THE COMPETITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22354, 30 August 1934, Page 5

THE COMPETITIONS

CHURCH CHOIR CONTEST • WON BY UNITED CONGREGATIONAL DRAMATIC PRESENTATIONS _ The judging at the Dunedin Competitions approached its conclusion yesterday, when six sections were decided during the day and church choir and dramatic performances were heard in the evening. The choir contest was won by the United Congregational Church. The dramatic half..hour entertainments, of which three were Heal'd, occupied the bulk of the evening programme, a special attraction on which was an item by the elocution judge (Mr J. W. Bailey), who gave some amusing impersonations of people whom he had met in military camp and civil life. Mr J. H. Moir presided. Miss Cecil G. Hall, judge of the dancing, and Mr F. Bullock, who adjudicated in the vocal sections, concluded their ■duties yesterday. Mr Bullock, from the stage, thanked the society and its officials for the assistance which they had given ’ .him, making special reference to the efficient work of the accompanist '’Miss Sybil Baker) and the stage manager (Mr C. Beecot). Mr Bullock will meet competitors at 10.30 this morning in the Victoria Hall, T and Mr Bailey has made arrangements for ■j. a meeting,with competitors in the same • hall at 10.15 to-morrow morning. ,/ It was announced last night that Mr W. ißussell-Wood’s cup for highest aggregate marks in the prepared speech, reading at-eight, and pronunciation sections had been won by Mies Lydia Henderson, and the rug for the highest aggregate in -" •certain senior elocution sections by. Miss v-Nanna,Newey. • i The following are the results of the decided yesterday:— ELOCUTION Judge: Mr J. W. Bailey (Auckland). ' RECITATION girls .10 : and under, ■ “ Shadows in Fairyland.” Third Section. Miss Nbline Bean (Dunedin), 84 points 1 Miss Edith Wallace (Morniugton), 83 , ■ - points ... . .. .. .. .. 2 Miss Marjorie Jones (Dunedin), 81 points .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 3 VOry highly commended: Miss KatbTecu Ncvin (Dunedin) . •; Highly commended: Misses Ngaire Douall- (South Dunedin), Joyce GameYon (St. Hilda), Yvonne Finnerty (Musselburgh) , and'Mario Lenihan (Ahder- : son’s Bay)., r ■'i Also competed: "Misses Alice Parker ’ (Dunedin), Maria ..Heads (Dunedin), ~ Kstella Gibson (Dunedin), Elizabeth • Hanley (N.E. Valley), Margaret, flitchw cock (Anderson’s Bay), Nancy Nevin (Dunedin), Alma Keenan (Port Chalmers), Rona White (Musselburgh), and •Pauline Howell (Fairfield). The marks gained by about 60 per, cent, of the class, said Mr Bailey, were jairly even. The .winner gave an animated Performance with a good deal of soul behind the words. She used natural ' expression. The other placed competitors gave effective performances. CHARACTER RECITAL. 12 and under 16, own selection; .additional marks for costumes and make-up. . Miss Joy Knowles (Dunedin), 103 - points .. .. ... .. .. .. ... 1 Miss J. L. Keown (Tomahawk), 101 ;V , points .. .. .. .. .. 2 . Misses : Christine Wallace (Morning- ~ ton) and Alice Clarke (Dunedin), 97 points (equal)- .. ..- .. .. 3 Highly commended: Misses Deslys ' M'Kenzie (St. Clair), M. Middleditch . ji(Balclutba), Lydia Henderson _ (Morning..'.“ton), and June Lawrence (Christchurch). „ , Also competed:‘Misses F. M. Anthony ■ (Dunedin), Joyce Ridley (Tainui), ■Gwynneth Watson • (Dunedin), Evelyn ■King (Dunedin), Ida Macdonald '(Greymouth), Beatrice Jury (Anderson’s Bay), Edna Brown (Mornington), Annie Jen- ■ kinson (Invercargill), and Master John -Murie (Christchurch); S®.* Mr Bailey stated that* sOtrie very good performances -were given, Several of the competitors showing a' fine understanding of dramatic effect. The, winner was re- ! strained in her treatment of her piece. ; and worked up-to the- climax well. RECITATION, girls 11 and under 14, •. t “ The . Little Greenstone. Tiki ” (Gloria Rawlinson). ■" '.' Miss' Merle . Swanson (Dunedin), 87’ ■ points ! . .. .. ■ • ... ’ 1 -“.Miss' -Dorothy -Paytonj- (Dunedin), 86 points .... .. ....... .. 2 Miss' Pat Johnson (Dunedin), 84 points 3 Very - highly commended: ' Misses Lily . Shrimptpn (Dunedin), Mira Walker (Dunedin), and Edna Brown (MOrniug- , ton). • ' Highly commended.' Misses Patricia Moody (Mornington), Marjory Rhodes - (Dunedin), Annie Blackledge .(Dunedin), and Christine Wallace (Mornington). ■ ' Also competed: Misses Peggy Shaw . (Musselburgh), Betty Jackson (Tainui)’, . Noeline Johnson (Dunedin), M. Langmuir (Caversham), Ruth Hayward (Dunelfin). 'Ethel Thomas (Dunedin), Koa Mundie "(Mornington), Gwen' Graham ’ (Dunedin); Ruth Thompson (Mussel-’ -• burgh), . Joan Donaldson (Dunedin), -Kathleen- Watson (Dunedin), Clarke Neale Jean Woodrow (Caversham), Pat Guy (North-East Valley), Margaret Brown (Mornington), Annie Jenkinson (Invercargill), Jean Lambert (Milton). Molly Wenborn (Dunedin), • lona Livingston (Dunedin), Joyce i Richards (Dunedin), Phyllis Gibbon (DuXedin)., Elaine ’ Watson (Caversham), Irene Montgomery (Ravensbourne) and Joy, Watts (Mornington). The competitors placed first and second, said ,Mr Bailey, Were outstanding in respect of word colouring. A number were . inexperienced but were promising.

