LITERARY AND MUSICAL COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13743, 26 May 1910, Page 8

LITERARY AND MUSICAL COMPETITIONS.

SEVENTH DAY

The Christchurch Literary and Musical Competitions Society's contests

were resumed yesterday. In announcing the close of tho competitions at tho evening session, Dr. W. Thomas (who presided) remarked that they must all feel that the competitions wero a decided success. Probably with a little more experience and ability to unearth the great deal of hidden talent that exists, in the district, thoy would be more successful in the future.

Before announcing tho result of tho contests of the evening, Mr JJaoyertZ announced that Mrs Montague (who has been the accompanist for most of tho comoetitors in the vocal and instrumental sections) had given special prizes for the highest marks in pianoplaying. Two young ladies happened to be'equal, and the special prizes went to Miss Aileen Moore (Class 30) and Miss H. W. W. Balk (Class 26). Regarding the sacred solos, Mr Baoyerta said: —"I find, according to the programme, that there is only one prize for the three sections for ladies, and one prize for the three sections for gentlemen. This does not seem fair, so 1 havo, asked the committee to award three separate first prizes of one guinea bach and three second prizes of half-a-guinoa, that is, six prizes of ono guinea each instead of two prizes of two guineas each." After announcing tho final results Mr Baoyertz said: —"The- time has now come for mc to ceaso from my labours, for my work is done. I would like to congratulate the losing competitors upou tho good spirit they havo shown; to thank the long-suffering Christchurch public for their patience and forbearance with mc; to cxrjress my appreciation of the courtesyshown mo by the Press and the secretary and committee of tho Competitions Society. Just one word more. I am only too conscious of my fallibility, and I dare not hope that I havo gone through eight days-of arduous work without making some mistakes. I.ask the competitors to believe that when I havo erred 1 havo erred through ignorance, not through negligence or partiality." The results of yesterday's contests are as follow:— RECITATION FOR GIRLS. This contest. was restricted to girls over eleven years and under fifteen years of age and of the seventeen entrants only one did not compete. Like the. contest of the previous day for girls and boys fifteen and under, tho outetandmg defects in tho majority cf cases in yesterday's competition wero tbo monotonous Staffs school voice and the peculiar State nchool accent together with the habit of placing emphasis on unimportant prepositions and, generally, a lack of naturalness. The lest piece was Longfellow's •'I lie Children's Hour," and the judge decided to recall Miss E. M. Brewins (Linwood), Miss Nellie Richardson (Linwood), Miss R. E. O. Gillies (Dunedin). and Miss E. Bonnington (Linwood). In giving his decision the judge, after referring to tho defects of the competitors generally, said:— " There was a misprint in one line, which made nonsense of the verse, ' My three doors left unguarded, They enter my castle wall.' 'My' should bo 'by,' yet this mistake was uncorrected by thirteen of'the sixteen comjietitora. Tho winner stood out far above ad the others, not only in inte.ligent conception of tho piex-e, but also in voice and technic. First, Miss Brewins, 144 marks; equal second, Miss Nellie Richardson and Miss R. ~E. O. Gillies, 131 marks; third, Miss Bonnington, 12G marks." SACRED SOLO FOR BARITONES. Ten out of tho sixteen entrants competed, the lest piece _ being Sudivan'a "Thou'rt Passing Hence." Some very interesting readings were given of this beautiful coinSoaiiion. the rendering given by Mr R. G. 'arrison (Greymouth) being noteworthy. Owing partly, no doubt, to the coldness of the hall, many of th« competitors sang out of tune, and some renderings were marred by fonlty phrasing. The judge decided to Tecall Mr Fred Cray (Chmtchureh), Mr Thos. M. Charters (Beckcnharc), Mr Chas. .101 l (Christchurcb). and Mr It. G. Harrison (Greymouth). The judge, in giving his decision, said: — "There were tome fair readings in this section, though there was much out-of-tuncness, faulty phrasing, and lack of vAiety of treatment and style. The winner gavo tho most artistic rendering cf the song—nice fee.ing, for the most pari, good feeling, ahd some fire and warmth in tho finals. Mr Cray, unfortunately, spoilt his chances in the recall by singing. out of tune almost throughout. Mr Charters was hampered, by the accompanist, who did not give much to tho voice. The first is Mr Harrison with 127 marks, and Mr Charters is second wtih 108 marks." RECITATION FOR GIRLS. "A Pot of Money," by M. Taylor, was the recitation selected for gir'.s eleven yoa.a of age and under. All who entered competed, and, but for tho almost unrelieved monotony of tone, the competitors did fairly good work. Tho judge recalled Mis* E. D. G. Gillies (Dunedin) before giving his decision. In making his award, Mr Baeyertz said: — "The outstanding defect in the performance was the lack of naturalness. I cannot understand why teacher- teach children to be un-

