AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7304, 16 April 1885, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

• OPENING CONVERSAZIONE. ' The fifth annual Exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts was opened lost evening at the Choral Hall, by a conversazione of mem* bers and friends. There were from' 500 to 600 persons present, including most of our leading citizens. 'At eight o clock Mr. J. McCosh Clark, the president of the society, appeared on the platform, accompanied by the officers and members of the committee of the society, and delivered a brief introductory address. In doing so, the President said ;: ~■ Ail last Exhibition His Excellency the Governor opened the Exhibition with an addreßS. He had been asked to do so this year, , and he had consented if in Auckland. His Excellency's public duties . prevented his .. fulfilling the , duty, and v therefore it devolved upon him (the President) to do so. • He would -not* attempt to deliver an address upon ... Art, .or • its influence upon the people, • and the effeot such Exhibitions • had in cultivating taste for Art, but . would . t speak : at onoe , of the condition and prospects of, the-society* As to numbers, be had to congratulate them on. an increase of 60 members during,, the year, making the" roll up to 400; and as ,to finance, at • the ' end of -the last financial year they, had a credit balance of £130. With regard to the exhibits, there was cot any marked increase in the numbers, though the canvases were larger, but there was a steady improvement in - the quality , and excellence of the work than in any previous exhibition. In the subjects , for ; competition the entries were more numerous, and the quality superior.- As to the musical competitions, he was advised by Eerr Schmitt that the entries were nearly denble those of last year, and of inoreased merit, showing that musical talent in Auckland only needed encouragement to bo brought out, Herr Schmitt deserved their gratitude and thanks for l 'drawing out this , musical talent. (Cheers,)— Mr. Josiah Martin then read the list of awards to successful competitors as already published, and the President presented the silver and bronze medals to the recipients with a few -appropriate remarks. As the recipients came up to receive their prizes they were loudly applauded. Miss Kate Ridings received Mrs. J. M. Clark's special prize, as the winner of the highest number of prizes at the exhibition. The prize was a very handsome and valuable one, consisting of a series of sketches of " The River - Tweed," by George Reid, R.S.A., and Dante's Purgatorio and Paradiso, illustrated by Gustavo Dore. ' THE MUSICAL 1 COMPETITIONS. The announcement of the awards :by the President was listened to with great interest. He stated that the judges were, Judge Penton, of Auckland, and Professor Tendall, of Christohurch, and the following were the awards : —.For the best song, containing not less than two verses (words; by any author), and pianoforte accompaniment, "Alpha"— serenade, Come, • Stella, Come"—Mr. Allan A. Whitehorn, C.E. Mr. Whitehorn got a certificate last year for his. " Triumphal March." > "Bokardo'.' — song, ''Ear, Far from Thee" (words from Burns)— Mr. Thomas Wood, .certificate. Mr. ; Wood silver medal for musical composition last took year. > For ' pianoforte, piece . - of * at • least four pages ordinary musio (including dance music; " Alpha."six short pieces (berceuse), two mazurkas, waltz, '; an . impromptu, " Twilight"—Allan Whitehorn, C.E., silver medal; " Euterpe "—sonatina and fugue Alfreds Turner, Ponsonby, certificate. Professor Tendall recommended special certificate 'for- Piano: Capriccio to Quod -Potui Perfeoi," Miss Bella Hitching*, -- of Oaks, Napier. Professor Tendall, in his telegram as to awards,'said, " Permit me to , offer my congratulations .to, 'Alpha'; the song is especially charming." The President read the, report of Judge Fenton on the competition, but oar spape will not- permit in this issue of giving it in-, exitnso. We quote the following ' particulars referring to - the successful pieces :— "' f , ..w l - ■ : ' - "'• No. 10.A song by " Alpha "—is of a high. order of merit.' It achieves all it pretends to do, <is consistent in idea throughout, and contains :. many beautiful, harmonies . and modulations. Some of the little intervening pieces tof symphony are charming. The writer must be a scholar, - for I don't think this work could be manipulated out of the pianoforte. " There is a wrong note in the bass, and I think the high treble notes interposed there are a mistake in judgment. < At any . rate, I have not been : able to discover the effect which the writer desired to produce by them. . , ; , No. I—Second prize, song by " Bokardo."— This song is in all res pects carefully written, is pleasant to listen to, and has no mistakes easily apparent. The writer has had running in his mind music of Mendelssohn, which sbows forth in the composition. : The, work is exceedingly satisfactory,' but there are better. .... * .- .

No. 11, first prize. Pianoforte pieceßby "Alpha.". Si* short pianoforte pieces. Every one of them shows talent,' and to some of them a higher term might be applied. There can bo no question of the excellence of these compositions, and though gifted with great powers, the writer has not disdained* to write in a clear and legible style. ;. No. 15, second prize, certificate.—Soha« tina, by "Euterpe." This is evidently the work of a cultivated mind and a scholar, and has ; invention, . but 1 find it thin. .'The writer will know',what, I mean, and perhaps will feel } complimented when I ; say that it'! makes me think of Pleyel's. duets. The musician listens to this |wi gratification, but I doubt whether the ordinary listener ' derives much' pleasure ' from it. There are some . mistakes of a clerical character.' The fugue, I . scarcely " know what to" say i about. , I ; did not know that .. a fugue could be 'of less .' than four parts to be a fugue. I have consulted four , authorities, and they all agree in that point. I remember well that a company of musicians in England decided that the overture to "Zauberfiote " was not a true fugue. No. 7, special certificate.— "Quod Potui Perfeci." Capriccio is scarcely the name, for the piece. It is a straightforward piece of music, very like in } character to the other compositions of this competitor. It is plea* sant to listen to, • but. calls ; for no , remark. Taken altogether it is a good work. : ! 7 The President called upon Herr Sohmitt to j present to the successful competitor his two prize silver medals, to which that gentleman gracefully responded. Mr. Whitehorn was cheered on coming forward to receive them. The competitive prizo pieces will be played ana sung during the course of the exhibition. "The 'Bridal' Song," by 1 "Luna" (Mrs.-J. M. Clark),, one of ' the , unsuccessful competitors,' was tastefully rendered;; by 'Miss Stephenson, Herr Sohmitt accompanying on the* pianoforte. The son& is a pleasing composition, 'and the changes in the melody were effectively given. - ' By the soloist, the piece being heartily applauded. During the evening Impey's Band played the following selections,' Miss Harding acting as accompanist on the pianoforte :' Overture, "M6nebrler de St, W&aat". (Herman); ."A la Voile," waltz; overture, "La Couronne d'Or"; valse, Fantine." ' ■ V • The .company,' after the. more formal part of the proceedings, occupied themselves ; in •, inspecting the pictures. ? The conversation® proved a complete success. Owing to pressure on our space we are obliged to hold over our notice of the picture?. '. " J : ' , m The exhibition will reopen daily till farther ' notice 1 from ?noon till five P.m„ and from half past seven to ten p.m. : There will be a concert each evening.