The Competitions Festival

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 291, 4 September 1933, Page 11

The Competitions Festival

Sir,—The question whether musical and elocutionary competitions are of any real value to those chiefly concerned crops up frequently, and the answer is a difficult ’one. . , , I think these gatherings might be of much value to competitors in forming good taste and improving the standard or performance generally. At present, however, there is great room for improvement in the manner of conducting these gatherings. Would it not be possible for the really influential people interested w good music to organise throughout the Dominion a series of competitions devoted only to musical and (perhaps) elocutionary items? At present many of the really musical people stay away because of the incongruity of the items given and also—not without reason, lam afraid because they disapprove of some of the judging. All honour is due to the faithful few who devote so much time and trouble and work so hard in the cause, but much more might be done if the whole forces available could be utilised. Would it not be possible to get either Sir Harry PlunketGreene, Sir Henry Wood, or Mr. Herman Klein (there are others)—men who have studied in the best of schools, viz., the old Italian Bel Canto (not the modern bellow canto so generally taught) and who were intimate with the work of great artists at a period when singing had not declined to the extent it undoubtedly has now —to appoint a man' competent .to judge at a series of competitions such as I have suggested? ' ' . The value to students and teachers (those who know their job) would be great, and should help to raise the standard considerably. i What would be thought of the builder of an elaborate structure upon a foundation scarcely sufficient to carry a cottage? Well! this is what happens in many cases in the classes devoted to vocal music. Faulty breathing and control of the breath; lack of fundamental brightness or ring in the tone; bad intonation, and the use of ugly booming frontal tones suggesting a fog-horn, are qualities which are too prevalent at present, and should disqualify a competitor no matter. how much he or she may endeavour to interpret and “put over” the songs sung, if future vocalists are to equal those of the past. ' Musically we have advanced; vocally we have deteriorated. I would suggest that each class should be divided into three sections: (a) To consist of a short recitative (nothing marks the well-train-ed singer so much as the rendering Ot a recitative), a short passage of brilliant florid work selected from an opera or oratorio, and a slow sustanied cantabile piece.' Section (b) might be on somewhat similar lines; but easier; (c) might consist of a simple song (for example) of the type of Sterndale Bennett's “Dawn, Gentle Flower,” at once vocal and artistic, and a concone study. As the serious study of singing should not commence in girls until, the age of 16. aud of boys 18 years. I would suggest that classes at the age of puberty. 14-18. should be eliminatThe classes (choirs) for young children up to the age of 14 should be carefully encouraged. The singing of some of these is delightful when taught without strain and with suitable songs of easy compass such as were in evidence recently. I sincerely hope that others more influential than I am will bring forward and try to advance some such scheme as I have indicated. In conclusion, let me Bay how grateful students and teachers should be to Dr. Cyril Jenkins for the extremely painstaking* wav he has judged and for his very helpful remarks. There were, perhaps, three or four decisions which very few of those interested could agree with, but what are these among so many?—l am, etc.,. GERALD R. TURNER. Wellington, September 1.