SONG AND VERSE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10993, 31 August 1921, Page 6

SONG AND VERSE

THE COMPETITIONS BEGIN LOXG PROGRAMME COMMENCED AT TOWN HALL. FIRST DAY’S RESULTS. The fourth, annual competitions of the Wellington v Competitions Society were begun at the Town Hall yesterday. Keen interest was taken in the proceedings and. all day long there was a good attendance at the hail. The society received record entries for its big programme, which comprises 365 eections. There are liberal prizes and many special prizes and donations. INCREASING POPULARITY. The president of the association, Mr L. B. Partridge, issued a foreword to the programme, in which he said:— “This, the fourth annual festival held under the auspices of the Wellington Competitions Society, again demonstrates the increasing popularity of this class oi entertainment. That they are filling a great part in our educational and. social surroundings is shown by the vast increase in our number of entries. (They now number. two thousand two hundred amd forty-eight—an increase of four hundred and thirty-two.) When one thinks of the amount of study of our masterpieces of music and literature this has involved, it will give us some idea of its value from an educational point of view. We have the statements of men. like the late Sir George Reid, of New South Wales* who said his first experience was gained in a eocietv like this. When one looks around amd secs the great number of public speakers there are and how few orators, we can. but wish more had followed his example. SPECIAL SUITABILITY OF WELLINGTON. "Wdlington is especially adapted for this class of entertainment on account of its geographical situation. It is situated wifchun easy reach of competitors from both islands, and the result ; has ‘been a great number of entries from all parts of New Zealand. Then, again, i Wellington lacks anything in the nature of an annual festival such as Carnival Week or an Agricultural and Pastordl Show. The executive council feel sure, j with the generous support of the public, such as we have had in the past, Wellington is sure to hold prride of place in this class of work. Very like Ballarat, Victoria, where quite a number of great artists have been produced, with the large number of entries and the appointment of the em:%9.nt Australian judges in the elocution and musical classes, the executive feel they can promise the public a very high-class entertainment, and confidently look forward to its hearty support and co-operation/ - * THE JUDGES. The following are the judges:—lnstrumental music, Mr Gordon Lavers (Sydney); elocution, Mr Bertram Flohm (Sydney) ; vocal music, Mr Gordon Lavers (Sydney); national dancing, Mr A. Barclay (Wellington); fancy dancing, Miss Cecil G Hall (Auckland); accompanist, Mr Harold Whittle; accompaniste (monologues') . Mies Dorothv Talbot; stage manager, Mr W. P. MacLachlan. THE OFFICIAL OPENING GOVERNOR-GENERAL PRESENT. The official opening took place in the evenin'* when the Governor-General and the Mayor were present. The president of the society (Mr Partridge) referred to the pleasure it gave all hands to see His Excellency among them. : The competitions started in a small wav four years ago, and now there were 2247 entries. The competitions had done good. and. judges from other parts of the Empire had said there was no better English spoken than was spoken in New. Zealand. Soon they would have to consider some other means of running off the competitions—to engage other halls or extend the length of the period. Mr Partridge then presented His Excellency with the badge of office of patron of the society. His Etxcellency said he would watch with interest the progreass of th© competitions. Might the best win! The Mayor (Mr R, A. Wright) thanked His Excellency for being present on such an inclement evening, but His Excellency was always willing to help anything that was for the good of the Dominion. ' JUDGE’S OBSERVATIONS. The president introduced to the audience the judge of instrumental music, Mr Gordon Lavers, of Sydney, and the judge of elocution, Mr Flohm, of Sidney.' He expressed a hope that the competitors would take the decisions in the right spirit. All could not win. Mr Lavers, in the course of a few observations, said that music was bound ut> with the social life, and was a,means of expressing sentiment. Mr Flohm' said he had come to Wellington at a good deal of personal inconvenience, but hi 9 visit had been worth the effort. He congratulated he public of Wellington on having such a society in its midst. Perhaps the public did not realise the amount of time and money the committee were expending on these competitions in the interests of education He would try not to be destructive in his criticism, but to be constructive. It would be kindly criticism, and he would try to foster the object in view, which wa« not the awarding of prizes, but the advancement of education. FIRST DAY'S RESULTS. INTERESTING CONTESTS. •The competitions commenced at 10 a.m., and the results so far are as follow ; MEtZZO-SOPRANO SOLO. "Love's Echo/' Recalls: Miss Amy M. Wilkes, New Plymouth» Miss Phyliis Massey. Wellington; Miss Violet Reith, Wellington. Final. Mts Wilkes, 181 points 1 Miss Rei£&L 180 points 2 Miss The judge said that as the hour was very late he would not remark on the competition. BARITONE SOLO. "The Ballad Monger.” Recalls:—Mr Edward R. F. Hewitt, Wellington; Mr Alex. I. Murray; Mr Ronald Smith. Christchurch: Mr Claude C. Moss, Wellington. Final. Mr Moss, 178 points 1 Mr M urra T 2 "I liad eome good voices to adjudicate on. but with the majority of the singers thoir production was faulty/* said the judge. cr Their tone was forced and their intonation was not true/’ SONG IN CHARACTER, Boy or Girl, 32 and under 16; own selection. Recalls.—Mies Edna Purdie, Brooklyn . Miss Joyce Julian, Wellington; Master Richard Maunder, Wellington. Final. Master Maunder, 166 points 1 Miss Julian, 165 points 2 Miss Purdie, 166 points 3 The judge found this his most difficult section of the day. There were so many charming little, singers he would like to have given prizes to every one of them. SACRED SOLO. Contralto, own selection-. Recalls*— Miss Mary Allan, Oarnaru; Miss Irene Hornblow. Dunedin; Hiss Gwen F. Esau. Wellington

