MUSIC FESTIVAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 96, 6 April 1934, Page 13

MUSIC FESTIVAL

NAPIER COMPETITIONS Prize-Winners’ Concert CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS The final triumph for competitors at the Napier competitions festival is the demonstration concert, and last evening the Foresters’ Hall was packed to capacity with an audience that thoroughly appreciated the splendid programme presented and was not slow to show it. Hundreds unfortunately were unable to secure admittance. The items numbered 85, ami there were no encores ami no delays. Good stage management ensured the efficient and smooth running of the concert. In order to save time championship awards were presented to the winners as they finished their items. The championship list is as follows:--Vocalists.—Ladies: Miss Jean McGlashan (Hawera). Men: Mr Ken Macaulay (Wellington). Elocution.—Ladies: Miss Gracie Kerr (Wellington). Men: Mr Walter Hull (Stratford); runner-up, Mr Uobert Cheyne (Wellington). Champion piano (challenge rose-bowl presented by Mr J. B. Briaseo).—Mr Douglas Lawsen (Napier). Dancing.—l 4 io 18 years (silver cup presente.l by a Wellington lady): Miss Peggy Black (Napier). Junior, under 10 years (silver cup presented by a Wellington lady); Dawn Larsen (Wellington). Other special prizes for dancing were won as follow: — Medal presented by Miss Lilian Swan | (Napier) for most points in Sean I I'riubhais under nine years.—Olive Workman (Napier). Pair of dancing shoes presented by Mr Peter Eddy (Napier) for sailors’ hornpipe under l() years.—-Joyeline Key (Westshore). Special prizes for elocution were awarded to Mr W. Larrington and Jimmy McCarthy. Mr Barry Coney, judge of music, who was in excellent voice, delighted the audience with his singing of “The King Goes Forth to War” by a Russian composer, Koenemann. In response to the insistent demand for an encore he gave a brilliant piano item, “Revolutionary Study”. (Chopin).

The judge of elocution, Miss Florence Pacey (Dunedin) also contributed to the programme, giving “Queen Margaret” (from “Richard HT.”) mid “Napoleon the Great”, and was enthusiastically applauded for her beautiful interpretation. The Hastings demonstration concert takes place at the Municipal Theatre to-night. MR. BARRY CONEY’S COMMENT High Standard of Singing HW H. Barry Conev, judge of the vocal and instrumental entries at the Napier Competitions, said that competitors should pay moro attention to the making of music, not the making of mere soundsviolinists in the lower grades reached only a fair degree of performance; there was no such thing as a “short cut” to n.usicianiy standing and technique, and that the vocalists attained a high standard. He found in the piano sections an obvious lack of serious study. Thus the general average performance did not reach a high standard, “-More attention should be paid to the teaching of touch,” he said, always realising that the music is the thing—the making of music, uot the making of mere sounds.” Ho could descry only a lair standard of playing among the violinists who presented themselves in the low< r grades, though most o', the others weie quite good. “There, again, tone is the important thing, which calls lor hours of bow practice. “Nothing m muaic can be gained through so-called ‘short cuts,’ ” he continued. “It simply cao not be done. Apart from the technical work, there is the mental grasp of the theme, though the brain, which prompts you to train your voice, your arms, or whatever th« medium of expression may be.” In general terms, he said, the vocalists reached a high mark of vocal attainment, and on the whole the method of tone production was good. Insufficient attention was paid to the base of good singing—breath control. "All one quality and expressiveness comes through the medium of the breath,’’ he said. “Naturally, there must be the mental grasp of the particular musio being sung, but apart from that the mechanical part of singing is due entirely to well-used, controlled breath. “Interpretation, which is usually a weak part of singing, was noticeably good in these competitions. “In most eases due attention had been paid to style. Style, of course, is the understanding of the various classes of singing—bel canto, or smooth, sustained legato singing; and dramatic singing.” Another (joint ho commended to the attention of singers was the need for careful selection, so that the song, whatever it may be, suited the particular temperament of the singer. “Dramatic singing calls for greater power, and though a voice may not be capable of dramatic work, the singer might give a splendid performance in the lyric style of song,” he continued. He considered the children’s classes were decidedly good, though in many instances Mo much use was made of the chest qualities of tone, instead of the falsetto. The last-mentioned, he thought, was entirely the voice for young people. “For the most, part the standard of singing was good. It has improved immensely in the last 10 years,” concluded Mr Ctmey.

In common with various other centres of the Dominion, there were many marriages at Wellington during Easter. For the period from March 26 to April 3 inclusive 56 marriage licenses were issued at Wellington. Of this total, 14 marriages were performed by the Registrar. While .Scuts have a slnmg pride in their nice and country, they neither hate nor fear any other nation, according to ColonM Reitz, a Boer who commanded a SrWtish haltalion during th« war-