THE COMPETITIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1927, Page 2

THE COMPETITIONS

LAST EVENING’S WINNERS.

The Competitions were continued yesterday afternoon in the Town and Trinity Halls, where there were good attendances. Last night’s attendance was the best so far of the Festival, the Town Hall being comfortably filled. The Golden Bay footballers were the guests of the Society and attended the evening session. • In the musical section yesterday the competition which created more than ordinary interest was the MezzoSoprano. Test, “My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair" (Hadyn), for which all the nine entrants faced the Judge. In commenting on the section as a whole, Mr Hutchens said it had been the most interesting section for him thus far. The tests were always interesting to an audience, as they were able to listen to individual renderings of the same song by a number of competitors, and make up their minds whom the Judge was most likely to recall. Usually in tests, the rendering by each performer had “something fresh’’ in it, which prevented monotony. In the particular test taken there were numerous pitfalls awaiting the unwary singer, and the audience would be able to judge how the recalled performers were getting over them. He would not “put them wise” to the traps they had not seen already ! He regretted that only one choir had competed in the Choir Contest. The section was usually most interesting. At Oamaru, where he had just adjudicated, the section had been splendid. The same test jhad been set, and a choir of boys had given a very fine rendering of it. He would like to see juveniles encouraged n choral work.

The Junior Impromptu Speech caused considerable amusement, the subject submitted being “Should ladies’ dresses be made shorter, or are they short enough as it is?” Most of the voung speakers agreed that short skirts had the virtue of exposing an interesting quantity of female calves, which were entertaining to the averige man I The Girls’ Prepared Reading, “The Acquittal of the Bishops, 1688,” was nost favourably commented on by -the fudge, who recalled six of the girls to read" the selection last evening. In the Mezzo-Soprano Test the competitors were Airs J. A. Peever, Misses N. H. Barrett, Edna AlcAlaster, Ethel Ellison, Irene Gilooly, lessie Drake, Mildred Coburn, Nita Hopkins and Nigia Medlin. The Judge recalled Misses Gilooly, Drake, Coburn and Hopkins. The Technical School Choir was the only competitor in the Choir Contest, the set piece being the gipsy chorus from the opera,“The Bohemian. Girl.” The choir took as its own choice selection “Awake.” For the set test the Judge awarded 68pts and lor the own ihoice 70pts. Commenting on the performance he said that in the test there had been some unsteadiness and irregular tempi, the contraltos had been nclined to sing flat, tonal quality had been fairly good, there had been lapses in the tempo. In the own selection there had been a tendency to push down the pitch. Girls’ Prepared Reading, 12 to 16 years ; the competitors numbered fifteen. The Judge recalled Freda Collogan, Margaret McDonnell, Freda Brown, Nellie McDonnell, Kath Heffron, Noelle Dunford, and highly commended Eileen Power and Daisy. Marshall.

