THE COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16216, 20 May 1918, Page 4

THE COMPETITIONS.

-♦ (specially written for "Tni: -ress.' ) (Bv Strap.) Tho curtain has fallen on the last act of tho Competition Festival, which has once more ended brightly with the parade of the lucky, elated winners of tho contests. It- is claimed that in the total the entries for 1918 have risen above former years; nevertheless, some important classes have declined in the number of competitors. The reason p is not fa too seek. Talent may be found here as abundantly as elsewhere. But evidently many teachers discourage a participation of their pupils. Granting that sometimes the results turn out to be as uncertain as a lottery, yet the concert-stage, open to all "comers, offers to the teacher himself the only true test of the capabilities and the nerve of his students, and enables him to gauge more accurately than in his studio or at private recitals, their faults and shortcomings. The very severity of the ordeal develops by degrees the reliability and self-control of most performers exposed to the critical searchlight. Few can be prize-win-ners. but the general standard of competitors might be greatly improved by a wiser policy and a higher ideal animating the "profession-" Christchurcli is supposed to be the most musical city in the Dominion. As long as many of the best prizes at our own meetings fall to outsiders, the claim remains an idle pretence. In the arena alone can we measure our strength. In reviewing tho past session one could not J'ai] to noticc a decline in the public interest iii the proceedings,, due largely to the many inexplicable, perplexing decisions arrived at, notably in the vocal sections. Gasps of amazement and dismay accompanied the declaration of not a few of awards. To the committee of the Competitions Society, acting in good faith, 'my sympathies are freely extended. With few competent j men to choose from, their position is | one of extreme difficulty always. Duv- i ing tho previous two sessions « very able judge had been secured. But there are reasonable objections to the same adjudicator sitting continuously. We may be sure that future appoint-, ments will be made with a carc all the greater for our present experience. It is of paramount importance, bearing in mind that tho schedule contains more, than fifty vocal classcs, as against twenty all told in tho instrumental sections, that the judge should not merely be an all-round man of the trade, but pre-eminently qualified as a:i expert of modern vocal art. The higher piano classes were a«ain hardly contested. In the juvenile classes some very good playing, with eager and numerous competitors, may be chronicled. Verv few singers with previous experience of the trials and snares of the co,Vei't-platf'orni were arrayed in this year's combat. Some of these, however, promise to blossom into lame at future meetings, when they have gained confidence and control. Among them were found some very good voices. In tho men's sections, the same conditions as during the last

years Operated against a fair repr< sentation of male vocal accomplishment which will bo demonstrated on a bette •scale and more impressively in tli trenches somewheio in France. The principal honours in piano plaj nig were earned almost too easily b the clover young Dunedin lady. JDunt •din also secured the ladies' vocal cham pionship through the merits of a bril liant young .singer of much cxperienc ou ,tho. stage, sustained by admirabl self-control. But tho automatic plac ing of her in every class but one, cai bo noways endorsed. For the Society' _ scholarship only two real competitor appeared in the field, of which one wa utterly incapacitated by throat troubli at the critical moment. Tho fair -win ncr is clearly entitled to her laureli and gams. Here the choice of a test piece altogether in favour of the liigl sopranos handicapped unfairly th< lower voices from the outset. Tin soprano test-song also, demanding dra matic force and big voices, prevented wider competition. Most of the suggestions contained in m\ review of last year's meeting have been adopted by the committee. May 1 venture to point out sonic further desirable improvements? Seeing that mezzo-soprano is the voice most prevalent among the lady singers out here, it should not be mixed up and judged together with sopranos in any section. I articularly is ii advisable that separate classes be established in the operatic soli and in the English song, both r'l '<( m • c ' ,anl Pionship scheme. Ihe song with own accompaniment" is badly rewarded at present, considering it requires two separate accomplish" ujcnfcs, and why should it be the one class singled out for a memory-test? It would also be a graceful act to open a special class for songs composed in Aew Zealand, or, if preferred, in Australasia. The services of the official accompanist, Mrs Osmond Smith, cannot be too highly appreciated. Again sb e had to perform some wonderful feats in the way of vigilance, and instant readiness to cover up lapses of memory and other vagaries on the part of singers, and a = regards taste and efficiency she acquitted herself most admirably at her heavv task. ' •' The machinery of the Festival ran smoothly on the whole. One can hardly imagine, a position more trying than that of being secretary to an institution dealing with hundreds of musical and other competitors all invading his office with endless claims and grievances for weeks on end. Mr T. F. Hall, cool, methodical, courteous, vet firm, is tho ideal man for the post, ihe stage-management, however, urgently demands revision of the method" of procedure. Let, us remember now only the pleasalt impressions of the Festival, and retain a warm interest in the future welfare and progress of the Christchurch lornpetitioiis Society. THE FIXAL COXCEIfT.

This yoiir's festival of the Christchurch .Literary and Musical Competitions Societ" was brought, to „ closn on Saturday mpht, nhon the third demonstration concert was held. The Kings lheatro proved ail ioo small to hold the. immensa would-be andior.ee, and many had to be turned uwav Successful competitors provided manv excellent items, nnd encorcs were so frequent that on account of icsiriciior.s of time, it became impossible to accede to the demands of the audience. Tho programme was as followsChildren's chorus, "Anzitc Song," Edgeware juveniles; piano solo, "Spinning Song," Audry Naumann; duet in character, "ABC " E ™, na Mflw and .Valarie Tolputt; recitation, "The Child Musician." Juanita, Manhire" champion recitation. "Butterflies," Kathleen Thomas: song in character, "Flower Song" Ida Wilbraham; boy's song, "Blue Bolls" Howard Machon ; recitation, "Locks'ey Hall'" Dclcie Phil pott; eoprano solo, "The Ques- | tion," Poppy Munro: Dominion recitation, ; "Marc Antony's Oration." H. McD. Vincent • English song, "Heading," Bessie Olds' Irish song, "Believe Ale, If All," Gertrude Pricetly; fancy datce, "Thl Dying Swan," Dorothy Faville; humorous iccitation. Movies." Rua Denby: pii.no solo, j Kigoletto Paraphrase, Jean "Wagner; chorus, "Twilight Luihbye," Edgeware ;uveniles:. clasieal dialogue, "Arthur and "Hubert," Fanny Kutner and Doris Stevenspiano solo, Gwith Young; contralto solo* •'Abide With Me," Dorothy Pole; recitation' "The Sisters," Olga Wacked; sacred solo "Pro Pcccatis," W. Brittenden; character sketch, "Giving 1 Notice," Eileen Alexandersong in character, "Scenes that are Brightest," Cecily Audibert: tenor solo, "If You Would Lovo 31e," L. Prcbble; patriotic song, "Rule Britannia," Beatrice Sprostonrecitation (X.Z. author), "Charlotte Jane" "Winifred Reed; story without words. "In 'a Tram Car," Mrs Templo and Mrs Exton. When the final chorus of "Rule Britannia" wai reached the audience rose and swelled the refrain in a stirring manner. Many of the performers receive'd beautiful boucuetf. It was announced during the evening that tho sum of £22 odd had been raised at the concert, by the sale of sweets, etc.. for the Red Cross Fund. Two boxes of chocolates were auctioned, and a gentleman offered XI to hear asain an exceptionally fin« piano

solo, so that at the close of the evening the eum had swollen to about £25. At the close of. the concert a picturesque proup o; performers and officials sang on th* stage "Auld Lang Syne," followed by the National Anthem.