VISIT TO SYDNEY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 300, 15 September 1936, Page 11

VISIT TO SYDNEY

“Thing of Beauty and Joy For Ever” EISTEDDFOD JUDGE Impressions of Mr. Temple * White ______ "Sydney, the second largest ‘white’ city in the British Empire, with a population of nearly a million and a half, is a fascinating place,” said. Mr. H. Temple White, who returned to Wellington in the Marama yesterday after acting as adjudicator of the vocal sections at the Sydney Eisteddfod. "Beautiful buildings of 12 and 14 stories, statuary on them and in the parks, amazingly lovely public gardens within a few steps of the heart of the city, the lovely harbour, and that dominating bridge across it, make Sydney ‘a thing of beauty and a joy for ever.’ “The people of Sydney are as sunny and joyous as the city itself. I never experienced anything like the hospitality I enjoyed there. Royalty could scarcely have been entertained more lavishly.” In all of this, Miss Myra Sawyer, who went with Mr. White, and who became a great favourite “’on the air,” shared equally. There were luncheons-, dinner parties, theatre parties, motor drives ’Alling up almost every moment of time apart from his official duties; They were driven through Manly to Palm Beach, to the Bulli Pass, through the great National Park and to Leura and Katoomba in the famous Blue Mountains, with their many thrills, vast distances, dizzy heights, and incomparable atmospheric effects. “I had the privilege of playing on the Sydney Town Hall organ.” said Mr. White. “This organ, with its five manuals and 120 speaking stops, was once the largest in the world. Unfortunately, like Wellington and Auckland, Sydney is without a city organist, and this magnificent Instrument is not heard very often, and is deteriorating in consequence. Receptions and Entertainments. "Miss Sawyer and myself were given a reception by the Apollo Club, of Sydney, a very pleasant and cordial affair, and at a rehearsal of the Royal Philharmonic Society we were publicly welcome by the president. I was the guest of honour at a luncheon of the Kia Ora Club. Miss Sawyer was entertain ed by the president, Mrs. J. W. Prentice (formerly Miss Nellie Black, of the musical Black family), at the New Zealand Club. We were also the guests of the Music Lovers’ Club, where Mr. Roy Hill, of Wellington, sang. We visited the Sacred Heart Convent at Rose Bay, and were charmingly received and entertained by the reverend mother. Mr, Roland Foster arranged a morning tea at which we met a large number of New Zealand people.

“We were the guests of the New South Wales Conservatorium at a concert by the orchestra and choir under Or. Edgar Bainton. A most attractive programme was submitted, including Elgar’s violin concerto, Gustav Hoist’s “Hymn of Jesus,” and Dr. Bainton’s “Hymn to the Father.” That was our last evening, in Sydney, and at a supper given by the director after the concert we had the pleasure of renewing our acquaintance with Dr, Malcolm Sargent, who, with a characteristic smile, said, ‘Give my love to New Zealand and tell them to keep on with their good work.’ “Even on the day we left we were entertained at luncheon at Tattersall’s Club by Mr. J. Darling, manager of Paling's music warehouse. Also present were Mr. Ernest Lashmar, Australian manager for Chappell’s, of London, and Mr. Roland Foster.” “Gerontius” at St. Mary’s. Referring to Sydney’s many fine churches Mr. White said that recently Elgar’s “Dream of Gerontius” was sung in St. Mary’s Cathedral under the baton of Dr. Bainton, a dignified and appropriate setting for such a work. Next Sunday afternoon the Royal Philharmonic Society is to give a performance of Haydn’s "The Creation” in the same edifice. Miss Sawyer was the soloist at All Saints Church of England at Leichhardt, and at the Methodist churches at Mosman and Strathfield. Her singing, Mr. White said, made a profound impression on Sydney, and many musical critics declared that at present Sydney had no soprano to compare with her. At the Eisteddfod. “From the foregoing,” Mr. White continued, “it would almost seem as though my three weeks in Sydney had been wholly given up to pleasure. I managed to do a little work, however, for, in addition to five broadcast engagements, and examining the vocal diploma candidates at the Conserve-■ torium, my principal task was to act as chief choral and vocal adjudicator at the city of Sydney Eisteddfod, the biggest gathering of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The growth of this festival is amazing, as this is only the fourth annual event. Last year the entries numbered 10,000, and as this was making it somewhat unwieldy, between 30 and 40 classes were deleted from this year's programme, notwithstanding which there were still 8000 entries. To carry through such a stupendous undertaking with the efficiency and smoothness that prevailed was a tribute to the ability of the organising secretary, Mr. D. G. Macdougall, and his staff. Considering the number of activities Involved the whole thing was a marvellous piece of organisation. The Eisteddfod is fortunate in having behind it men of the highest standing in the State. Valuable money prizes and trophies on a scale I have not seen before are offered by the leading newspapers, business houses, and public-spirited citizens. “In addition to Mr. Macdougall, who supervised the whole organisation, there was an office secretary, Miss Gunn, M.A.; programme director, Mr. Humphrey Bishop (well known to New Zealanders) ; an announcer, Mr. Kenneth Fowles, a well-known radio announcer; a contest supervisor, Mr. J. Sharp, a New Zealander; seven stage managers, including Mr. E. Treharne, superintendent of school music in New South Wales, and with whom I had an interesting and profitable interview on the subject of music for children. Much more is done in this important direction in New South Wales than in New Zealand. Four accompanists were employed, and 11 different halls were in use. Each judge whs provided with a secretary—my own surely the best in Sydney. "The other adjudicators in the musical sections were Lindsay Biggins, of Melbourne, chief piano and orchestral—a most capable and cultured musician; Albert Cazabon, orchestral and violin; John Lemmon^flute; Roy Agnew, piano and yocal; Keith Barry, choral and

vocal; Dunkley Barker, organ; Idwyll Jenkins, Welsh songs; and Charles King, lyric instruments. The principal solo contest was the grand opera aria, for which two £5O prizes were given by the Sydney “Sun” newspaper. Fine Choir Singing. "The feature of the Eisteddfod was the fine singing of a large number of choirs I judged 28 adult choirs, and some of the singing was superlatively good. The inter-State choral championship was won by the Southern Lyric Choral Society of Melbourne, conducted by George English, reputed to be the best chorus master in Australia. Hurlestone Park Choral Society, Sydney, conducted by Mr. Vivian Peterson, was second. This choir impressed one by its lovely tone, and Mr. Peterson carried off the honours in the second choral contest for male choirs, and also the choral contest for female choirs, whicii attracted seven entries. The church choir contest was won by a Methodist choir from Lithgow, nearly 100 miles away. Newcastle also sent chcirs —the Newcastle Choral Society very ably conducted by a lady, Mrs. J. A. Hannell, L.A.B. The chief male choir contest produced some fine sonorous singing in the two test pieces, Elgar’s difficult “The Herald” and Woods’s “Hob a Derry Danno.” The Beckett Choir were the winners, with the Sydney Male Choir (Mr. Livingstone Mote, M.A.) a close second. A lovely tone and blend and almost perfect finish were attained by Mr. W. E. Bowyer with his Studio Choir, which won the second choral contest for mixed voices. “The scene in the Town Hall on the final night was a memorable one. In addition to the finalists in the grand opera contest, the inter-State choral championship was decided. A crowded hall testified to the interest aroused by this great event; and when the massed choirs, numbering 400 voices, sang the madrigal, “Clorinda False” (Morley) and Parry’s “Never Weather Beaten Sail,” the effect wa« thrilling, and an unforgettable scene of enthusiasm was witnessed.”