1934 COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 55, 3 September 1934, Page 7

1934 COMPETITIONS

FINAL DEMONSTKATIONS

N.Z. SONG COMPETITION

An idea of tbo Governor-General (Lord Bleaisloo) made a year ago, and followed up by tbo Wellington Competition .s. Society blossomed into song before a ■'crowded Town • Hajl on Saturday night. ■ His Excellency had suggested a..competition for, song composition by New Zealanders. , Over a hundred entries were received. Tho two prize songs, "Maori Lullaby," composed by Mr. Owen Jensen of Hamilton, and "Away in the Forest," by Mr. H. M. Hullett of Onehunga, wero sung by Miss Christina Ormiston, a former champion of tho Competitions' Society, who was- accompanied by. Mr. Owen Jensen at the piano. The occasion was the concert demon stratihg the talent which' had succeeded in the seventeenth annual festival of the society just completed. His Excellency, on behalf of Lady Bledisloe and himself, congratulated the winners of the song competition, and Miss Ormiston, the singer, upon their performances. Their Excellencies were prepared to provide a suitable trophy, for further competition if the society thought' such a competition wise.- It was suggested that preference should be given : compositions distinctively Maori in spirit: and conception. AIM ACHIEVED. Their .Excellencies were welcomed by the president of the society (Mr. G. W. Morgan) who apologised for tho absence of tho Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A.Hislop). Mr. Morgan said that he believed the competitions Jiad succeeded in their aims of encouraging the study of literature, music, and dancing. He again rebutted suggestions that the society had decided_ to abandon further festivals. Tho society M-ould never betray the trust imposed upon it nearly eighteen years ago; and lie felt, certain the public of .Wellington would not countenance the dropping of the festival. Yet why did not the competitions. have the backing of the Wellington musical societies? The society did not get that backing. ' He urged the public to accord the competitions more support, and invited them to join the society wheh had a membership :of 100, which was small consider ing Wellington's population. The competitions were the starting-off ground for tho musical societies. The 1934 festival had been marred by the weather, but also by-something worse than the weather—the Town Hall had been "in splint's." He marvelled that Mr. Ross, 'the competitors, and' the public using the Concert Chamber had- carried on there without protest in the face of the work starting in that corner. (Applause*) Ho said he would like every member of the audience to write a letter to the Press. LORD BLEDISLOE'S ADDRESS. The Governor-General was received with applause upon rising to speak. Their Excellencies were very glad to be present and glad to learn that the competitions were definitely advancing the study •of singing, dancing, instrumental music, and elocution among young and old throughout the Dominion, said his Excellency. Their Excellencies very heartily wished to congratulate all concerned on- the standard of attainment reached.. .His;' Excellency said he had noticed that Mr. Morgan had uttered a note of confidence as .to the futuro of the society, and perhaps a note of chagrin .it the; Jack of confidence in others. He sincerely 'hoped the competitions festi-; val would not break down under its own weight. The undertaking was a formidable one, entailing 3000 items adjudicated over a'fortnight. - If there was any -doubt about tho ability of Wellington to continue thefestival, his Excellency suggested it might we}] be Considered ■whether the competitions festival should not be made national rather than a purely.local one. ' Those present had just listened to two songs of New Zealand composition, composed as tho result of a rather nobulous ■■'•>>! "by no means eoTtfitlont • suggesting thrown out by his Excellency a year ago. He was very surprised to learn Miat.no less than one hundred entries liad been received. If such a competition were,thought wise, their Excellencies were prepared to provide a suitable trophy. It occurred to him and, he •thought, hei" Excellency also, that if that competition tended to develop into an essentially New Zealand one, it ought to be essentially Maori. He'suggested preference be given such compositions. He would like, on behalf of himself and Lady Bledisloe, heartily to congratulate Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hullett, and Miss Ormiston on the. musical treat. Their Excellencies fervently hoped that in the flays to come tho competition festivals would "be sufficiently patronised by competitors and audience in sufficient numbers to pay expenses. . , , His Excellency then .presented-, diplomas and trophies to -winners of the various classes. ' THE PROGRAMME. The programme was as follows:— Piano solos by Mr. Walter Seville (Scherzo), Mr. Frank Blackman (Polonaise, Chopin), and Mr.' E. Bennett North; recitations by Miss Freda Whittaker ("Foreign Legion"), Miss Daphne Violich ("Burglar"), Master Jim McCarthy. ("Wedding Day Whispers") Monica Williams ("Tale of Old Japan"), Mr. Robert '"Cheyne (Buckingham's speech), Miss Gladys Gunn ('.'Dethroned Queen"), and Miss Iris Austin ("The Flight"); songs by Mr. Allan Cocks ("Out Where tho Ships go By"), Miss Winifred Bertirishaw ("Hindu Song"), Miss Doreen Hunt ("Depuis le Jour"), Miss Chris-, tina Ormiston ('' Maori Lullaby "and "Away in tho Forest"), Mr. Herbert Seaton ("Dashing Away with a Smoothing Iron"), Miss Eunice Scott "The Ghost of .Grandmamma"), Mr. Ken Macaiilay ("Tho Broken Spirit"i), Mr. Franklin-Browne ("Gwino to Hebbin"), Miss Betty Dunbar Sloane ("The Sea"), and Miss Joyce Myers ("The Birds Go North"); dances were given by Miss Phyllis O'Shea (character story), Miss Esme Chalk (eceontric), Miss Peggy Black (Spanish), tho Hazel Martin School of Dancing (tap ballet), Miss Del] Sandlant (clog), Miss Jean O'Connor and party (Irish reel). Mr. Clement Howe was tho official accompanist. Miss Dorothy Spinks also acted as accompanist.

Performers at the afternoon matinee on Saturday were aa follows—Piano solo, Margaret Lampard; classic dance, Valeaka Jenkins; recitation, Eunice Adams; dance, Irish jig* Irene Rees; action eong, Billie Goodfellow; ballet (under 12). Joan Benge's School of Dancing; piano solo, Jack Morrison; dance, Daisy Marshall; song, Doreen Calvert; dance duo, Petrene Vnll and Loma Larsen; action recitation. Valeric Fitzgerald; song, Georgina Crosaley; skipping dance, Judy Lewie; recitation, Vivian Violich; humorous recitation, L'oris McEv/en; operatic dance, Pauline Boocock; recitation. Ruby Cheyne; dance, Grade McKay; piano duet, Wynn Simpson' and Rhona Thomas; action recitation, Mercia Hart; eong, Pamela Beauchamp; recitation, Gwen Luff; dance, Judy Cooper; violin solo. Mervyn Cunninghame; skipping dance, Audrey Allardiee; recitation, Marjorie Ede; humorous recitation. Moira McClure; dance duo, Alys Sugden and partner; dance, sailor's hornpipe, Billy Watters; piano duo, Zita McMahon Bos and L. Cunningham; dance, Heather. Elgie; recital with muaipal accompaniment. Doreen Purdie; recitation, the winner; ballot in costume (12-16), the winners. •"■ • : '. ■■ '

Jn the ladies' humorous" monologue on Friday first place was taken by Miss Constance Kelly with 75 iioiuts.