CITY HALL ORGAN RECITALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 73, 27 March 1920, Page 18

CITY HALL ORGAN RECITALS.

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S ESSAY COMPETITION. RESULTS FOR 1918-1919. It is matter of common knowledge that, soon after the installation of the City Hall OTgan, the City Council arranged that a series of afternoon recitals should be given by Mr. Maughan Barnett, the City organist, for the benefit of the public school pupils in the Auckland district. The popularity of these recitals is now fully established, and the large attendances at them is proof that parents, educators, and the children themselves appreciate to the full the advantages of giving the "rising generation" a modicum of musical culture. Last year, an average of over 2,000 children attended each recital. As a means of arousing keener attention on the part of the children, and testing the extent of their intelligent understanding of the various musical selections, Mr. Henry Brett (the donor of the organ) last year offered half a dozen prizes for the best essays by public school pupils, descriptive of the recitals and giving their impressions of the same. In the 1918-1919 competition the general excellent of the essays was, however, so high that it was resolved to increase the number of prizes to nine. The number of competitors on this occasion was 48. The two judges to whom the essays were submitted have, .after full consideration, agreed upon their verdict. In their general remarks they state: — "In considering these essays, it has been deemed advisable to keep steadily in view the fact that the competitors are school children, and that therefore their productions must be judged largely on scholastic grounds, with strong insistence upon such elementary excellences as neatness, good handwriting, correct spelling and grammar. The task of placing the essays in order of merit has been a difficult one; for about a score .out of the 48 competitive papers sent in were of high excellence. The qualities for which marks were given ■ are: — 1. Neat and careful handwriting. 2. Correct spelling and grammar. 3. Completeness of detail. 4. Lucid composition. 5. Interpretation of musical selections. 6. Imagination, comparison, apt quotation, and other graces of composition. 7. Vividness, force, enthusiasm. The prize-winners are as follow, in order given:— 1. Eugene Robins, 12 years. Normal School, Standard VI. 2. S. Baurae, 12 years, Normal School, Standard VI. 3. C. Watson, Normal School, Standard VI. 4. Doris Layland. Maungawhau School, Standard IV. 5. Stanley Challinor, 12 years, Normal School. 6. Mabel Whitmarsh, .Maungawhau School, Standard IV. 7. J. Fleming, 13 years, Edendale .School, Standard VI. 8. Doris Potter, Mount Koskill | School, Standard VI. 9. Bernard Jowsey, Grey Lynn School. ' Subsequent to the judging Mr. S. AHanias donated ten prizes, nnd these have been awarded to the following competitors, whose essays were considered next in merit to the original prizewinners:— Lowrie Palethorpc. Maungawhau School, i Ronald Muston, Normal School. Tom Nelson, Normal School. | P. D. Crump. Maungawhau School. Ivy Eddy. Maungawhau School. Marion Forde, Remuera School. Isabel Hunter, Parnell School. May Judd, Newmarket .School. Alfred Jeavons, Maungawhau School. Marjorie Jenkins, Richmond Rd. School. Firat Prizo: EUGENE ROBINS. Normal School, Standard VI., age 12 years. THE ORGAN RECITAL. Sweet, wonderful, enchanting, are the strains of music. They carry your thoughtinto d fen inland. Yon forjret all Che troubles of life, and fly away—no matter Where —you are free! free!! free!" Hark! I hear the sound" of soldiers, tramp! tramp: tramp! as they march forte. in, as Byron said. "Battle's magnifleent'ey stern array." But, alas, many of these gallant men will not return from the fray. There will be a list of missing In the papers after the flcTir. Their undaunted valour Is nought against the flying bullets and ournumberlnir hosts of the enemy. Put they will Uziit like Mie "gallant six hundred"— tlcrhl till they die for King and Country. All these thoughts pass as the mar/eale strains of (apocci's Marcli pour forth into the hall. .Vow conies the mournful song of the dying swan. It Is said that the swan, although It often lives for three hundred years, only sings once, nnd that Is when it is dying. This beautiful .piece, composed by Saint-Saens. brings us the memory of the. old bird singing her dvlllg song, 'with the