PERCUSSION BAND

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 12

PERCUSSION BAND

Performances Today At Competitions YESTERDAY’S AWARDS

Soprano Test And Irish

And N.Z. Songs

A feature of the concert to be given in the Town Flail tonight as part of the annual festival of the Wellington Competitions Society will be a demonstration by Miss Stubbings's percussion band, from Masterton. Ihe band consists of between 20 and oO children, and the children are expected to be accompanied by 28 parents. Ihe society has been endeavouring foi several years to arouse interest among school teachers in percussion bands; and after the performance tonight Dr. J. F. Staton,, the distinguished English tnuisician, who is judging at the festival, will speak briefly about them. The children in percussion bands play such instruments as castenets, triangles, cymbals, bells, small drums and large drums, and they are accompanied by a piano. Special music is .published in England for percussion bands. Their performances are regarded as real entertainment for audiences as well as instructive in elementary musical principles for the performers. The seriousness with which they are-taken is indicated by the fact that at the Glasgow festival, at which Dr. Staton adjudicated, 20 massed percussion hands played the “Nutcracker Suite.” There are percussion bands iu several schools in Wellington, and one at Lower Hutt was praised by Mr. Andersen Tyrer.

Important senior classes judged yesterday included the soprano test, which was won by Miss M. Macfarlaite, Nelson, and the women's vocal solo by a New Zealand, composer and th* women’s Irish folk song, iu both of which Miss M. Penketh, Palmerston North, was placed first. Boy tap dancers who appeared before the dancing adjudicator yesterday received high praise from her. The Hon. Celia Moncktou and the Hon. Isabel Monckton, daughters of Lord and Lady Galway, who were among the competitors in two piano classes, received commendation from the judge.

A demonstration children’s matinee will be presented in the Town Hall this afternoon. A programme of -12 items contributed by winners of junior classes judged during the week has been drawn up to commence at 2 p.m. The percussion band from Masterton will play. In the large hall this morning there will be two junior dancing classes, and in the Concert Chamber two junior vocal classes. This afternoon the Concert Chamber will be occupied with the Chappell vocal solo and the men’s restricted vocal solo class.

A night of public speaking and debating will he offered in the Concert Chamber tonight. Seven competitors have entered for the impromptu speech on a subject to be announced immediately before the event. Eight men and one woman have entered for the oration, in which they have to make a speech on some character of history, and four teams have entered for the impromptu debate. Mr. It. Hardie Boys will be the judge. Yesterday’s Awards Awards in classes judged yesterday were announced as follows:— JUNIOR TEST RECITAL, girls, 10-12 years, own selection. (2S entries.) Audrey Eady, Christchurch, 83 points 1 Ngaere Wilson, Lower Hutt, 82 points 2 Lynley Wainscott, Lower Hutt, 81 points 3 Very highly commended: Celia Algar. Wellington. Highly commended: Dorothy McKcgg, Palmerston North; Coleena Dalmer, Roseneath; June Wharric, Karori; Beatrice Taylor, Lower Hutt. The elocution judge, Mr. Barton Ginger, remarked that the class had been interesting, and that the selections had been, with one or two exceptions, in keeping with the age of the competitors. The winner had given a fine performance of "Blue Curtains.’’

JUNIOR TEST RECITAL, boys, 7-12 years, own selection. (12 entries.) Craig Moore, Hastings, SO points .. 1 Peter Davies., Roseneath, 79 points .. 2 Paul McLeod, Christchurch, 78 points 3 Very highly commended: Howard Smith, Upper Hutt; George Gay, Wellington. Mr. Ginger remarked that all the boys were good speakers and showed evidence of careful training. RECITATION, boys, 12-16 years, “Beleaguered Cities” (F. L. Lucas). (14 entries.) Trevor Constable, Lyall Bay, 81 points 1 Raymond Read, Brooklyn, 89 points 2 Brian Barstow. Wellington, 79 points 3 Very highly commended: John Robb, Christchurch. PIANO DUET, 12-16 years, own selection. (6 entries.) Basil Coffey and Patricia Collins, Petonc, 84 points 1 Patricia Wafers and Patricia Nash, Lower Hutt, 83 points 2 Very highly commended: The Hon. Celia Monckton and the Hon. Isohel Monckton. Wellington. Dr. J. F. Staton, the adjudicator, remarked that it was one of the rilles of the competition that players who played without music correctly were given an initial five marks advantage. He did not think that the second couple, who used music, had been successful in making up those five marks. PIANO SOLO, 16-21 years, "Minstrel” (Debussy). (10 entries.) Mr. Campbell Davie, Levin, 85 points 1 Miss Kate Jourdain, Wellington, 82 points - Mr, Colin G. Rouse, Wellington, and Miss Frances Roberts, Miramar, ' 80 points , 3 Dr. Staton said the piece was one which lent itself tremendously to individuality in performance, with the opportunity of realizing the'subtlety of expression. The winner realized better than the others the tonal and rhythmic effects of (he composition. PIANO SOLO, restricted, 12-16 years, own selection. (17 entries.) Lola Staub, Brooklyn, 87 points .... 1 Patricia Huett. Wellington, 86 points 2 Patricia Waters, Hataitai, 85 points 3 Very highly commended : Helen Martin, Hataitai. . Highly commended: The Hon. Celia Monckton. Wellington; Nadia Fitchett, Brooklyn. SOPRANO TEST SOLO, “By thy Banks, Gentle Stour” (Boyce). (12 entries.) Miss Mary Macfarlane, Nelson, S 3 points 1 Miss Peggy Milne, Lower Hutt, 82 points Miss Phyllis Solly, Newtown, 81 points 3 Miss Milne, said Dr. Staton, had a certain element of rapture in her voice, lint consistent unsteadiness marred her performance. VOCAL SOLO. NEW ZEALAND COM; POSER, women, own selection. (16 entries.) Miss Millieent Penketh, Palmerston North, SC points 1 Miss Joan Bovis. Shannon. 81 points 2 Miss Audrey Lawson, Wellington .. 3 Miss Penketh, said Dr. Staton, hail a voice of beautiful quality and steadiness, and she had a good sense of climax.

