COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19906, 28 September 1926, Page 6

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL. FIRMS’ CHOIR CONTEST. EIGHT COMPETITOES. Ui« first week of the Dunedin Competitions Society’s twenty-fifth annual festival was brought to a successful conclusion yesterday, when there wore good attendances throughout the day and a packed house in tho (waning. Special interest attached to ia.«t night's j roceedings, in that the openevent was the first portion of the Firms Choir Contest, in which eight choirs are competing. The second section of this contest will be hold to-night, when the results will be announced. The other evening events consisted of the piano solo (16 an “ under 18), the Scottish recitation (juveniles), Scottish song (ladies, own selection), piano solo for amateurs or professionals, recitation for girls, and vocal solo for men (seleotion from Gilbert and Sullivan). Mr B C. Reynolds presided at the evening session. The foilow’ng are the results: MUSIC. Judgvs; Mr Bernard Page, Wellington (instrumental), and Mr Sidney Williamson, Christchurch (vocal). SIGHT READING, for candidates under 13 years. Miss Edna Lungley (North-East Valley), 76 points •••. •••••• .•••••; * Miss Florence M. Gillies (North-East Valley), 75 points 2 Mias Mavis Thurston (Xortn-lLast Valley), 74 points 5 Also competed; Miss Pearl Gray (Roslyn) TO. SIGHT READING, for candidates 13 and under 15 years. Miss Carew Wildey (Mornington), SO Mu» n Olive" J.' Moreton (Roslyn), 78 points ••• ••• 2 Miss Lena Henderson (Dunedin)* 72 points ••• " Also competed; Miss Dora Drake (NorthEast Valley) 70, Miss B. E. B. Cooper (St. Kilda) 69, Miss Phyllis L. Bragg (Musselburgh), 68. PIANO SOLO. 16 and under 18 years—(a) “Senate in A. major” (D. Scarlatti); (b) “Romance in F Sharp” (Schumann). Mias Edna Dry (Macandrew’a Bay), 85 points ;• ••• ••• . ••• „ Miss Muriel Caddie (Dunedin), 67 points 2 Miss Clarice Colbert (N.E. .Valley), 65 points 6 Also competed: Miss Man Tucker (Roslyn) 64. Master Robert Lungley (N.E. Valley) 57. Miss Bertha Rawlinson (Roslyn) 56. Miss M. M'Dowall (Maori Hill) 56, Miss Kathleen Salmon (Dunedin) 51, Miss Dorothy Dagg (St. Kilda) 49, Miss Noelme Souness (Caversham) 41. Mr Page stated that this scholarship contest had been very disappointing indeed to him. It was not the standard of playing that one would expect from students up to 18 years. ■ The only performance of Scarlatti’s sonata was played by Miss Dry. The other performers were exceedingly clumsy and their pedalling was very bad indeed. The best performance of the romance by Schumann was given by Miss Caddie. PIANO SOLO, amateurs or professionals—“Barcarolle,” Op. 44 (A. Liadoff). Miss Gladys E. Crossan (Kew), 63 points 2 This was the only competitor. Mr Page stated that he was disappointed that there was only one competitor, to whom he could award only a second prize. SCOTCH SONG, amateurs, ladies—own selection. Miss Eva M. Graham (Caversham), 170 points * I Miss I. Blackwood (Roslyn) 169 points 2 Miss Mollie Andrews (Dunedin), 168 points ■■■ ••• ••• a Also competed: Miss Rita Holmes (Dunedin) 167, Miss Vanda Duncan (Dunedin) 165. Miss W. M. M‘Peak (St. Clair) 164, Mrs L. St. V. Morcier (Bayfield) 161, Mrs Gardner (Portobello) 161. Mrs E. Tyrrell (St. Clair) 161, Miss Minnie Henderson (Dunedin) 161, Miss Eva Marshall (Oamaru) 159. Miss Margaret Murray _ (Warepa) 15S, Miss Irene Seymour (Christchurch) 158, Miss Myrtle Bills (Dunedin) 156, Mrs J. A. Aitcheson (St. Kilda) 154, Miss Annie Matheson (Roslyn) 155. Mr Williamson stated that there was one thing for whkh all competitors should aim. and that was expression, which should be the hall mark of sinking. Miss Blackwood sang with a beautifully modulated voice, which gave a delightful _ crooning effect. The winner had a beautiful fresh voice, and sang with ease. Her