VOCAL MUSIC , ..Judge: Mr F. Bullock (Christchurch). VOCAL SOLO, open to ladies who had never won a prize in vocal sections at any, competitions. Misses Maud Giles (Dunedin) and Gwendolen Smith (Musselburgh), 87 points (equal) .. .. 1 Misses Margaret Mitchell (Dunedin) and Margaret Beattie (Patearoa), 86 points (equal) ...... 3 Also competed: Misses Norma Brown (Dunedin), Mavis Baird (Ravensbourue), Angela Hendry (Caversham), U. Foshender (Invercargill), Edith Clare (Musselburgh), Ethel Hadfield (Dunedin), Ngata Suswell (Dunedin), Annabell Murray (Dunedin), Lexie Mathieson -.(Tomahawk), Peggy Ramsay (Dunedin), Grace Clark (Dunedin), L. M'Donald (North-East Valley), V. M. Brunton (Tomahawk), Isabel Barron (Kaikorai) and Mrs M. Fletcher (Christchurch). Mr Bullock said that the singing was not of a high standard, but this was perhaps only to be expected a s there were eo many young singers in the class. NATIONAL SCOTTISH OR IRISH SONG, gentlemen, own selection, Mr F. G. Taplin (Dunedin), 94 points 1 Mr Leslie J. Dunbar (Dunedin), 87 points .. ... 2 Messrs S. I. Bickerstaff (North-East Valley) and Roland Dunbar (Dunedin), 86 points (equal) 3 Also competed; Messrs Kenneth Murray (Wakari), Jack Stevens (St. Kildn), J. W, Rodger (Roslyn), Edwin Sheat . ; (Shag Point), R. E. Duncan (Dunedin), John Erskine (Dunedin), and H. M, Brosnan (Diinedin). Mr Bullock said that some interesting songs were heard in this section, but most * of them were marred by the intonation, probably , due to the cold. Mr Taplin’s was an outstanding performance. VOCAL SOLO, ladies, open to all; (a) operatic air; (b) ballad. Miss Noni Davidson (Dunedin),- 88 .and 90—178 points .. 1 Miss Margaret Murray (Dunedin), 88 - and 89 —177 points .... ’. 2 Miss Maud Giles (Dunedin), 85 and 91 —176 points 3 ...Highly commended: Misses Anne White (Mornington) and R. Price (Dunedin). The preliminary hearings in this section took place on Tuesday and yesterday. Commenting on the performances, Mr Bullock- stated that the class'was very even, but the. competitors recalled did not sing so well at,night as in the afternoon.- Miss Davidson won because of her elightly greater accuracy.

