn a -which r.ire in* ■any way likely to benefit the competitions. In the .evening, the Ha.ll was fcrowded, and the various) competitors deceived pplereVd I'eoeptiorjs, several of the it-eons drawing prolonged ap3)Ta"se.'. For to-morrow evening anciher excellent programme has been arranged. It has been definitely anaiounoed that His Excellency the Govicirmcr whl fo pi-ebont for the con.cJudung demonstration. The programme for ito-day \\i\V he found in lie advertisement on our front page.

The judging of the competitions is in the "able found© o'f Messrs C. N. jEftieyertz (of Duned'in), and Harotd Cregson (of Auckland). The following sire ttft. results of yesterday's competitions:— PIANO SOLO, for pupi s under 16. First prize vaWe £l, second value 10s. Tests (a) Waltz inA flat, Op. 69, Chopin; (b) Arabesque, Op. 39 MacDowie'J. (A. Editic'n, Peters of Klindwortih); (B. Elkir.6 and Co.) Both pieces required. •Rita Hampton, Mfoste'rton, 130pt5...l Mary Feist, Carterton, 127 pts ... 2 Judge's Remadcs: , Miss Hampton: A little short of ao<#nt in, fiirst jpiece; should .come in •first group, not third. As piece moved along accent improved. * Fair technique. Short d tone latst few bars, Second (piicda: Singing tone good in. jvals©, phrasing weak, bar 28 espeeially. Hardly the Chopin rpirit; like her style* Ibut 'more technique still Tequiired to do full justice to both these pieces. Weakest epot is phrasing;

Mice Mary Foist: lb first piece. . slip at ba>r 4; not sufficient wrist action {for first .piece, 'action sliould be ton Ist chord'of group, not 3rd. Accent a little later. Second piece: INO- - very good i'n Ohepin. Plays witli feeling, and ".is decidedly talented, but irequires move ' technique. Thumb tshould be more over keys. Should !recommend 'both Bach aad Ozer-

<ney. .PIANO' SOLO, pupfo under 14. First prize value 15s, second prize value 7s 6d. Impro'mptu A 'flat, Op. 142j No. 2, Sclnibert. (Any standard edition). Prize money kindly donated by Dresden Piano Co. •Moly Moore, Carterton, 125. .pte ... 1 •Esm'e Watson, Masterton, 122 ,pt5...2 •Doris Hollings, Masterton, 96'pts ...3 ■Clifford Bfethop, Clcreville, 88 pts ...4 Judge's ißemarks.

Miss Molly Moore: Has had habit of raising wrists whilst playing. Nice phrasing and feeling. lk>o much pedal. Perfonrrniaice lmpi'oviSig; some «,tj?.e. Good gradation of tone last few pages. A few slips, but on' the whole a very ffiair performance. Mhb .Esme Watson.— Too slow, bt*t •lias oonsid'!>ra'ble temperament. Should develop into good pianist. Hands not <juite together first page. Fingers too .straight. Only the best tone and technique can he obtained by rounded fimgena. Taking into account the apparent ycuthfuMe/ss of this performer,, this peTfcaimancie ranks high. Metes Doris Holdings: Katiher too ■qu&k fire* page; ilittle uneven, some notes. More tecltnicrue exercises, (required by this student. In-

cflned to be careless. Shonld devot'.•more time to Bach mid Czerney. j PIANO SOLO, pupils under 12." Fir.it I prize valuo .lfis, -second prize value - 7s 'Gd. T'o«t piecf), Chanson Tristo, ) Op. -10, .No. 2, Tschikowsky. (AuI goner or any jiiandard ed'awn). ' Mildred Shaw, Master ton,, 131 pis...! E'orotliy 'Leo, Maste>rton, I'M pt.s 2 ■Esnie Watson, Mia-stcrton, 128 pis.. 3

.• Judge'* Remarks. •. M>:s Mildred Shaw : iMcJody standing out we'i'.; few wrong notes. A talomted' gxii. G:od style and f u'r ■technique. Yliiry ib.xl «lip near end ■Very gnrd perform ce. Miss Dorothy ,Lee: Nice gradations of tono. Decidedy a musical reading of this composition. .Finger action on the wh'ofo very fair, witb exception o •fifth finger, which is used toe ;niucli. with, flat actiirai.

•I-iIA.NO SOLO, any ago. First pn/.e I value £l, second prize value 10s j Teetj, reading at sight, pieces too ho 1 selected by the judge. Miss I. McKeirxic, M;vst<erton, -29 ' points 1 Miss Madeline Bish, Carterton, 12S • points 2 Mr Wilfred Hampton., uVlasterton, I 127 points o ' Judge's Remarks.