young ones around her. It sings its farewell song to the world, which it has to leave, and to the liver, which returns its own song immortal words. "Tor men may come, and men may ;ro, i Bur I go on for ever." —"Telle Brook." , Then, with one last weakened cry. it dies. The body lies on the pool, which is undis- ; turlied by How of the river—still "As a ( painted ship upon a painted ocean." I The frivolous notes of dancing vibrate 'through the hall, as the tune of ".StrawI berry Fair" issues from the pipes of the I organ. Dancing, merrymaking: everybody I is happy ami joyous. Kvery year a fair -was held, when everybody danced and was ; happy. It Is probably so named because ie j was held when the strawberry season was in full swlpg. This pleasing tune, which the generations of peasants have handed [down to us. has been re-composed by a [patriotic Englishman, who wished to see I his country first amongst the musical com, I tries of the world. This lively refrain was I met with much applause by the children. "(!o lo Sea." a stirring sea song, was sunn with much feeling by Mr. .1. Wallace Atkinson. It is a song of both old and modern times. It reminds us of Drake's sea-dogs, while we think of our modern sailors who have sallied forth against the ships of the Kaiser, the Beast of TSerlln. We see the iron "fortresses afloat." wlMi the "Flag of the Free" nt their mastheads, ploughing tho countless waves around our sea-girt England,, guarding our homes from the bonds of autocracy and slavery. It is an appeal to the- boys of the Empire to keep Britain's banner flying high o'er the niiirhtv ocean, ami to keep her name as "Mistress of the Seas.'' "The Answer" is a delightful air ny a renowned (lei-man composer. Wolstenholine. But not so joyous Is It to some. Everyone has a question which he is constantly asking himself. What is the blind man's question: "Am I to regain my sight?" The answer comes silently. He does not hear it. but a hidden power tells him. "Not yet. Not yet. Wait till death!" This tune can be taken mournfully or joyfully, as one*; question is to be answered. "Ping" went William Te!l's bow. as the I arrow sped towards the apple, which was I rent in twain upon his son's head. "Bat ( why put tern thee a second arrow in thy quiver?" said the despotic Gessler. "That arrow wan for thee. It would not I have missed such an easy mark." replied the Swiss hero. But the Governor hart ! pledged his word, and- William Tell was ■ free. The Finale to Rossini's world-famous I opera "William Tell" roars through the hall like the thunder of heaven. The Fantasia on Bizet's opera "Carmen" brings us the memory of the old. old story of the stirring days of ©id Spain. ft reminds us of the young hero under the uoiccr of Cnrmpn the* wintpd rqmnlFp

I leaving his home and his parents as If they j were nought. Tihen 'he is forsaken by Carmen, who gets -in love with <i matador of the bull arena. He returns home, only to find his parents dead. Mad with rage land despair, he rushes into the ainphlj thenitre and stabs his former sweetheart ! who is watching the -bull-ufrlit. He springs ito Che saddle, and rides o'er the precipice— to death. I Everybody stands and slugs "God .Save ; the King." The children sing with all vigour, showing their patriotism to its: highest extent. They are the nation's future hope-the rtrltish people of to-morrow. Alas! The beautiful strains have ceased. Music has stopped sending its . myriad thrills through us. For a Lime we must be content wltu nature's music-the siaging birds of the trees, and lue murmuring ot the wind iv the lofty pines. Second Prize: SIDNEY BAL'.ME, Normal School, Standard VI., ago 12 years. ! THE OItGAN -RECITAL. Through a Utile village- nestling in :i I fertile valley the soldiers of Italy were I inarching. The tramp of feet, the clatter ■of accoutrements, the blare of trumpets-— i all these were heard in the sound of the stirring melody. Soldiers, forcing laughs from between cracked lips; young lads, silent and sad, thinking of home and mother; these formed the mighty host. Far away, perhaps behind city walls, the ' parents of Italian youth, and chivalry lived. Their sons were lighting so that noue need , light. Their children dying so that many live. War for the sake of peace! Heath for the sake of victory! The scene changed with the vtilse of the I music. Instead of the monotony of the march a conflict was raging. The trnm- ' pets were heard no more—lost in the deep thunder of the