natural «nd to talk as (hoy „ CVBr -**' talk m omwary circumstaucej,. Som« Zr?P nttlo children are vnrv clever «rd th. *.**• just reproduced what'thci lea'chcr _*« ,."*!* them. There were some bid mispnmJL *?"•- tions—' nnc-bow' f or rainbow. <tartS^ l ** 'shce-oor' for sure. There were ru-ing inflection*, dropping of \oic*i .i 011 * mts and tho sing-sMig unnatural e_*cL 5* chi.dren ever talk in real life as mo,* * i tlu-so children talked. Further, » 0 32« ? tion was, made in the \oice bcl«r«n ?*- I direct and indirect nurratio:.." Hi,*** ' Miss. Ena. Tai; tChriMchimhi. 2, Mhw T \t • G. Gillies (Dimedin), 3. " lsE ,

SACRED SOlX> FOR TENORS.'. , The -est selection in tlus section ir«» iv. recitative and air from llavdn's "CrrX.s "And God Cicat.Nl Man,"'and "1„» • Worth" (in C). Of the six competed, ar.d the judge decided to iw, ■' Mr A. S. Mitchell isofton\ „d $ £*»}' Gray iDunedin). In eivinsr hk d*oj„ ea ',£ judge »aid:-"We had two good £a£. ances in thia section, and the viT, a _T«_*" on his style and artistry r-.tb.er than en I,„ voice. Tho leser did 1.0! ~h% 3 v» tat* „* his Ic.id in time, and though he ?«„■■ «rifi' fcelinv". hi;, diction w.-i* f,,i,lty %-;J,t Mr Gray, mi: second. Mr .Nhtchoi:, 130*. • ORATORICAL DISPLAY.' ' , Tho judge of this section was Mr T p Tnylor. M.P. The competitors fclectfd ttov ; own pieces, and their choice wis veri(J* 1 two of tho speeches given hei«. R sit-iUr (? I the tUteen who entered, eleven and with few exceptions th<» talent diiaC' cd was good. The judge decided to iwn* .Mr E. H. Hobday <Ro.«.iyn\ who concluding part of tho spore, mado in !l* New Zealand House of Representative ;_ August Gth, ISS2, by Mr J. E when i_ovin(r a stops cf resolution* j?" li object of which was to affirm the printmi I' that equal riehts should he accorded -'7 1 Maoris as to Europeans, Miss Una H 0»hl (Uiuiedin), who pave the- speech "0 n j? ' Govemmonf of India"; and Mr ,\. D. »:„"* (Christchurch), who.c selection w«* ••£".- A ision of War," by G. R. Tngersoll <T!_judtics award was:—First. .nHss Owen la ?i rk « ,T ont1 ;, \ ir Ait , kcn> m lui,tk -i o*4 Mr Hobday, US marks. y 1

