THE COMPETITIONS

Southland Times, Issue 19025, 22 August 1923, Page 6

THE COMPETITIONS

FINE CHORAL CONTEST. JUDGE’S COMPLIMENTARY REMARKS. The Competitions were continued yesterday and in the evening the large audience, which filled every part of the Municipal Theatre, was treated to a very enjoyable musical programme. Chief interest centred in the choral contest which proved to be unusually interesting, the judge compliment, ing the choirs on the general excellence of their performances. At the conclusion of the contest the judge, Mr H. Temple White, conducted the massed choirs whose singing roused the audience to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Mr G. Brown presided and stated that the public was honouring the Society by turning out in such large numbers. The programme was an excellent one and he felt sure that the audience would be delighted with the entertainment provided. Last year the Society was able to give one solitary item from the school children and many would remember the delightful performance given by the children from the Isla Bank school. The Society was disappointed that it had not been privileged this year to give a choral contest for the school children. They all liked to see their children playing football and taking part in other sports, but he thought that there was nothing in the world that would do them so much good as learning to sing. He hoped that those responsible would take the remarks to heart and that next year the Society would be able to conduct a choir contest fof the children. 1 The musical adjudicator, Mr H. Temple White, will meet competitors in the Victoria Hall from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. to-day. Those desiring to have Mr White’s advice are requested to bring their award sheets. Mr White will give a brief address on the essentials of musical art as well as talk to the competitors personally. Last evening’s results were as follow : SOPRANO SOLO. (“I Wish I Were a Tiny Bird.”) Miss D. Jones (Invercargill), 147 points 1 Miss A. Lilburne (Invercargill), 146 points 2 Miss V. Hobbs (Invercargill), 145 points w 3 Also competed:—Misses A. Lauder, N. Hughes, G. Thompson and Miss V. McFarlane. The judge said that the song was not altogether a suitable one and was better suited for children than for adults. There had been very little to choose between any of the placed competitors, but the winners performance was more finished. VIOLIN SOLO (open). Mr A. H. Ferguson (Invercargill), 148 points, 1 Mr D. Holz (Invercargill), 139 points .. 2 Miss M. Mclntosh (Invercargill) .... 3 Also competed:—Mr R. Howie (West Plains), Miss Eadie (Invercargill). The judge said that there had been some very good playing in this section and the winner had given a better performance in the evening than in the afternoon. SHAKESPEAREAN READING. The Gaiety Girls No. 2, 113 points, .. 1 The Gaiety Girls No. 1. 106 points, .... 2 CHORAL CONTEST. The judge, Mr H. Temple White, said that it was a long time since he had heard such good choir singing as he had heard that evening and he thought that Invercargill should be proud in having so many excellent choirs and conductors to cbtain such good results. The choice of the own selection pieces had been very good indeed and one choir had given a most ambitious piece and had given a very creditable rendering of it. One of the most important things in choir singing was blend and there should be no voice standing out but the voices should merge into one another. There had been faults common to most choirs and at times there had been a lack of colour and other faults which would always be found. The first piece provided cu example of what could be done in the matter of colour and some of the choirs had made the mistake of singing the words “love” and “hate” in the same way. In the second piece was a delightful selection, but most of the choirs made the mistake of opening too loudly, making it difficult to get plenty of contrast. All through the competitions he had been very pleased with the friendly spirit which had existed among the competitors behind the stage. He thought that the choirs were sports and the conductors also. He had given the markings on the three pieces. For each choir the total number of marks possible was 600, 200 being the maximum for each piece. The judge’s awards were as follow: Central Methodist Choir (A) Anthem, “O, ye that Love the Lord,” 153 points; (B) Part Song, “As Torrents in Summer,” 153 points; (C) Anthem, own selection, 150 points, total 456 points 1 St. John’s Church Choir, (A) 144 points, (B) 146 points; (C) 158 points, total 448 points 2 St. Peter’s Methodist Church Choir, (A) 142 points; (B) 150 points; (C) 146 points, total 438 points .. 3 St. Paul’s Presbyteriap Church Choir, (A) 136 points; (B) 145 points; (C) 140 points, total 421 points, .. 4 St. Andrew’s Church Choir, (A) 123 points; (B) 127 points; (C) 130 points, total 380 points 6 As the results of the contest were announced three cheers were given to each of the conductors and the judge was also given an enthusiastic reception after the singing of the massed choirs. OTHER RESULTS. RECITATION. (Girls under 16 who have not won a first prize). Miss L. Puncan, (Invercargill), 80 points, 1 Miss N. Barnett, (Invercargill), 76 points 2 RECITATION. (Boys under 16, who have not won a first prize). Master A. Toshach, (West Plains), 78 points, 1 Master Robert Scott (Woodlands), 77 points, 2