DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12801, 23 October 1903, Page 6

DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

THE SECOND FESTIVAL. Fifth Dat. Tho attcndanco at tlio various competitions throughout the day yesterday was decidedly good, and ail the arrangements as per programmo were duly carried out. The sacred e-010 competition for ladies, "Abide with me," proved particularly enjoyable, and a very good 'Standard indeed was maintained, Miss CicC'ly Cicrd'ner proved the winner, and deserved all the applauso she received. Miss Ucssic M'lCay, of North-Eait Valley, was the succcssful competitor in the junior vocal competition, and tlio Misses Audrey and Brenda Stock not unexpectedly won in the uiauoforto duet competition under 13 years cf age. 11l tiio reading at sight Mr T. ,Gallagher was pkicod fir.it; and M iss K. Vivian won for the best Scripture reading;. In tho evening His Majesty's Theatre only proved largo enough to hold tho aitdicnco that assembled. Mr S. Solomon occupied tlio chair. Much interest and anticipation centred in tho impromptu speeches. Those proved meritorious beyond all expectation, though the audicnca was not disappointed. in the perhaps natural desire for some laudable excuse for merriment. Tho subject was " City Life and Country Life— Which is Calculated to Give tho Gieater Amount of Human Happiness?" Mr F. L. Iladfield was adjudged tho winner, and spoke as if he had had a week's preparation. The competitor.! had very varied opinions as to which life would be most conducive to happiness, and not a few strons; opinions were expressed. Those present also derived enjoyment from tho various sce'.ions of elocutionary and musical competition submitted to their attention, in the latter being included competitions in tiie contralto solo, vocal duet (for lady and gentleman), and vocal solo (for ladies, without music, and j?lf. , aceomnamc<l). None of those three competitions abovementioned are yet concluded.

A feature of the evening's entertainment was an item that did not appear on tho programmo. This was the remarkably fine rendering of Bracken's little poem "Not Understood," which was given by Mr Clarko (one of the elocutionary judges), who thus concluded como remarks on the competitions. Mr Clarke showed himself an elocutionist of the very first rank, and deeply stirred his hearers with his expressive production of tho simple pathos of this poom. Tho following are additional results:— MUSICAL SECTION. SONG FOR JUNIORS (boys and girls under 15 vears), "The gift." Prizes, £1 Is and 10s Gd. Miss Bessie ll'Kav, 40 points 1 Master Arthur R. Graham, B8 points .. .. 5 Miss May Edwards. 3G points 3 Next in order o! merit was Miss Flora J. M'A'eill, with 33 points. Also competed: Misses Helen K. Walker, Gwen M. Edwards, Dorothy HaeFarla.no, Aniy Orange, and Masters Daniel Fogarty, William O'Connor, and Gordon Fcn'.on.

The winner scored 8 points for technical correctness, 7 for tone quality and intonation, 6 for distinctness of pronunciation and enunciation, 7 for attack and phrasing, and 12 for expression and general effect. Master Graham's marks were 3, 7. C, 6, and 10, and Miss Edwards's 7, C, 7, G, and 10 under these heads. Dr Bradshaw said that a very great fault shown by many of the young singers was harshness of tone, especially noticeable in the lower part of the voice. This, of course, was caused by faulty voice production, the chest voico being forced upwards beyond its proper compass to the e-xelusion of the more beautiful hoad notes. One did not cxpcct much attention to expression from such young singers, but taking this into consideration, tho renderings given by a good many were- very good. The head notes of the competitor placed third were l>y far tho best, but- her rendering was impaired by faulty intonation and lack of expression. SACKED SOLO (ladies), Abide with me." Prizes. X2 2s and 10s Gd. Miss Cicely Gard'ncr, 48 points 1 Miss Agnes Yi'ilson and Miss Violet MacFarlano, 14 points 2 Miss Nellie Ross, 40 points ' 3 Also competed: Misses J. Inglis, iiizabeth Thomson, .T. Butler, V. Barth. D. Bernhardt, K. Rcid, L. ; M. Vhit'on L. Clark, J. Shophard, C. Davies, and E. Vivian, and Mesdames Curzon-Siggers, E. Vickery, and R. S. Drummond. The winner scored 3 points for technical correctness, 7 for touo Quality and intonation, 9 for distinctness of words/enunciation and pronunciation. 8 for attack and phrasing, and 1G for expression and general effect. Miss Wilson scored 7, 8, 7, 8, and H points, and Miss MacFarlane 8, 7, 7, S, and It pobits under these heads. The maximum points wore GO.