CHURCH CHOIR CONTEST, for choirs of 25 voices or over; (a) anthem (accompanied), “Send Out Thy Light ” (Gounod); (b) hymn (unaccompanied) , own selection. United Congregational Church Choir (conductor, Mr W. E. Sinclair; accompanist, Mr Ron Abernethy), 86 and 85—171,points .. .. .. .. 1 St. Clair Presbyterian Church Choir (conductor, Mr Bert Rawlinson; accompanist. Miss B. Rawlinson), 81 and 84—165 points .. 2 Mr Bullock said that on the whole the winning choir was slightly better than the other, and in certain respects a great deal better. It achieved good tone and balance and kept well in tune, the general effect produced being very good indeed. The St. Clair Choir did not sing with such fine balance, and intonation suffered. When he heard the first few, opening bars he thought that it would make a great showing, but, unfortunately, it dropped in pitch. It, was better than the winning combination in the respect that its speed was more like the real pace for the anthem. DANCING Judge: Miss Cecil G. Hall (Auckland). BALLET DANCE, operatic, other than toe, under. 10. Misses Rowena Jackson (Musselburgh) and Pamela Page (Dunedin), 87 points, equal 1 Miss Joy Gray (Dunedin), 86 points S Miss Lorraine Hill (Dunedin), 84 points .. 4 Very highly commended: Miss Betty Black (Dunedin) and Master Alan Cropley (South Dunedin). Highly commended: . Misses Beverley Wix (North-East Valley), Joyce Smith (North-East Val!ey),,Lorna'Hewitt (Dunedin), Miriam Wild (Green. Island), and Irene Scott (Dunedin). Also competed: Misses Joan M'Culloch (Musselburgh), M. Donaldson'(Dunedin), June Rose (Roslyn), June Shore (Dunedin), Zoe Prebble (Tainui), Shirley Stewart (St. Kilda), and Paf Condon (Ravensbourne). Miss Hall expressed great praise of the work in this section, stating that every child showed evidence of careful training. : ' HALF-HOUR ENTERTAINMENT DRAMATIC SECTION. Three performances in the dramatic section of the half-hour entertainments were presented last night'. The competitors were as follows; W.E.A. Arts Class, “Allison’s Lad.” W.E.A. Drama Class, “ The Man Who Would Not Go to Heaven.” , The Good Companions, “ The Man in the Bowler Hat” ':" ‘ Five.further performances will be beard to-night. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME . TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME; To-night’s programme at .the Competitions Society will consist of . four half-’ hour entertainments .(dramatic section), by- the W.E.A. Arts Glass (“ The Lamp ”) ,-' W.E.A. Drama Class (“The Great Dark ”), Tliespi ans’ Club (“ Vindica-. tion”), and the Dunedin Academy (scene from '“Hippolytus”). ■ At His Majesty’s Theatre this morning recitation (boys 10 and-under) will be heard, and this afternoon a special children’s matinee, consistingof some of - the choicest children’s items, will be presented. This programme should prove a treat to the children. The box plan is now open at Charles Begg and Co:’s. STANDARD OF VOCAL ART JUDGE’S ADVICE TO COMPETITORS “The standard of teaching of vocal art, especially of . production, if one may use the term,” said Mr F. Bullock (judge of the vocal sections), in an interview, “ seems to have reached' a high level in this city, if one may take the voices heard during the competitions festival as a sample. This applies to the adult section rather more than to the juveniles. I have been impressed by the naturalness of most of the voices. There was an absence generally of exaggerated forced tone and distorted vowel sounds. Even the contraltos and basses, usually the chief offenders in this respect, were very mild compared with what I have heard in other centres.”

