MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 14

MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS. HIGH STANDARD REACHED. KEEN INTEREST OF PUBLIC. The annual festival of the Auckland Competitions Society opened yesterday. The attendances at both day and earning sessions were excellent. Between six and seven hundred persons attended during the day, and, in the evening the Town Hall concert chamber was well filled. At last yeaj-'s festival the public showed considerable apathy, but yesterday's attendances suggest an enthusiastic interest. All the arrangements worked smoothly yesterday. During the day the musical and elocutionary sections were commenced in the Town Hall conceit chamber, and the national dancing section was begun with a variety of Highland dances in the Unity Hall. In the evening performers recalled from the day sessions again appeared, and in addition contestants in the open dialogue and humorous recital for gentlemen were hoard. The official opening of the festival was performed last evening by the Hon. George Fowjds. Mr. Charles W. Kerry, of Wellington, was judge of the musical section; Mr. JCulford Bell, of Wellington, elocution; and Mr. Mackenzie Forbes, of Wanganui, dancing. Following are the results: — VIOLIN SOLOUnder 14. "Chanson Triste." Harold Taberner, Grey Lynn. 83 points 1 Arthur Leavins. Remuera, 81 points 2 Bernard Holland, Remuera, 75 points 3 The judge said he enjoyed the winner s performance very much. His tone, intonation, interpretation and clear rhythm were all very good. The second performer's climaxes jvere not strong enough and h© did not show enough tonal variety. Tha third competitor was a little inclined to be too rapid, but his climaxes were very well achieved. Moya Cooper-Smith, St. Heliers Bay, Phyllis Kerr, Otahuhu, and William Keefe, Mount Eden, were highly commended. GIRLS' SONG. 12 and under 16. "Happy Song." Any key. (Del Riego). Sybil Phillipps, Heme Bay, 81 points 1 Mary Barton, Grey Lynn, 76 points . 2 Doreen Saunders, Wellington, 75 points 3 This vras a somewhat disappointing class, said the judge, as none of the competitors quite appreciated the spirit of tha sc,mg. They were all vex - y serious and in a number "of cases sang too slowly. Allison Kell, Ponsonby. and Lawrence Mitchell, Auckland, were highly commended.

PIANO DUET. Under 16. Own Selection. Etfttv and Moira Tinline, Grey Lyrn. 86 points . . 1 Josic Goodman and Vera Snell, Grey Lynn, 65 points 2 Winnie Plant and.' Leah Newsham, Auckland, 82 points . . . . 3 Phyllis Cato and Eunice Hunt, Auckland, 80 points 4 The judge said that owing to ties in the earlier performances he had had to recall four contestants. The first and second pairs were still very close iin the finals. Both gave excellent performances, but the first pair showed a little more confidence than the second, particularly in,the climaxes, and they made the speed a little more brilliant. The third and fourth pairs did not make happy selections of pieces, as neither was originally intended for the piano, but they played well in spite of this. CONTRALTO 80L0. Open. "Sink Bed Sun." Miss Ina Thompson, Grey Lynn, S3 points 1 Miss Edna M. Peace, Northcote, and Miss Beryl Smith.. Grey Lynn, equal, 82 points 2 The judge said this was the most difficult section he had had to judge, as the competitors .were so evenly" good. To make his task easier he bad marked harder tban in pther sections, but still had not been able to separate tham completely. The tone ■ was generally good and In a number of cases even glorious. TENOR SOLO. Open. "Angols Guard Thee." Mr. ID. H. M.acfarlane, Ngaruawahis, 84 points . . , . . ! . I Mr. W. Farrow, Auckland, 83 points 2 Kev. G. M. Yule, Mangapai, 76 points i , . . . . . 3 The judge said this section provided a surprise, as the result of the evening performance turned out quite differently from that of the day session. The section as a whole was rather disappointing, as none of the competitors made as,much of the song as was possible. Mr. T. Moffit, Grey Lynn, was highly commended. HUMOROUS RECITATION. Boys under 16. Own Selection. Kenneth Warburton, Penrose, 70 points . . . . . . . . 1 Hanry Bradley, Auckland, 66 points . 2 This was rather a poor class, said the judge. The humour was weak throughout, and be was able to recall only two competitors. RECITATION. Girls, 15-16. "They Say." Ruth Quirke, Grey Lynn, 76 points . 1 Betty Richmond, Mount Eden, 73 points . . 2 Audrey Best, Devonport, 71 points. . . 3 The pieco selected for recitation, this judge remarked, required just simple treatment, with good, distinct speech and easy delivery. Competitors should not recite the words, but should speak them, regarding the piece rather as » story. There was a general tendency to place the emphasis on the wrong Words and break up phrases. Zona Gilmore, Mount Eden, Eunice Riley, Avondalc, and Dorothy Simpson, Auckland, were highly commended. RECITATION WITH OWN ACCOMPANIMENT. Miss Doreen Saunders, Wellington, 75 points 1 Miss Phyllis Mobberley, Mount Eden, 73 points 2 Miss Winifred Crosher, Takapuna, 71 points 3 The winners ail gave bright performances, stated the judge. The winner gave a very suitable selection and spoke her lines clearly. DIALOGUE. Open, Two or three competitors. Own selection. Audrey Perry and Marinoto Tuck, Auckland, 74 points 1 Elfrieda Hall and Doris Messer, Auck' land, 72 points . . . . . . . . 2 W. and H. Vaughan, Grey Lynn, 67 points . . . . . . . . 3 The judge said the gestures of the winning pair were faulty, and it was very inartistic for both to stand with arms folded in the same position. The ladv did not spaak spontaneously enough «nd missed a great deal of the sparkle o£ tha piece. HUMOROUS RECITAL. Gentlemen. Own selection. Mr. F. Hargreaves, Auckland, 74 pointii 1 Mr. W. O'Connell, Ponsonby, 73 point.'; 2 Mr. F. C. Armstrong, Birkenhead, 67 points . . . . 3 Thfc judge said this was not a very strong class. The winner did not give a very strong effort and a good deal more humour could bo got out of ihe piece.