THE MUSICAL WORLD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 34, 3 November 1934, Page 19

THE MUSICAL WORLD

(By C.J.M ) Wellington Male Voice Choir. The final concert for the season by the Wellington Male Voice Choir will be given on Thursday, November 15, when Mr. Stanley Oliver will again be the guest conductor. Variety will be the keynote of the programme, and the choir will be assisted by a chamber orchestra of strings and drums. The chief choral item will be the complete set of “Sea Songs” by Stansford, with orchestral accompaniment. Three short French-Canadian folksongs, specially arranged by the guest-conductor, will be a distinct novelty. The orchestral items will include a “Fantasia” for strings by, Byrd, aud a group of better known short items, such as the Boccherini. “Minuet,” arranged for strings, piano, and reed organ.

Stray Notes ■When the last mail left Sydney Huth Scott, formerly of Hamilton,- was considering offers she had received from J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and Sir Benjamin Fuller. She was undecided as to whether to take up a stage career immediately or wait until she had had another year at the Conservatorium. in the meantime she is kept very busy ■broadcasting and singing for clubs, societies, etc-., averaging five engagements a week. Miss Scott may return to,Auckland for a few weeks in December. for her sister Nina’s wedding to a resident of Sydney.

Centenary Aria Contest From an island table set in the heart, of closely-packed stalls, Madame Florence Austral and Mr Alfred Hill, coadjudicators, heard and selected Victoria’s Centenary Voice from among eight singers who contributed ho an event unique in Melbourne musical history (states the "Sun-News-Pictorial” Sydney). This was the final, at the Melbourne Town Hall of the “Sun” Centenary Opera Aria Contest, in which six young women and two men, selected from the competitions held in Ballarat some weeks ago, sang for the special Centenary prizes, totalling 230 guineas, given by the “Sun.” The first prize was 120 guineas. Filling the hall, even to the choir stalls Rooking down upon the stage, the audience of 2300 was swept with crashing applause following each of the 16 arias which made up the three-hours’ programme. Tlie greatest burst of following long minutes of* suspense, came when Mr Hill announced the result of the contest as follows: —Denis Dowling (N.Z.), 175 pts. 1; Miss Hinemoa Rosieur (East Melbourne), 152 pts. 2: Alan Coad (S.A.), 151 pts. 3. While the judges of the "Sun” Aria Contest were considering their decision at the Town Hall, Miss Maisie Ramsay, who won tlie Sun Aria Contest iu Bendigo in 1926, and Miss Ailsa McKenzie, last year’s winner at Geelong, sang for the audience. Miss Ramsay sang the Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor and Miss McKenzie Adieu Forets (Jeanne d’Arc). After the supper at which the competitors aud others who assisted iu the contest, with a number of friends, were entertained by the directorate of the “Sun” and the “Herald,” the chairman of the “Herald” and directors of “Weekly Times” Ltd. (Mr. Theodore Fiuek) presented their prizes to all the singers. “Art is the product of work,” said Mr Fink said, “and I am quite satisfied that music is probably the most inclusive of all the arts, without’ which life does not seem happy. Music has got to go on.” “It is a gorgeous voice.” said Mr Hill of Mr Dowling’s singing. “We have got something that is going to advertise Australia. Lots of people will tell you after listening to him that: wo will hear more of him. I am telling you that you will hear of him soon. He is ) going* to bring great honour to Austra-. lia.” ’ i

Honourable mention was given Miss Corrie Allan, Ballarat (115 pts), Miss Irene Bennett, Burnie, Tasmania (113 pts.). Miss Nance Osborne. Moonee Ponds (109 pts.). Miss Alva Myers. Dunedin, N.Z. (109 pts), and Miss Enid Crocker, Ballarat (93 pts.). The “Suu’s” musical critic. Mr Harold Waters, said of the winner: The New Zealander, Dennis Dowling, submitted “Eri tu,” from “Un Ballo in Maschera,”- in the first place, his mellow, light baritone making a slight nervous deviation from pitch in the introductory measures, but following this up wit'll true, beautiful cantabiie and pathetic elements in tlie main melody. This boy made a magnificently effective climax, and the dynamics of his voice 'Were superlatively beautiful all through. A moderate amount of gesture aided his expression. . Tlie “Prologue” to “Pagliacci ’ afforded an oven more prominent light on Denis Dowling’s extensive range and grand possibilities as a baritone of opera, , , , iu some respects the most powerful of the voices heard in the whole of tlie contest, that of Alva Myers, the New Zealand soprano, rang with splendid limpidity throughout the big hall in "Ye Powers That Dwell Below,” from Gluck’s “Alceste.” and “Elizabeth’s Praver,” from “Tannhauser.” lii both the cantabiie measures were very beautifully sustained, and the emotional appeal in Gluck’s classic was also well conveyed. Miss Myers, m tact, improved on her Ballarat, interpretation. having rectified a fault t-' which her attention had been directed A Village Comiwscr.

The ’posthumous publication of a series of hymn tunes composed by Handel Parker, organist in the little Yorkshire village of Haworth, is now enjoying a wide vogue. Many of the tunes have been chosen as test pieces at brass band and voeal contests in various parts of the world. One of the series, “Deep Harmony,” has frequently figured in programmes broadcast by famous bands and choirs, and now its companion tune, “Sunset,” has suddenly jumped into prominence to win similar distinction. Sot to the universally known hymn, “Abide With Me,” It is an arresting piece of sacred music of a type that was composed in a generation when hymn tunes held popular sway.