Faulty intonation, Mr Bullock added, had been a very common occurrence, but he would blame nervousness and inexperience rather than had production. Much bad intonation, he considered, was due to lack of musical knowledge on the part of singers, particularly non-recog-nition by them of the scale intervals. It had been noticeable that the leading note of the scale had often slightly flattened, causing the displacement of the lower notes. In the trio for girls this weakness had been very marked. It had been evident also that many singers did not listen carefully to the accompaniment. This was a very important point, and had also an influence on the rhythm. The singer should sing mentally through the rests and piano interludes, so that he took up the song again without loss of rhythmic onwardness.

“The necessity for greater accuracy is another point I would like to stress,” he added. “ I fail to see why a singer should be less accurate than an orchestral wood-wind player. The instrumentalist has to breathe between phrases, and yet must not hold up the whole orchestra while he does so. Many singers think nothing of putting in an extra halfbeat or more, thus breaking the song into a series of short phrases and ruining the effect of the song as a whole. It is my belief that singers’ breathing methods are largely responsible for this weakness, so singers should seek an automatic style of breathing by which breath may be taken noiselessly and in the shortest possible time. Some singers also exaggerate tenuti and rubati so much that the melodic structure is pulled awry. I believe that the music is the thing and the singer’s duty is to perform, that music to its best advantage, and not to use it as a means of physical self-expression.” All this applied to singers generally—and he was not suggesting that Dunedin singers were any better or worse than singers anywhere else. These faults were fatal to rhythm, and music without rhythm was dead —the soul had gone out of it. On the other hand, he had heard some very fine artistic singing in all the adult classes. Some competitors had achieved a very high standard indeed. He would like specially to mention the “ Song with obbligato class,” which had given opportunity for concerted work, in which performers had to study blend and balance and be unselfish. The two placed trios had given first-class performances and had afforded him great pleasure.

The winners of the scholarships had shown evidence, of fine artistic; sense, and should do very, well if study was continued. Others also had been very

little behind these competitors, but unfortunately only two scholarships were available.

In the juvenile section the singing had not been so satisfying, he added. Very few of the young folk —at any rate those under 16 —had had well-placed voices, too much being made of enunciation and not enough of tone. “ Chesty ’’ tone had been prevalent, and he would-advise those who were training children to study hooks on voice culture for children, such as that by James Bates, or other ‘ standard works. These could be obtained from any music dealer. There had been some notable exceptions, of course, and he must mention the very fine performance of the' St. Philomena’s School choir. This had been some of the best- singing he had heard from school choirs. Precision and intonation had been excellent and the whole effect had been very good indeed. With regard to songs ■in character, he felt that some performers went far too much for character and actions and not for good singing. The song must come first, and good effects and actions could not erase the impression made by poor singing. Simplicity and naturalness should be the keynote of such items. Many competitors had had these virtues, but many had not. “Taken ag a whole,” Mr Bullock concluded, “ the vocal side of the festival was very interesting,. and showed plainly, I think, the value of such competitions in encouraging young people to improve their music from every point of view. -Dunedin is very fortunate in possessing such a solid and virile competitions society.” . . DANCING SECTIONS ■' HIGH STANDARD REACHED “I found the dancing of a very high standard in most of the sections,” said Miss Hall. “ The competitors in the ballets, the operatic (ballet), step, and acrobatic sections were especially good. The classic dancing, however, did not reach this standard. This has a technique quite apart from any of the other sections. The greatest fault I . found in the operatic (ballet) dances was hardness of the arm movements and lack of spontaneity in the dancing, partly due to the arrangement, which should not give the impression of a series of studied steps or exercises put together without thought for tlm, interpretation of the music. Nevertheless, technique in general was excellent.”

Among the prize winners in the different sections, Miss Hall added, were several young dancers who, if they persevered seriously, should make names for themselves. Some of the work had also been very artistic, particularly in the character -and demi-character sections.

She thought’:the Diihedin Competitions Society was to be congratulated upon the successful way in which it ran the festivals, and the consideration and courtesy of the officials was well known throughout New Zealand. She had thoroughly enjoyed her two weeks’ adjudicating in Dunedin. ” .