MUSIC AND DRAMA

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1939, Page 23

MUSIC AND DRAMA

CENTENNIAL PLANS

COMPETITIONS ARRANGED

The Centennial Music Committees in the four main centres are co-operat-ing enthusiastically with the National Committee and each has planned a tentative programme which is expected to be outstanding in interest and cultural value, said the Hon. W. E. Parry yesterday.

As adjudicator. conductor, and musical adviser, the National Centennial Music Committee, in collaboration with the National Broadcasting Service, has engaged Mr. Andersen Tyrer. "Arrangements have also been made for the engagement of the following well-known singers, who will take a prominent part in the. festivals of the main centres: —Soprano, Miss Isobel Baillie, London; tenor, Mr.. Heddle Nash, London; contralto, Miss Gladys Ripley, London; bass, Mr. Oscar Natschcke, New Zealand and London.

It is proposed to include the production of the opera "Faust" in the programmes of the Provincial Committees. If this is practicable the National Committee will assist by making available the four principal singers, as well as the costumes for' a chorus of forty.

"It is also intended to conduct in each of the four main centres, prior to the main festivals, a choir competition, the test pieces for which are:— "Music When Soft' Voices Die," by Andersen Tyrer, and "Diaphenia," by C. V. Stanford. The competitions will be open to mixed choirs of not more than forty voices.

It is intended also to conduct a competition for string quartets, the test pieces for which are:—First movement, quartet in D Major, "The Lark," by Haydn, the First movement, quartet in A Minor, Op. 5L by Brahms.

"With a view to stimulating interest in drama, the National Committee proposes to arrange to conduct through the Provincial Committees and with the assistance of the British Drama League a competition for a one-act Play.

The winning teams in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin in each of these competitions will be granted transport expenses to enable them to compete at Wellington in the finals for prizes of £50 and £25.

"The National Council is willing to arrange for the assembling of fortyfive selected voices, which, in association with the four principal singers, will form a Centennial choir, to be made available for the music festivals in the main centres. The National Committee will pay the transport expenses of the choristers, but other expenses will be the concern of the provincial committees.

"It is expected that as one continuing result of the Centennial music festivals, New Zealand will have an established national orchestra. This should follow the decision of the National Centennial Music Committee to assemble a Centennial orchestra which will be a feature of the music festivals. The assembling of the players will be under the direct control of Professor Shelley, Director of the National Broadcasting Service, assisted by Mr. Maurice Clare.

"Entries for a competition for original compositions have already been invited by the National Centennial Music Committee. These comprise a choral composition, orchestral composition, a one-act radio play, and a one-act stage play. A first prize of £70 and a second prize of £30 will be awarded in each section. The final date of entry is November 30.

"The following periods in 1940 will be observed in presenting the Centennial music and drama festivals in the four main centres, dates inclusive:— Auckland, May 13 to 19; Christchurch, May 25 io June 1; Dunedin, June 8 to June 15; Wellington, June 22 to June 28."