THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1937, Page 11

THE COMPETITIONS

IMPROMPTU SPEECHES

, TONIGHT'S PROGRAMMES

!T.he two most important classes set down for hearing today at the Wei-! lington Competitions Society's festival were those for the soprano or mezzosoprano solo (restricted), which was taken in the Concert Chamber this morning, and the men's negro spiritual, the last class for hearing at the Concert Chamber this afternoon. All the other classes in the three halls were for 'juveniles. Eight competitors have entered for the impromptu speech contest to be decided tonight in the Concert Chamber. The subject will be announced on the stage and each speaker will have eight minutes in which to express his ideas! (or attempt to- hide his lack of ideas)' on1 it. Professor Maxwell Walker will be the judge. The speeches will be I followed by six impromptu debates, I which will be judged by Mr.'C. A. L. Treadwell. * The usual mixture of singing, dane- j ing, elocutionary, and instrumental | numbers will be presented in tonight's variety show in thel Town Hall.. The first of the "fifteen minutes of magic" items, which were so popular a feature of last year's competitions, will be staged, arid- another interesting item, new this year, will be an illustrated lecturette on the scenic wonders of New Zealand. The last group of competitors in the grand ojlera aria contest will sing tonight; and the judge, Mr. John T. Leech, will then announce the names of the four to compete in the final contest tomorrow night. Tonight's singers will be Mr. A. E. Chappie (Wellington), Mr. Eric Child (Auckland), Miss Maude Gibson (Blenheim), Mr. Sidney Bartos (Christchurch), Mrs. Russel Scoular (Wanganui), Mr. Alan Pike (Wanganui), Miss Audrey, Holdgate (Timaru), and Mr. Godfrey Tiffen (Gisborne). Fewer classes, than usual will be taken tomorrow in the Town Hall, as the afternoon will be devoted to the ifirst matinee demonstration concert. In the morning the classes will be for the clog dance (12-14), the skipping dance (12-14), and the tap dance (14-16). There will be a full day of competitive classes in the Concert Chamber, starting with those for the restricted con-, tralto solo and the ■ women's negro spiritual in the morning, continuing with that for . the women's: operatic solo in the afternoon and concluding with those for the men's Irish folk Song and the recital in character in the evening. The Blue Triangle Hall will not be used;1 LIST OF AWARDS. Additional placings are as follows:— Solo Song and Dance, under 12 years (13 entries).--Tommy Petherick, Wellington, 78, 1; Lloma Larsen, Lower Hutt, 77, 2. Miss Gibbs commented that this was a most interesting class and she had seen some delightful items. The marking was close. One of the most outstanding competitors unfortunately broke down towards the end of her item', and although she came back later and danced she could not, of course, be placed. The judge intended, however, to award her a small prize personally. The winner of the class sang clearly and danced very well indeed, having an excellent stage sense. The competitor placed second .was not so good on recall as in her previous performance, but all, the same did excellently. ■ .... Ballet in Costume, over 16 (10 entries)".—The Jbane Raine School of Dancing, "Valse Blue," 81,1; Miss Mar. jorie Newport's School of Dancing, "Tap," 78, 2. Very highly commended: Miss Marjorie Newport's School of Dancing, "Tap." Highly commended": Wyn Chown School of., Dancing; "Anchor Away"; Wyn Chown School of Dancing, "Trooping the Colour." "We expect very finished work from these open classes," said Miss Gibbs. "I'm afraid I was rather disappointed at not getting more-varied ballets, for they are a popular item on the programme,- introducing brightness and colour." The winning ballet was most attractively frocked and presented some effective grouping. In the ballet placed second the teamwork was good. It was a well-arranged slow routine. Tenor Solo (restricted), own selection (14 entries).—Mr. Bernard Smith, Ngaio, "Crossing the Bar," 79, 1; Mr. T. F. Voyce, Lyall Bay, "I Pitch My Lonely Caravan at Night,", 78, 2. "It was only a fair class," said Mr. Leech. "Several Baritones appeared out of their class. The tenors were all promising young voices but need careful training to eliminate the bacKward singing in several' cases. The winner sang with pure legato and true devotion. His diction was refined. The second tenor sang with good attention to clarity and gave a sympathetic rendering." , . ■ Story Without Words (3 entries).— Miss M. E. V; Collin (Lyall Bay) and Mr. N. Beatus, l;. Miss Daphne Violich (Wellington), 2. Character Dance, 10-12 (27 entries).— Joyce Appleby (Wellington), 79. 1; Paulino Boocock (Island Bay), 78, 2; very highly commended, Jackie Browne (Moera); highly commended, Pamela Trimmer (Petone); commended, Audrey Allardice (Brooklyn). "A very even class, and at last I was- given strictly character work throughout," commented Miss Gibbs. Both the placed competitors gave delightful performances,1 she said. Sword Dance, uner 12 (8 entries). — Meta McKenna (Wellington), 74, 1; Freda Payne (Dannevirke), 72,-3; very highly commended, Alister McLeod (Vogeltown). A small class, but fairly good, said Miss Smith. There was some good timing, and ttve winner gave a correct performance. Vocal Trio, own selection (4 entries). —Misses M. Clifford, U. Thomas, and L. Wright (Hataitai), "Pure as the Air," 87 1; 'Mesdames I. Adams, Pengelly, and D. Poole (Newtown), "Night-Sinks on the Wave," 86, 2; Misses D. Mo Kinley and K. Sav/yer and Mrs. K. Mathieson (Lyall Bay), "Where'er You Walk," 85, 3. Commended: The Balena Trio (Porirua). This was a delightful class, commented Mr. Leech, land it was a pity that more teams wire not entered for such a lovely phase ,of concerted singing. The selections were all good, and it was only through minor faults that a separation in points .could be made. In trio work care should be exercised in choosing a teairi. Blend and balance should be the first consideration. A fine big voice, rich in tonal beauty, could upset the others through its dominance, if the other voices were more lyric in quality.. Then again, moving parts should be in evidence against a sustained legato passage, but the sustained passage should be alive..Those were two points that upset one choir. The opening con grazia of the winning trio was prettily balanced. They displayed artistic discrimination, command of tone colour; effective nuances, and a cohesion of expressive idea. This built up their aggregate. The second placed trio possessed a beautiful .balance and were artistically as good as the winners, but lost marks through the first soprano being, insecure on the upper resonance in one bar. The thir.d placed choir excelled the first two in general artistry, but an indifferent closing phrase spoilt the climax. That was a pity. ■,' '' Soprano or mezzo-soprano, restricted, own selection. 28 entries.—Mrs. Joan Wood (Kelburn), "Hark, the Echoing Air," 84, 1; Miss Stella Diracca (Wellington), '•Neapolitan Love Song," 82,