Tho judge said that this setting of tho familiar hymn required a suitable diversity of treatment in order to' seeuro a good rendering. Tho supplicating character of tho first and last sections was in distinct contrast to the dramatic expression required for a good interpretation of tho middlo part, It was tlio lack of contrast between this and what ho'might call the main text, tho more forcible episode" or sccond section, that the weakness of many of tbo renderings of tlio composition were so noticeablo. Much of tho dramatic oloment so necessary in the middlo part, was lost by inattention to phrasing and by too slow a tempo being taken. A glaring example of the absenco of good phrasing was in tho passage, "Where, grave, thy victory?" the punctuation marks being in many oases entirely iguored. Tho winning performaneo was marked by great intensity of expression and dramatic power, the conception of tho piece being excellent, and tho enunciation kein* Ter y much better than in any other performance. The tone quality and intonation of Miss Wilson were particularly good, but her reading was rendered rather unsatisfactory by a too slow tempo being chosen and by lack of dramatic treatment

PIANOFORTE DUET (under io years), " Invitation a la- valse." Prizes, £2 2s and 10s Gd. Hiss Audrey Stock and Miss Brenda Stock, 37 points 1 H'iss Irene Duke and Miss Catherine Plctcher, 31 points 2 Miss Maud Ridley and Miss Ncnella Ridley, 31 points 3 Next in order of merit were placed Misses Marie Pryde and Edith Donald, with 28 marks. Also competed: Misse3 P. and C. Horn, Misses C. Mshoncy and H. M. Hampton. Misees J-. Inglis and A. Inr.es, and Miss F. Anderson and Mr D. S. Barron. The winners secured 8 points for technical correctness, notes, time, and pace; 8 points for touch and tone quality and balance; 7 points for phrasing, unity of attack, and use of the pedal; and 14 for expression and general effect. The competitors placed second socurcd 7, 8, 7, and 12 points, and those placed third I!, 7, G, and 12 points under these respective headings. ELOCUTION. HEADING AT SIGHT (open), "Fire" (by H. Cholmondcley Pcnncli). Prizes, £1 Is and 103 Gd. Thomas Gallagher, 123 marks 1 James Gordon, 121 marks.. 2 Edith If. Vivian 3 Other competitors incntioncd were: Mr D. Leslie, Dorothy Gard'ncr, and James Hill. Also competed: -Lilv Green, Evc'.yn Quill, F. L. Hadfield, T. J. Pcmbsrton, F. V. Blandford, Winifred Mitchell, Laura Darling, and Lucy 11. Hale. Iu giving tho decision oHlio judges, Mr Bacyertz expressed the opinion flint most, of the competitors had done exceedingly well, repeoially as it was a sight-reading competition, and thoy wcro not allowed to see tho piecc till their turn came to read it. Tho chief defcct was a want of dramatic feeling in tho latter portion of tho selection. Tho (ir;t and second competitors scored by being more dramatic than tho others. SCRIPTURE BEADING (open), "The Story of the Prodigal Son " (St. Luke xv, 11-32). Prizes, £1 Is aijd 10s Gd. Miss E. Vivian ~ „ 1 Miss I. Whitson 2 Mr S. J. Matheson 3 Next in order of merit came Mr J. B. Re.'d and Mr T. J. Pemberton (equal), Mr T. 11. Mathc-son, Miss D. Gard'ner, and Miss L. Bremner and Mr T. Gallagher (equal). The other competitors weie; Jessie Cunningham, Christina M'Kenzie, E. W. (r. H. Watts, 'f. M. Wright, W. M. Mitchell, Philip S. Foster, Arthur D. Aitken, Jessie Knowles, William Low, Emalinc M. David Leslie, Evelyn Quin, William Martin. Laurie Darling, F. L. Hadfield, Emily Mitchell, A. W. Parkinson, James E. Gray, F. V. Blandford. James Hill, Duncan Pvohertson, James Gordon, Jean Fraer, Fred C. Every, Helen M'Kcnzic, and Cissie M'Gliie. Mr Bacyn-tz said tho judges wore rather disappointed with the result of Uh> Scripture reading. Thoy thought that, nobody quite appreciated the sublime pathos of tire storv, and very many points wore missed. 110 would not occupy t-imo in criticising tho performers as ho had made an appointment with tlic-m for next afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Board Room, where ho would bo fortified behind a big dictionary and 'accompanied by a big bulldog.—(Laughter.) COMEDIETTA. Mr Baeyertz said ho would make no comment on tho result of this competition, l as the' written decision would appear later on. "Twtffth Night" bad been awarded first place in preference to " Romeo and Juliet." IMPROMPTU SPEECH (open). Prizes, £1 la and 10s Gd. Judges: Mr G. Fenwick and the elocutionary judgC3. Mr F. h. Hadfield .. .. 1 Mr L. D\ Burnard 2 Mr P. Carolin 3