battle. The laughs of the men had gone, changed Into a silence that promised grim results. The roar of cannon, rattle of musketry, whistle of sabres was heard Instead. Death ruled supreme! It was evening. Across the plain, now deserted -but for the dead and dying, a faint cheer is wafted by the evening breeze — the cheer of the victors. Victory bought by precious lives! Peace hastened by the horrors of war! Is this worth while? Dainty and graceful, raising her snowy ' head above the rushes that surround her home, the swan swims iv peace and security. I The night wind whistles among the : trees, rocking the birds to sleep, and slngI ing quaint and soothing lullabies. Peace jls contained in that swft-souniling melody. I Through the gloom and solitude of the silent marsh a shape glieles like :t phantom. The Herald of Heath -Man! I Through the silence-laden air a clarion 1 note rings out—the dearh-song of the swan. Lower, lower, lower sinks the snowy head, until, like night comes to rest j the earth, so comes Death. The Answer begins In a burst of eloquence. vibrating with passion. It is that which is as old as the Pyramids, as ancient as the 'Power of Babylon, aye, the answer of the question which was asked ln the Beginning the question of Life. The imislc contains pathos, hut also holds In It a premise of future happiness. Sorrow aud sadness seem to flee as the Answer Is heard. The Answer which speaks of rest to all. The Answer which is but another question. The Answer of Life—Death! Heroes of all ages—Washington. ' Alexander, Nelson. Gordon—your equal Is found in -Switzerland's hero—William Tell. A free man he was, and a free heart was his heritage. Generations of mountaineers were -his ancestors, and their blood ran hot In his veins. Tyranny had entered his homeland. i I.andenburg and Gessler, at the express | command of Alhreeht. were grinding the i faces of the Swiss on the rough stone of i despotism. | Tell, having s.-orned a command of Gessler. wns arrested at a small village, where the famous drama or the apple was enacted. Gessler. in his arrogance, broke his promise of freedom, hut paid for it dearly, for ■he received his death-wound at the hands of Tell. , The morn of "Morgarten dawned on ; glistening armour and Hashing weapons. At eventide a dilTerent scene was beheld. , Switzerland was free! Austria was dei feated. and had withdrawn her troops from I the little mountainous country that had defied her rule. But the hero of the Swiss. William Tell, had retreated to his mountain home, caring not for gratitude or glory; wanting not riches unci honour, lent only satisfied I that he had done his duty. |- The nintaelorcs leapt into the ring, their silken scarves streaming behind them. Swords, bared and bright restcel In their j Tight hands, while 111 their left hands a ' blanket reposed, folded. i Intense was the hush. The assembled j crowd scarcely dared to breathe, so heavy | was the silence. But the spell was soon ■ broken. A thud of hoofs! A trembling nf the building. A shout from the arena, and the I flu-lit had began. j The angry, shaggy, monster hulls, the I reckless, handsome mat adores, the gleaming swords and flaunting cloaks. all were lost ill one ni.nd. moving tannic*. The dust cleared as the chords of music , became more t'lstinct. Here an.l there a ; chanipl'jn of the people faced the wild ! rush of the champion of the bills. Me.-c ar.l there champions of both sides v->r groaning in death agony. Such a sit*! A young matadore. fired with a spirit of recklessness, ran to the side of a h.i-o hull. and. graining it by its horns. Ic-.pf to Its hack. Sheathed was his sword, lint ready to dr->w. and. while the crowd cheered, he drew the blade, poising It a-e a 'larger. A quick thrust, and the monster fell to the floor of the arena, dead. The yonn~ hern drew- himself to his full hclciit. lennii'i; on that narrow strH of steel tl'lt had served him so trl.lv. ' Allevery e!og has his day! This man's clay had come. Bnt his da-,- was b, lt a brief one -\n untimely end „■„ his. for a severed arterr cosed his de-.t-li n,,t why these rccrct-i His wires wee those of a sinful, reckless wasted life. Tbe wanes of sin Is Death' I'he flood cetes of mnsie hive been eniloosed but fe flr-v is rni'l.llr d-wlnrtllnc Soon ~,ere will be b,„ a trickle, -outline-,. i-< tbe conn's -' I'l-c's. ;,ud the whisper of the wi-1 in (le ,-,ees p,,, „." rp C :„ j peace, for the Muse will not forsake lis. j (Essays to be continued next week.)