Boys’ Prepared Reading, 12 to 16 years,“The Acquittal of the Bishops.” Eleven competed. The Judge’s award was O. Morris 67pts 1, Peter Anisy and B. McDiarmid equal 64pts 2, D. Galbraith and S?. Knapp equal 63pts 3. EVENING SESSION. Pianoforte Duet, “Gonlodina” (D’Ourviile), 12 to 14 years. The following competed : —Sheila McSherry apd V. Daly, Eileen and Winnie Pike, Elaine Parfitt and Elsa Heinz. The Judge’s award was: —Sheila McSherry and Vera Daly 74pts 1, Elaine I’arfitt and Elsa Heinz 71pts 2, Eileen and Winnie Pike 67pts 3. He remarked that one pair had taken the tempo too fast, while another had taken it too slowly and had been penalised accordingly. Junior Men’s Impromptu Speech (final). —The recalls were: —P. East, f. Tarrant, and K. Griffen. The subject for discussion was, “How to propose for marriage, and when?” The budding orators each extracted a good deal of humour out of the question, if their advice was not always practical in character. The Judge’s award was :—T. Tarrant 45pts 1, K. Griffen 32pts 2, and P. East 28pts 3. He remarked that the subject offered considerable scope. There were so many wonderful ways of proposing. In a similar subject given elsewhere he had heard one speaker answer the riddle by saying, “Give me the girl, and the moonlight, and leave the rest to me I” Ladies’ Monologue (final). —The recalls were Misses E. Ryan, “Memories,” M. Parfitt “Annabel Lee,” A. Bush “Annabel Lee.” The Judge said the section had been a good one, those recalled having given three excellent performances. The monologue, “Annabel Lee,” which had been selected by two of the ladies was a very beautiful one, but essentially a man’s. The author, Edgar Allen Poe, had a wonderful way of describing things. The winner had shown a wonderful understanding of the story. The award was : —Miss Bush 94pts 1, Miss Parfitt 93pts 2, E. Ryan 9-lpts 3. Boys’ Vocal Solo (final). The recalls were :—B. Galbraith, “A Farewell,” H. Boote, “Cheery Song,” H. De Freatus, “Back from the Sea.” The Judge’s award was : —Harold Boote 72pts 1. B*. Galbraith 69pts 2, H. De Freatus 68pts 3. He remarked that the section was one of the best boys’ classes he had ever judged.. There had been good choice of song and good interpretations. The chief fault had been failure to open the mouth, the result being a tendency to sharpen. In other similar contests by boys he had had to listen to all sorts of jazzy songs, which were quite unworthy for competitions and much to be deprecated. He was glad the Greymouth boys shower! some wisdom in taking good standard selections. Senior Men’s Oration (final). The recalls were: D. M. Robertson “Foreign Policy,” P. J. McGrath “The Master Builder,” I. Nelson “Coal and the War.”

The judge awarded P. J. McGrath 78 pts 1; I. Nelson and D. M. Robertson 76 pts, equal 2. He remarked that the winner had given a very fine rendering of a good oration, though his diction had not been always good. His general interpretation had been

so good that he had not penalised him for lapses in diction. Pianoforte Solo, “Minuet” or “Bagatelle”: Sheila McSherry, M. Stopforth and Eileen Sweetman were recalled from the first performance.

The judge placed them: Moira Stopforth (Hokitika) 74pts 1; S. McSherry 72pts 2; E. Sweetman 71pts 3. Commenting on the section, he remarked that the general fault was failure to give character to the selection. Players should try and find a story and should always look for a climax. There was an inclination to go hi for execution all the time. Digital gymnastics were quite good in their place. The three girls recalled had given nice performances. Referring further to the Pianoforte solo, for the 12 to 14 years players, the judge said as three girls had taken the Minuet, in G of Beethoven’s which was much easier than that set. and had given good performances, it was not intended that they should J)e out of the hunt, and a special prize had been awarded to the best of the three players. He had decided to award that prize to Blossom Addison, who gave a very nice reading of the favourite Minuet.

In the Mezzo Soprano Test Solo, “My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair,” the judge recalled four competitors from the afternoon session, Misses I. Gillooly, B. Drake, M. Coburn, and Nita Hopkins. His placing at night was Aliss N. Hopkins 78pts 1; I. Gillooly 77pts 2; B. Drake 76pts 3. He remarked that positions had somewhat changed as a result of the final performance, though the singing all through had been of a very good standard. The winner had given a much better rendering of her song at night, whilst the others had slipped back a few points. He remarked that in the old songs, it was necessary to get a different atmosphere, and the rules for modern songs did not apply. The grace notes were of a different class to those of modern music and were technically known as “appogitura” as differentiating them from the present appegios. There were contrasts between the mother’ and the girl which had to be brought out. The "climax had to be looked for. The song should not be simply “churned out” with technical correctness. Hadyn had a habit, also followed by other of his contemporaries, of making a pause in the middle of a word. Some of the singers had realised that to their cost in this particular selection. The recalls from the girls’ reading taken in the afternoon were heard at night, the following appearing, Freda Collogan, Margaret AlcDonnell. Nellie McDonnell, Kath. Heffron, Freda Brown, and Noelle Dunford, The judge placed them as follows: Freda Brown and Noelle Dunford ,69 pts 1; Freda Collogan and Nellie McDonnell 68pts 2; Kath Heffron 67pts 3. He remarked that the reading had been excellent, and he had some difficulty in separating the winners. Shakespearian Dialogue, lady and gentleman, “Twelfth Night, Act 11, Sc. IV. Four pairs competed: Mr T. Learmont and Aliss Parfitt, AV. McGrath and Miss N. Hopkins, P. J. McGrath and Miss Bush, and J. A. McGrath and Miss F. Hopkins. The award was Mr AV. McGrath and Miss N. Hopkins, 77pts 1; Mr T. Learmont and Miss M. Parfitt, 75pts 2; Mr P. J. McGrath and Miss Bilsh 74pts 3. Commenting on the section, Mr Montague said it had been a very good one. Each pair had given a good performance. He complimented Greymouth on having so many who had an intelligent appreciation of Shakespeare, mentioning that in Auckland with its population of 150,000, it would have been impossible for it to place four such pairs in a similar competition, who would give the same good performance as had just been witnessed. Miss Parfitt, he said, had been the best Viola and Air AV. McGrath the best Duke. TO-DAY’S SESSIONS.