CLUB SWINGING. In the club swinging; section for -M. under fifteen jx. a .rs of ajre, girls hW_! ' Wpolßton. the Waltham. ana the Cohtm" (Lower High street) Schools competed. T\.' judge (Mr T. Tankard) gave his decision. « follows:-First. Waltham. with 75 oSV. possible 100 marks (marching bad, n_» «■ ccllent, balance very good, carriage and ekS" * tion very fair); second, Woolston, 60 aid_ ' (ln-rcliing bad, tiuio good, b-Uoca Ik*C? carnage and position Kood); third, Ck»OT_-t ■ oi marks, (marching fair, time trood>b_W ixjor, carriage, and position very fair},VOCAL DUET BY LAUIEs' ' The teat piece was Rubennteui'ii "Rom.. of the Birds*' (in D flat), and uS'j_S ducttista competed. The judge, in !£_= ■ his decision, said.--"Tho winner, gaye 1 * very churning reading of this hew-M duet-fine, nuances, d«Hcacy, refineawS good enunciation. Tho first P r__ *L~ are Mass Lyon Newman C»Velhngton). 133 __,rk 9 r_nd l__ (DTedin)^ 3 J «" '«« . :-«-i ftft

VOCAL DUET BY GENTL___E>7. - wilt ft™ «• Watcfcmai What of tho Night ?", a nd twti *»taS< dneUists competoi ___}__«. -I'irst Messrs c. and A. W. .Toll [(& church); secxjnd, Mesars J. H. Poefc __*T* . Shoppard (Christchurch). "**-*

BASS SACRED SOLO. . .' ' The final of this contest was decided, ft. < tost picco being "It is Enough," foira _fo! oWsohns "Elijah." Tho jndffo _wjj first prize to Mr W.-J. SalkeH (Cl&stdmn&L who scored 120 marks, and who (tiia j__£ said) was moro devotional, placed _» -hSE better, possessed a better style, nnd wasTS!" together, moro effective. Hr J. A. I___i (Opoho) w_a second. . J

SOPRANO SACRED SOLO. ' '! rr Jp*° test pieoo was Gounod's "Aye Ihthji' Tho judge, hi giving his decision, w&>,*4 . Tho Bach-Gounod 'Aye Maria.' called tath " a very closo contest between tho first •'«_}" second prize winnow, who gave very beautiful readings. Miss Rhodes, unlike __«*;«! tho singers who bring their own March • pMiigte, bed tho advantage of a. doliriiljaj; accompaniment. First, Miss I»yo_» la* murks; second, Miss Nowm*-* (Wellington), 333 marks; third, Mas ___*»■' (Amberiey), lis marks. —-- CONTRALTO SACKED SOLO. '' ,-i Tho lest nioco was Beethoven's "Baaali«_ *' In giving his decision, tho judgo _u'd;—"Th* ■ with fino breadth in the. £Nt? movement, and with appropriate fire «_d < warmth in tho second; a fine perfort__M».' First, Miss Clco Fernandos (Wellington), „a". marks; second, Mis_ Wildoy (Chrirfch-K-);----114 murks; t- t_u_, Mrs StaJloid (ChriatchiaehV' 100 marks." ~*~~<'i MEZZO-SOPRANO SACEED SOLO." . ■ : Tho test piece was_tr_de__'s "]?iaia Slgi ""??■"'./S* :'i ad S e >''-«- Bivinff his "dedsio_i said:— There wero thxoo fine r_wli_ga oik }}£",,.- Obl °- Bon *- Fl " t » "tf«w Nowanaß' ' (Wellinirton). 138 marks; second, Miss Iiyo;«r (Christchiircn), 1M marks", and third, ]£M Pacey (Duhedin)* 124 marks." STORY \VT_HO_T WORDS. • , ; I In this, contest, tho judge awarded -in j first prize to Muss Garni nor (D_nedi_), \for ■ i "Tho Latest Style," in which the irac-jasfnl-competitor depicted the trials of a lady _W 1 tempting to dress her hair -coarding to "t3»' J latest stylo.'' . ■" '

Tr>nighfc tho grand de__siislr_tjrja and concert will ho given, full' partus*", lars of ■which, and tho programme. to bo submitted, aro given elsewhere, L *