RECITATION. Special Nhvy League contest, "Big Steamers/' Recalls:—* , Master Geo. Power. Wellington; Mias. Stella Chapman, Christchurch; Master John Watchman. Wellington; Miss Phyllis McMillan, Wellington; Miss Joyce Jugun, Wiillijgtbn. . -r ‘ " Final. Miss Julian, 89 points 1 Miss McMillan, 88 points 2 Miss- Chapman, 86. points 3 The judge said he was particularly pleased the committee had. put this recitation on. It seemed am extraordinary thing that in a simple piece like this so many varied interpretations could be given. Miss Julian pleased him most. -She had a nice quality voice and secured ?a splendid climax. Hers \ was a fine rendering full of earnestness. The second prize he would award tb Miss McMrillam, whose weakness wad; in the climax. Mis® Chapman did 'not commence too well, but finished with a good climax. GENTLEMEN’S RECITATION. "The Hade of Paul Venare?.” Recatte Mr Leith Riddell, Wellington; Mr C. Gordon Kirk,. Wellington; Mr Leonard Power, Wellington. RECITATION. NiEW ZEALAND AUTHOR. “I Wonder.” Recalls:—Mr C. Gordon Kirk, Wellington; Miss Clarice Ritchie, Christchurch; Miss Mary Cooley, Wellington.,, Pinal. Mr Kirk, 90 points 1 Miss Cooioy, 84 points 2 Miss Ritchie, 81 points 3 The piece set the competitors was described. by the judge as a re.uarka.bly fine piece of work, particularly well written — a fine philosophical poem, but a difficult pieoe to rocit© ail'd one that proved somewhat beyond most of the competitors. A distinctly good interpretation was given by Mr Kirk. Miss Cooley possessed a hie© voice, but her style was not reflective enough. Miss Ritohie had a light voice. Her style was fairly reflective, but her facial expression was more suited for the work in a declamatory piece. SHEANTRIUBHAS, Boys under 12. Jlinal.—Master MacDonald Boyd, 69 points, 1; Master Frank McKenzie. 61 points, 2; Master lan'Boyd, 61 points, 3. Th© judge said the competitors wore young boys, hut they were very promising. They needed to put more life into their dancing. PIANO SOLO, (18 and under 21, “Rhapsody Hongroise”). Recalls.—Miss L. V. M. Quinn, Auckland: Miss Ivy Middlemiss, Levin; Mr E. F. Tanner. Wellington. • Final. Mr Tanner . 178 points 1 Miss Quinn, 170 points 2 Misa Middlemiss, 162 points 3 The judge said he was agreeably surprised at the standard of work submitted to him that day, and when it was taken into consideration that the piece in this class was one for big pianists, it would be agreed that the test was difficult for young competitors. Mr Tanner was an autistic and temperamental young pianist. HUMOROUS RECITATION, (Boy or Girl under 12. Own selection). Section A recalls. —Master Geo. Power, Wellington; Miss K. Chappie, Christchurch. Final. —Miss Chappie, 96 points, 1; Master Power, 2. The judge said some, very good work was done. The prize went to a precocious child who did "A Trip to Blackpool” ve:v c overly. Mm- i ■ took second, prize for "Only a Boy. His general work was good, but he mumbled a little. Section B recalls.—Miss s. Chapman. Christchurch; Miss Irene Dalton, Napier. Final.—Miss Dolton. 96 points, 1; Miss Chapman. 91 points, 2. The work, according to the judge, was very good in this section —much better than in the other section. Miss Dalton, the winner, had a nice refined manner and her actions were splendid. . He highly commended Miss Sinclair Breen, Wellington: Master Lawrence Searle, Wellington: and Miss Alice Chapman, Christchurch.