The Competitions Festival entered on its third day this morning, when the attendance at both the Town and Trinity Halls was good. The following classes were dealt with at the morning session:—

Senior Men’s Monologue (own selection), in which the competitors were: J. McGrath, W. McGrath, I. Nelson, A. Parkinson, J. 11. Keddie, P. Doogan, P. J. McGrath, L. Anderson, T. Learmont, H. Jamieson, E. J. Hill, P. Williamson, W. Gieseking, C. O’Neill. I. Mcllroy. The recalls Messrs J. AV. and P. McGrath and A. Parkinson. The following were highly commended : Messrs 1. Nelson, J. H. Keddie, P. Doogan, T. Learmont, H. Jamieson and 1. Mcllroy. Junior Men’s Test Recitation, “Men of the English Race.” The competitors were T. Tarrant, G. Brown, D. Galbraith, J. O’Donnell, P. East, R. Nash, F. Simmonds, P. Duffy, F. Sadler, R. Tilleyshort, J- Auton and J. Phillips. The Judge recalled T. Tarrant, G. Brown, R. Tilleyshort, J. Phillips, and highly commended P. East, F. Simmonds, and F. Sadler. He took the opportunity of pointing out some of the chief faults made by the competitors, which were principally those of mispronunciation. Pianoforte Solo, “Fairy Dance,” boys and girls under 12 years. The following competed : —Kath Fauth, Molly Crough, Edgar Brown, Teresa McSherry, Ida Clayton, Phyllis Restieaux, Ray Nelson, Helen Ryall, Doris Bruerton, Jean Cooper, Mary McDonnell, Zita Munson, Patty Heslin, Jean Duggan, Jean Kyle, Cecil Hannan, Kath McGinley, Margaret Compton. The Judge said this had been an excellent section, practically all the competitors had given a good reading of the piece though they had not quite realised the story of the selection in every case. He regretted he could not give them all a prize, but that was impossible, and he had to recall those who stood out a little from the rest. He reminded them that the composer, Greig, lived in Norway, which was the country of which so ninny tales of fairies had been told, and in the selection, Greig had tried to make a. picture of a little dance. The recalls were Kath Fauth, Molly'Crough, Ray Nelson,.Zita Munson, Margaret Compton. AFTERNOON SESSION. The attendance at this afternoon’s session was gratifying, there being very few unoccupied seats. The programme opened with the Pianoforte Duet, “Hungary,” for girls and boys 14 and under 16. The competing pairs were: Moira O’Hallahan and Edie Daly, Mary Warren and Jessie Pope, Thomas' Shaw and Daisy Marshall, Maida Topliss and Hazel Lawn. The Judge recalled two pairs for to-night: —Mary Warren and Jessie Pope, and Maida Topliss and Hazel Lawn. REEFTON COMPETITIONS.

For the competitions, to take place on Friday and Saturday, September

16 and 17, in connection with the Reefton Parish Drive, Mr Eric Moss, of Greymouth, has offered to act as judge in the singing, piano and violin sections. Names and sixpence entry fee should be in Mrs Me (.'awe’s hands by Wednesday, September 14.