Mir C'rcg'son. stated that accuracy counted first in this competition. It wais not the most imusiciil performance wlhich was taken into account. For itaista-nce, the most musical performancs was the third prize wiimer, there being gord piradation of tone and the melody ytood out very well. Tin 1 p!oce wits a difficult one, and the week very good. Mr Gregson said that he .was very plca«d with tbe pcrfor-mi.Tnces g'ivo-n by t)he co'm,petitora, a good standard being maintained. Mir Gregson clw.nt. iipcn the importance of playing with the .ba)l cf the finger, and not 'with straight, fitngery, the heist tone being obtained out of a piano by the former method. Before Baebste'in's tinie ail! the playing was done with straight fingers, no thunubs being used, it being then tbe proper tyle. Now the thumb was made use of, and was ais good as two fingers.

MEMORISED SONG, First prize value £1 10s; second pdzc value 10s Own accompaniment. Own seLeftiom. Stanley Rankin, 123 points 1 Miss A. A. White (Auckland), 114 pts ' ... 2 Judge's ißauvasrks. Mir Stam'sy Rpn'fcin: Sits too far from piar.b; wrong pdlal effects in opening. Contrnut ttoo strong. Voice .sounds reedy, pcct'ihly on account of emptiness of frail. Too loud in final isymphbny, land put in exrtira bar. , Miss A. A. White: Peer phrasing.. lack of variety of treatment. Wrong chords several tin.te. Accompaniment way not helpful. ST-iowod lack cf tempera menC. Voice at times was not prepay p'fcocd. .VOCAL DUET. First prize vaaie £l, secend p'.lize vr.e'ue 10s. Test, "f Know a Bank." Miss A. A. White (Auckland) and Mrs Knowlc!3 (Ghratdiurch), 104 points ••• 1 Mist' Jessi Ptetrie (Mastcrton), and Miss Flora Capper (Masterton) 101 points •■ 2 Judge's Remarks. .Finst- voice was tco' loud, and micfis at times did not quitb blend together. Bar 25 wrong time. Defective trill »t i*me-s. -Voice improved as nervousness disappeared. iShowed lack cf varioty of treatj nnent.

Seoccid voice was too throaty. Trill at times wc« defective. Enunciation rft times poor. Voice wants bringing forward.

First voice showed poor triii Bar 90 out o'f ti.me. Voice at time rather char aot"ei less.

Second Voice: Poor trill. Voice rather Ibioanse. Missed bar 51. Had imoro life and go than first voice.

BARITONE, SOLO. First prize va- ' iuo £1 10s, .second prize value 10s. Test .piec*., "Son of MiiK?." J. Olds., CliKstchua-ch, 116 pts ... 1 0. A. Whtson, Maistcrfon, 106 pts ...2

Judge's Remarks.

Mr J. Olds.': showed pretty quality of voice, which is a true baritone. .Poor phrasing of words "Son of .mine" ia>t end *J line. Inclined to run .words into each other. Did not show ■enough vigour. Mr C. A. Watson.— Runs words .inito.each .cither. Showed lack of .force, and Cost quaility in .the high register wEien he Ibireed. Snng :ast verse nicely,, and with some fe'eling.

PIANO SOLO, Any ago, first prize . value £1 10b, second prize value ICis. Tes<t, fcbi.iata Pathtiifque of 13, Beethoven.

Wilfred Hampton, Masterton., 141 points 1 'Helen McGregc::-, Masl-:i-ton, 139 points 2 •Judge's IRema'rks. "Mir W. Hnn-.pton: Decs not appreciate the grandeur of the fntroduc'•tion. There was a lack cf pause and tuHtogether t|oo quick. \S!*o\\'ed good tstyfe and niae fee-Jin g. D'id not gpaaijM sufficiently between first .'.nd 'second Miovcmeniis. The movement was rather cold. On the whole very ciiedita.ble 'rendering of this beautiful work.

Miiss Helen McG<regor: Showed lack tof pedal effects, and introduction was too cold. Has some style. Did not appreciate the- yrcond portion. Phrasing improved towards the end of the allegro. Playecf slow movement beau-

tii'iinly. Memory failed several times i -in hiot movement. J Mr Gircg.son, speaking on- the rpn- ' said that competitors did inn-t sis a rule pi act; .sufficient importance in. -rot:-; and breathing ypaocts., ; wb''.c!) were a<'.wayts beautiful. Wealso .mcu'tioned 'that in- this section Si'o insisted upon a standard of perfection, as it ;va« nob always possible to know what to expect. PIANO DUKT (any age). Ft 11st p-r.ac