Miss Bovis’s words were not so easily distinguished at the rear of the hall.

RESTRICTED OPERATIC DANCE, 9-12 years. (10 entries.) Claire Malloy, Wellington, 81 points 1 Noeline Mardon, Brooklyn, 7S points 2 Highly commended: Adele Jansen, 'Karori. Commended: Helen Mclvor, Mornington; Patricia Gallate, Brooklyn. ACTION SONG, 12-16 years, boy or girl, own selection, (12 entries.) Beulah Hirst, Masterton, 88 points 1 Doreen Dickinson, Island Bay, 84 points • ■ ~ Ngaire Corkhill, Wellington, 83 points 3 Very highly commended: Natalie Wallace, Island Bay. IRISH FOLK SONG, women, own selection. (15 entries.) Miss Millicent Penketh, Palmerston North, 91 points 1 Miss Audrey Lawson, Wellington, 90 points “ Mrs. Edna Dearlove, To Arolia, 88 points .3 Dr. Staton remarked that, though Miss Penketh had had a moment of uncertainty, he felt that she had definitely better quality of voice than her rivals. TAP DANCE, girls, 10-12 years. (30 entries.) Pamela Walker, Wellington, 81 points 1 June Rhodes, Wellington, 80 points . 2 Highly commended : Noeline Mardon, Brooklyn; Norina Harris, Mitchelltown ; Lynley Wainscott, Lower Hutt; Elaine Goodman. Berhampore. The winners in this class were very good, said the dancing-judge, Miss Bettina Edwards. The competitor placed second did some excellent work, but the competitor placed first gave a performance 'that would have been creditable to a much older girl. Praising the class as a whole, Miss Edwards remarked that some of the younger entrants showed an excellent sense of time and rhythm. The winner in particular had given a really fine performance—a most enthusiastic and bright one. CHARACTER DANCE, 6-8 years. (26 entries.) Dorothy Jenncss, Lower Hutt, 85 points 1 Lois Chatfield, 'Wellington, 84 points 2 Paddy Holland, Wellington, and Colleen Wood, New Plymouth, 81 points, equal •> Very highly commended: Patricia Waterhouse. Brooklyn; Georgina Thomas, Wellington; Leigh Brewer, Wellington; Judith 'Watt, Highly commended: Monica Keane, Newtown; Lenore Spencer, Wellington. “This was a very good class indeed,” said Miss Edwards. “I have not seen such good dancing by small children for a long time. I found it very difficult to choose the recalls and was unable to call fewer than four. I should have liked to recall many more just for the pleasure ot seeing them again.” VOCAL SOLO, restricted class, women. own selection. (22 entries.) .Miss Sylvia Devenie, Wellington, 86 points ' 1 Mrs, Hodgkinson, Lower Ilutt, 85 points - Miss Vesta Emanuel, Wellington, 84 points 3 Very highly commended: Mrs. Florence Sim, Wellington. Highly commended: Miss Valerie G. Lewis, Napier. Dr. Staton said the class was. interesting. because none of the competitors had won a first prize at any festival till that week. He had noticed much sincerity about their work. MUSICAL MONOLOGUE, pathetic or dramatic, open class. (11 entries.) Miss Joan Prendergast, Hamilton, SO points * Miss Valerie Lewis, Napier, 79 points- L Miss Belly Robb, Christchurch, 78 points , , .3 Very highly commended: Miss Patricia Trower, I’etone. Both finalists gave artistic presentations, said Mr. Ginger. Miss Prendergast played her own accompaniment and presented an old selection in a very pleasing manner. RECITATION, girls, 12-16 years, own selection. (13 entries.) Pearlie Jenkins, Lower Hutt, SO points 1 Nola Wright, Wellington, 79 points 2 Phyllis Ball. Wadestown. 77 points 3 TAP DANCE, boys under 12 years. (15 entries.) Allan Van, Wellington, 85 points. .. 1 Arnold Birchani, Brooklyn, 79 points 2

Highly commended: Norman Drapier, Wellington. Commended: Allan Hilten, Lower Hutt.