diction was clear. She reached the heart, and she was most convincing in expression. Miss Andrews did not finite do herself justice. She was rather husky, and her voice was a little hard at times. VOCAL SOLO, amateurs, gentlemen— Selection from Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas. Mr L. E. Dailey (Dunedin), 169 points 1 Mr Jas. Simpson (Roslyn), 165 points 2 Mr A. E. Orr (Mornington), 164 points 3 Also competed: Ir R. Braithwaite (St. Clair) A. <J. Parker (N.E. Valley) 156, Mr R. A. Mitchell (Musselburgh) 156. Mr Williamson said that this was a verv good performance. The winner sang with a fine bri"ht lilt “Take a Pair of Sparling Eves,” : ud got a good deal of the spirit of the_ song. J • Simpson sang the same s' - ”"* with a beautiful voice, but with perhaps a little less spirit. Mr Orr sang “The Pirate ling.” His was fine voice, but his work was too colourless. He wasjnot a pirate king by anv means, being too 'refined in his singing. FIRMS’ CHOIR i CONTEST—(a) “Hail, Smiling Morn” (S-mfforth): (b) “In this Hour of Softened Splendour” (Pinsuti). The following "'■>*■>-eted:—Coulls. Somerville, and Wilkie’s Choir, Mosmel Woollen Mills Choir, D.I.C. Choir, Roslyn Woollen Mills Choir Brown, Ewing, and Co.’s Choir, Arthur Barnett’s Choir, A. and T. Burt’s Choir, and the D.S.A. Choir. Section A of this item was given last Might, and section B will be presented to-night, when the judge's decision vyill be announced. ELOCUTION. Judge: Mr Claude Hall, Melbourne. RECITATION, Gentlemen; open to all — “Christmas at Sea” (R. L. Stevenson). Mr C. R. Smith (Caversham). 85 points I Mr F. C- K. Foster (Dunedin), 79 points 2 Mr Norman West (Dunedin), 78 points 3 Also competed: Mr D. E. Dali (Dunedin) 77, Mr A. W. C. Gorrie (Dunedin) 76, Mr Mark Gaston (St. Kilda) 75. Mr Hall said the work in this class was for the most part monotonous because of a lack of continuity. Mr Smith’s voice could he improved by a greater use of the resonance chamber. He failed to recognise the attraction of the correct use of the middle inflexion. This recognition would obviate monotony. These things made for naturalness, which was the most delightful • thing in good recital. This was the most convincing performance in this class, but in a couple of instances words were badly pronounced. Mr Foster’s performance was not as attractive as it might have been, because of poor continuity, which led to monotony, and because his gestures were not always suitable. He had a poor apprehension of the last line, but otherwise his effort was a good one. Mr West should not express by closing his eyes, but by opening them, and he should not clench his hands in repose. His pronunciation was at fault once or twice, and better phrasing was desirable. He should use the resonance chamber better as the tones would then be better and more varied. His last line was very good. SCOTTISH RECITATION. 17 years and under —own selection. Miss Nana Newey (Ravensbournc), 80 points 1 Miss Mavis Robertson (Mogicl), 78 points ■ . 2 Master Norman West (Dunedin), 77 points 3 ' Also competed: Mis« Elinor llervey (St. Clair) 76, Miss Nancy Abernethy (Dun I edin) 74, Miss Gwen Thompson (Dunedin) | 73, Miss Elma Coxon (Dunedin) 73, Master j G. M‘Kinlay (Dunedin) 72, Miss Florence i Fielden (Musselburgh) 71. . i Mr Hall stated that Miss Newey s voice | waa not well projected, and the ends of some of her sentences were allowed to fall too low in the scale. However, her effort was a fair one. She was inclined to screw up her eyes to work at an angle of 45 degrees. Miss Robertson had a nice natural style of reciting, and her work ■was convincing, but she was inclined to be too confidential in the subdued passages. She should be careful with the release, and also with the ends of her sentences. She was not always well heard. Master i ISfaati ÜBC<i the eyes beUcr in expression.