2; Miss Erances McGhie (Upper Huttj, "Vilia," 81, 3. Highly commended: Mrs. Nora Mathie (Wellington), Miss Audrey Lawson (Wellington), Miss Louise Smith (Wellington), Miss Elgar Christie (Thorndon). "The choice of songs in this restricted class for young ladies was happy in almost every instance," said Mn Leech. The songs chosen were good teaching songs that would build and not break, providing breathing received strict attention. It was distressing to hear a good many of those young people rasping and roaring in their breath preparation. That should be, attended to immedately, or some teachers, would be responsible for a short life of voices of promise. The winner sang splendidly. The florid passages were animated and were an example to others for technique, well-graded melodic curves, and a spirited mood. It was a really good performance. The second-placed competitor had a voice of promise and sang very well. Action Song, by or girl, 12 and under 16, own selection. 14 entries.—Ewan McEwan (Edendale), "The Bandolero," 82, 1; Phoebe Lawson (Petone), "Scarf Song," 81, 2; Nona Hood (Roseneath), "Lackaday," 80, 3. "An action song class without a real action song," was the comment of Mr. Leech. The best that could, be said about the section was-the entertaining sincerity of the children., The winner sang beautifully but his actions were-only fair, and the second- and third-placed competitors were much the same. The songs gave no scope for a good combination of action and facial expression. Teachers should realise that actions could speak louder than words, if the actions 1 were in keeping with the character and the text. For a girl to come out and sing a song depicting a lady of one hundred years ago and to do a modern dance was utterly stupid. That was the fault of the teacher, not the child. Girls' Reading at Sight, under 12 (17 entries).—Paddy Turner (Masterton), 80, 1; Mary Falder (Wellington), 74, 2; Shirley Brundell- (Wellington), 71, 3. Boys' Recitation, 7 and under 10 (10 entries).—George Gay (Wellington), 74, 1; Jack Turner (Masterton), 73, 2; Brian Barstow (Porirua), 72, 3. Boys' Humorous Recitation, under 12, own selection (9 entries).—Donald D. Porter (Karori), "Conjurer's Revenge," and Brian Brimmer (Island Bay), "Country Competitions," each 79, equal, 1; Basil Marris (Northland), "What Happened to Charles," 76, 3.