THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 114, 11 November 1919, Page 7

THE COMPETITIONS

TO-DAY'S PRELIMINARY TESTS

PROGRAMME FOR THIS EVENING.

TheSncreaeing popularity of the morning, afternoon, and evening sessions of the Musical arid Elocutionary Competitions is evidenced by the steadily growing attendances. To-day the main Town Hall, where the vocal and instrumental classes are judged by Mr. Harold Gregson, and the. Concert Chamber, in which Mr. John H. Hopkins decides the fates of competitors in elocutionary classes, are very well filled. A large audience may be expected this evening, when the finals will include a violin solo for beginners, the soprano or mezzo sacred solo, an operatic and a toe dance, the ladies' character recitation (a particularly interesting class in which excellent work is being done in the preliminary contest), the tenor solo "Lolita," a pianoforte duet (open class), and several other musical and elocutionary sections. The programme will commence at 7.45 sharp. Scotchmen and others who enjoy Highland dancing, which includes practically everyone, are reminded that these sections' wiil be contested on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

To-day's results, up to the time of going to press are:

Sacred solo (soprano or mezzo-sopra-no), own selection. Results : Miss M. H. B. Jones (Wellington), Mrs. R. J. Wildish (Gisborne), Mrs. Edward Cameron (Dunedin), Miss Christina M. Ormiston (Whangarei), was highly commended on her rendering of ''I Will Extol."

The first section of the New Zealand Test Kecital was contested by gentlemen this morning, the set piece being Mitford's "Rienzi to the Romans." The second section in this class will be judged on nest Tuesday morning, when competitors will recite compositions of their own selection, and the final judging will take place on Wednesday evening, 19th November. No recalls will be announced till after the hearing of the "own selections."

Piano solo (reading at sight), tests selected by the judge, Jensen's "Valse Song and Merkyl's "bpring Song."

There were eight entries in this class, most of the work done being of a fairly high' standard. The awards made were: —Miss Dorothy Talbot (Kelburn) 136 points, Miss Eileen Horher (Patea) 134 points, and Mr. Clifford Kemp (Wellington) 126 points.

Mr Gregson spoke briefly of the advantage of good sight-reading, and remarked that as a test of musicianship sight-reading was even more important than the playing of 'a practised solo; certainly it was most desirable for a pianist to be able to sit down and play a good accompaniment at sight, and such a pianist would be more in demand than a mere soloist. "The playing of the correct notes is not by any means the end and aim of sight-reading," said the judge, "for correct rhythm is of prime importance. It is of interest to test this fact. If a well-known simple piece is played out of rhythm probably few people would be able to say with any certainty what that piece was before it was so mutilated, yet. if the rhythm of that same piece is drummed on the table with the fingers most people would be able to say at once what piece was in the strummer'smind. That test is,quite illu--minating and quite convincing."

(Proceeding.)