He should let the other hand support the one when used in gestures, otherwise a stiffness resulted. He put some spirit into his work, and his effort was a fair one, but ho should not use unnecessarygestures. DANCING. Judges: Miss D. Dean, Christchurch (fancy) and Mr D. M’Kechnie, Dunedin (Scotch dancing, hornpipe, etc.). SWORD DANCE, girls under 12 .vears. Miss Iris Gordon (Dunedin), 84 points 1 Miss Ena Bulfin (Dunedin)_ 80 points 2 Miss Norma Williams (St. Hilda) and Miss Babs Saul (Dunedin), 78points, equal Also competed: Miss Jean Cook (Balchitha) 76, Miss Edna Agnew (Dunedin) 76, Miss Cecily Gallagher (Dunedin) 70, Miss Jessie Wills (Dunedin) 70, Miss Jean Freeman (St. Clair) 68. Miss Winnie Hooper (Cromwell) 65. Mr M'Kechnie stated that Miss Gordon’s positions were very nice, but the dance was taken a little slowly. Her footwork was very good, and generally her pointing was nicely done, but her body was too straight. Miss Bulfin’s time was very good. Her toe and heel were a little flat, and her body was too straight and stiff. Her positions were very fair, but the class of steps was not good. Her performance was a very fair one. Miss Williams’s cutting was weak, but her positions were fair. She was a litcie heavy in her body movement. She stamped in the wrong place, but gave a very fair performance. Miss Sauls toe and heel work was good, but her feet were lifted too high, and she lost bodyaction as a result. Her positions were very fair, but the finish was - too slow. She gave a fair performance. STEP DANCE, boys under 18 years—any step not already provided in tue syllabus. Master Robert W. Wright (Dunedin), (54 points 2 Also competed: Master K. M'Lennan (Opoho), Master Ronald Scott (Dunedin), Master Harold Wilson (Dunedin), Master Lex Greaney (Maungatua). ...... All the competitors except Master Wright were disqualified because their dances were already provided in the syllabus. Mr M'Kechnie stated that Master Wright gave a mixture of two dances—the Irish hornpipe and the clog dance. He was out of tune, and was awarded only a second prize. IRISH JIG, boys under 15 years. Master R. W. Wright (Dunedin), 74 points •••••■ * Master A. Rayner (St. Kilda), 73 points 2 Master K. M'Lennan (Opoho), 72 points 3 Also competed: Master Harold Wilson (Dunedin) 70, Master Lex Greaney (Maungatua). Mr M’Kechnie stated that the winner was racing ahead of the music. His positions were good, but his tripping was done too much from the knee. The time spoiled the dance. Master Rayner’s knees were not bent enough in boating. His time was very fair and his performance was a fair one, but his positions were not what they should be. Master M'Lennan’s time was erratic. His tripping was very fair, but his positions were only fair. He would advise this performer to persevere, as he would make a dancer. HIGHLAND FLING, boys, 10 aad under 15 years. The following were recalled : —Master Lex Greaney (Maungatua), Master K. M‘Lennan (Opoho), Master Ronald Scott (Dunedin). Also competed: Master Harold Wilson (Dunedin) 80, Master D. W. Wright (Dunedin) 79, Master S. Heathman (St. Kilda) 76. The final will be decided on Friday night. STEP DANCING, with or without apparatus. boys or girls, 12 and under 18 years. The following weae recalled; —Miss Jean Irvine (St. Clair), Miss Rene Ward (Invercargill), Miss Connie Potts (St. Clair). Also competed: Miss Phyllis Brown (Dunedin) 90, Miss Kitty Eckhoff (Dunedin; 89. Miss L. M'Donald (St. Kilda) 88, Miss Sylvia Marshall (Opoho) 87, Miss Lois Slowlcy (St. Clair) 86, Miss Margaret Davey (Dunedin) 86, Miss Laura Bain (Dunedin) 85, Miss Vera Tracey (Dunedin) 81, Miss M. Thompson (Dunedin) 81, Miss B. E. B. Cooper (St. Kilda) 80, Miss Violet Lunan (Musselburgh) 79, Miss Rhona I. Beale (Mosgiel) 78, Miss Nancy Abernethy (Dunedin) 77, Miss Winnie Hooper (Cromwell) 74, Miss Elsie Marwick (St. Kilda) 74, Miss Rita Baxter (Dunedin) 74, Miss Libbie Hayden (Dunedin) 73. The final will be decided on Wednesday night. BALLET DANCE, toe, 13 and under 16 years. The following were recalled: —Mis* Elsie Mar-wick (St. Kilda), Miss Violet Lunan (Musselburgh), Miss Laura Bain (Dunedin). Also competed: Miss Rene Ward (Invercargill) 82, Miss Nancy Abernethy (Dun edin) 80, Mies Ngaira Goughian (Dunedin) 79, Miss Jessie Ikin (North-East Valley) 79, Miss Connie Potts (St. Clair) 78. The final will be decided on Friday night. SPECIAL PRIZE. The following special prize has been awarded: — Bristol Piano Company’s Scholarship, valued at £l2 12s, being one years’ tuition under an Otago teacher, for the winner of piano solo, 16 and under 18 years—Miss Edna Dry (Macandrew’s Bay). TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. A most attractive programme has been arranged for to-night’s session, when the second section of the firms’ choir contest will take place, and the result will be announced. This is a most interesting contest, and patrons should not miss this opportunity of hearing the firms’ choirs. A very interesting programme will follow, in eluding:—Piano duet, “Slava”; recitation (ladies), “ Lenore ”; vocal solo, accompaniment and obbligato; violin solo, “Lea Adieux”; Scotch song (gentlemen), own selection; song (ladies), accompanied by self; vocal duet, operatic. The programme at _ His Majesty’s Theatre this afternoon will also be a very interesting one.