Also competed: Messrs A. D. Aitl-.en, ?•'. Lowe, and S. J. Jlatheson. The candidates were required to give a seven-minutes' dissertation on the question of whether city life or country life is the better calculated to give the greater amount of human happiness. Mr [!. Fcoiwiek, in announcing tho decision, said: "I had great pleasure yesterday afternoon in announcing tiio result of tho competition for a prepared spooch. With tho other judges, I must con few, I was more than gratified with tho very excellent Hpoe-ehes we hoard yesterday. Tho competitors .upon that occasion had some months of preparation. To-night- the competitor have had to endure a somewhat frying ordeal. It is a very difficult thing indeed to' stand Hp before such an audience and intelligently deliver a speech on a subject of which they had no previous knowledge. Tlio judges wish mo to say that they woro again gratified beyond measure at more than one of tho spixchcs delivered to-night. Particularly one of these speeches stands out. It was necessary for the judges to give to it almost tho whole of the 103 niarki; they had set apart; as the maximum. It is only right I riiould say that tboy feci that the speech that was first delivered to-night was really about tlio lxjst thing that lias been heard, I should «iy, in any impromptu spoceh competition."—(Applauso.) During an interval in this programmo Mr Clarke canto forward to mako a few remarks. He carno forward, he said, chiefly because Mr Baoyertz appeared to have, been getting all tho blamo for decisions whilo he personally occupied a back scat, and, again, that night concluded his work in Dttnedin. Though he had been reciting in public for the last 20 years ho had como to the conclusion, and it was only now that ho had discovered it in Dunedin, that ho really knew nothing of the English latiguago. After listening to the competitors and the numerous _ mistakes made in pronunciation, as pointed out by Mr Baeycrtz, and tho terrible difficulties he saw facing him, that was his conclusion. It. was easy for a man to sit at a table and mako remarks, and write down what lie thought to bo wrong, but it was very difficult to say these tilings without making mistakes oneself. Ho wished, in the first place, to thank tho committee for its kindness and courtesy. It had kept tho judges very busy for iivo days for 10 hours a day, and, personally, ho felt almost a mental wreck, and lie would not be sorry to be Telieved from the strain _of tho last few days. The work of tho society, lie was sure, was a very noble one, and should receive the recognition of -the citizens of Dunedin. As a means of education to tho competitors and to tho public generally tho possibilities of th«o competitions were vc-ry great. Speaking to the competitors, ho said he considered tho recitations, readings, and speeches quite up to the standard found in other places. In many of the competitors, he was quite euro, there was materiel oniy requiring development to place them in "the very front rank. Elocution was ail art only to bo mastered by diligent study and hard work, but it was worth tho effort. Marks had, been awarded as follows: — Deportment and gestures, 10; voice, 6; pauses, 12; accc-nt, inflection, and modulation, 12; pronunciation, 12; enunciation, 12; and general interpretation, 36;— a total of 100; and as each of tho judges awarded that maximum the grand total was 200. As to the failures, particularly noticeable in the competitors, deportment was generally very good, but gesture very weak. No one competitor had really anything like, a fair knowledge of how to use his arms. Voice was fairly good. Pauses soc-med to bo very littlo understood. The elf cot to be got from the dramatic pause was very great, and required study. Accent showed no very great defects. 110 noticed no instance of tho turning of "a" into " i," so common in Australia. In pronunciation and enunciation very grave dofeots had been made, and fully pointed out by Mr Baoyertz. Such points as ho had enunierate'd wero iho mechanical part of elocution, and could be easily learned from and imparted by an instructor. Under tlio head of general interpretation, however, it was a matter for -tho brains of the competitors themselves. Speaking generally, no was quito sure brains wero not lacking among tho competitors, for which tlicy had reason to ho thankful. Lastly, in referring to tho judges themselves, Mr Clarke said that for himself ho had tried to do his work honestly and conscientiously. His association witli Mr Baeycrtz had been of tho most pleasant character, and they were quite in accord in their decisiqns. They travelled over the. same ground, but by different paths, and at tlio cud of tho journey they wero both in agreement. Mr Bacyorb had keen accused of harshness i>y some, but lie was convinced that with the high ideals and high standard that be (Mr Baeyortz) held his judgment was absolutely correct, and this ho raid without fear or favour, and with no wish to flatter Mr Baoyertz. Mr Baeyertz's fairness and impartiality wero without doubt. He was a man of strong convictions, and had tho courago of them. Tho work ho had done in tho way of taking notes was prodigious, and, seeing that ho had offored competitors the benefit of these, honest strivers after improvement should dcrivo great advantage from the opportunity offered. .He thought Mr Baeycrtz was a very much misunderstood nian. Unkind remarks had been made, and lie had seized . thw opportunity of faying what ho thought of Mr Baoyertz. He ventured to say that there was no man in the whole of Australasia—perhaps, even, in tlio Old Country itself—who had greater capabilities, as far as criticism was concerned, than Mr Baoyertz had.—(Applause) Mr Chrke then, to the great ddiirht nf the aii'lience, recited Brsckon's "Not • Understood," and could "nave chosen no ■hotter wsv of giving weight to his remarks a c elocutionary judge. The final actions of all tho competitions "■ill be heard to-day, and in the evening The chief attri.ctiom are the choir contest.'. There will be two special displays on I Saturday. ■