value £l, second prize vattuo Ids;; test piece, Hungary (From Foreign "Ports), Augencr .edition. 'Wilfred Hampton and Hftfen McGregor, Ma-'dert-on,, I'M .pt.s, 1 Mary Feist and Moi-'y Moore, Carterton, 115 pcnntig 2 Judgc'is Remarks. Mir Wilfred Hampton aind Mils.s Hole n McGregor: Showed good icoiicuj)%\&i and gradation of tone. The cmsemble on the whole was good., buu there were a few breaks i.u this featince. 'A brilliant per'rcrmaiiee. Missc'j Fvist and Moore: Rather rough at commencement. Jfiiret eight w so bams should be played ra>vher d '■ iHcafcely. Grace, notes Splashed by iinst piano. The ensemble was good. Some spirit. SONG ACCOMPANIMENT, Fire:-pii-ize value" £1 10s, ,-econd pv'y/.e viitae 10s. (A) Test piece, "Slow Horses Slow," Malliuson ; (B) Sign &

tf£S)b. In a MolCenzie, Masterton, 127 pt« 1 Ethel Danitill, Mastertoni, 122 pt-, : iJudgo'w Remarks.

CV'llis* Ina MicKemde: Lack of sofr pe-daJl' effects from oar 32. Showed very good fc-tyle. A very sympathetic lrende.ring. Sfg/ht: wa.o played (too blow, a«d sometimes in wrong key. Miss E'tcl D'an.el'l: Rather mtechanic«i3- and uiiisymlpa>thetic. Fairly acbut hardly an accurate' ac-ccimpa-nist. . Got into minor key at connmencement, and was rather i-jlc.v.

SCOTCH SiCNG (lady or gentleman), Fllrst prize value £1 10s, second pirize ed ,by Caledonian Society), Own selection. iFinatfs:

M. McKenzie, 'Masterton, 117 ipts 1 A. A. White, .Auckland, 106 pts 2 Judge's Remarkcj.

Miss McKenzie has a good natural voice, hut 'nchned to sing in the m«uth. Made fair attempt at phrasing, hut ,wa» somewhat Jacking in i,mpTessiveincas. Sang much better at niiglvt, and with good feeling. Mfes White showed het>ter quality in £jcft,e-r jpa'ssagee', hut wets irather hand 'When fccccd. Phiraclng was faulty at tim'es.

RECITATION (Ladies, any "The l Ocean" (Byron). First pri'sio value £1 10s, second prize value 10s. Finais:

Nell to Heggy. Masterton, 111 pis L Mis. Ivy Hargjrcaves, Wellington, 105 points ' 2 Judge's likmarks.

Miss Hogg gave an intelligent rendering, but nlhcwed Pack cf dignity and sublimity. Lack of modulation, but more'' iimpirossive than the othar'j. Mies Haa-grcaves: Intelligent, bitv requires more technique. '

BASS SOLO, FEret prize vauo £1 lCs, second prize value 10s. Test

piece, "The Wanderer." G. A. Watson, Mora tor ton, 102 :pte 1 T. W. Manifold, Pahiatua,, 96 pis 1 Judge's ißemmrks. Mir Watsoni has-a'light basso contan te voice. Has a good stylo, but o?ngs too quickly. Showed refinement in vccalisrn.

Mir Manifold is inclined to be slwuty in toi'e-. 'Does not sing with ease ard n-au'ty, especially in upper register. Has a voice worth training-.

MUSICAL MONOLOGUE, Lacly. F>in.!t prize vailr.e £1 10s, second pr'iKe value 10s. Own selection. Nellie Hogg, Mae<torton, 148 pts ... 1 Beatrice Johnson, Masterton, 147 points ... ■{

Judge's Rtmatrks

•Mi's 9 Hogg: Good enunciation. Work very interesting. Mere experience than e'thers. Mi&s Johnson : • Hafi a beautiful voice, and with more training could ■take part in ar.y competitions <in.the. Dominion. Voice of splendid quality and refined. With more technique wi'll do excellently well l .

BUMOROUS RECITATION (Ladies) F'reib prize value £l, second prize value lCls. Own selection. Mies'Nellie Hogg, Mastjrton,

122 point a Miss Eva ißiiEiscll, WoHington, 116

POIIITIEI '£ Judge's Remarkis. Mi'so Hogg: Very clever work; voice not always very good. Mlfs RvmssgM: Recited too .much. Ndt sufficiently colloquial 1 . Gave an intelligent irendoring, but pauses too much.. Cveeturcs were unconvinc-

SWam WITHOUT WORDS. First

prize value £l, eeeond prize value 10s.

This section was commenced, hut was (not con-jp'eted, it being decided to irpread the itcira ever three evenings.