THE COMPETITIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 73, 2 May 1914, Page 11

THE COMPETITIONS.

GOOD ATTENDANCES.

The imisieal and elocutionary competitions continue to attract a good deal of interest and many of the competitors display an amount" of talent which audiences are not slow to recognise.

IRISH SONG. Lady amateurs. Own selection. The entrants were: —Miss Edith Croxton (Christ-church), Miss Carey-Wallace (Wellington). Miss Annie Yuill (Dunedin), Mrs Frank 0"Brion (St. Albans), Miss Daisy Parsons (Christchurch), Miss li. Burrows (Linwood), Miss Rosa Morris (Christchurch), Mrs Evaline Sharp (Wellington), Miss Doris Fox (Christchurch), Miss Dorothy Archer (Woodend).

The recalls were: — Miss Edith* Croxton. Miss Annie Yuill. Miss Daisy Parsons. The final plaeings were as follow : RECITATION, Miltonian. Open class. "Evening in Paradise." Miss Ivy Mazengarb (Dunedin) 79 points 1 Mrs H. E. Duff (Christchurch) 78 points 2 Mr A. B. Gladding (Auckland) 77 points 3 PIANO DUET. Amateurs, any age. Miss Lily Price and Miss Carey-Wallace (Wellington) 91 points . . . . . . 1 Miss Jean Borrows and Miss Alice Carter (Christchurch) -87 points .. .. 2 Miss Lilla A. Leach and Miss E. Stevenson (Christchurch) 86 points . . 3 Miss Price and Miss Carey-Wallace, the judge said, made a very fine performance, leaving little room for improvement. Miss Borrows and Miss Carter made an excellent performance, giving general attention to tempo marks. At times a little more wrist staccato would have been more characteristic. Miss Leach and Miss Stevenson made a remarkably good performance for two very young players, the touch and technique being very good. The weak point was the pedalwork, which is such an important part of pianoforte work. SHAKESPEAREAN RECITATION, "Cassius instigating Brutus." Open class, gentle-

men. Mr A. B. Gladding £ Auckland) 79 points 1 Mr Norman Aitken (Wellington) 77 points 2 Mr H. M'D. Yincent (Christchurch) 76 points .... . . . . .... 3

! Mr Gladding, the judge said, was faulty ;in his deportment, his attitude being verystiff. The sibilants were defective. He was also too lavish with gestures, 'which were frequently meaningless. There were some weak emphases, but the performance was creditable on the whole. Mr Aitken's breathing was very badly placed, and he had an unfortunate impediment in his speech which was fatal. He was too lavish with gestures, and his finish was rather stagy. Mr Vincent was stiff in deportment. It was difficult to hear him, but the climax was fairly effective. SACRED SOLO, Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano. ' Amateurs. Own selection.. i Miss Monica Davenport (Coalgate) 91 I points . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 , Miss Daisy Parsons (Christchurch) 88 I points . . 2 j Miss Marjorie Saunders (Merivale) 85 • points • . . . . . . 3 I The in "Rejoice Greatly" | were executed clearly and distinctly by Miss ! Davenport, the judge said. The attack and 'articulation were alike- good, and *Jie had J seldom heard the song given better. : Miss Parsons, in her rendering of *X> Divine Redeemer," was both convincing and devotional. Her voice was of goed volume and quality, [but she was inclined to take breath at the wrong places. Miss Saunders, in "Like as the Hart Desireth," was faulty in the lower tones and breathing, but gave a sympathetic rendering. STORY WITHOUT WORDS. Miss Alice Saundi»rs (Christchurch) and Mr Norman Aitken (Wellington) gave "The Wife Who Sat Up." IRISH SONG. LSady amateurs. Own selection. Miss Daisy Parsons (Christchurch) 83 points . . . . . . 1 Miss Edith Croxton (Christchurch) 80 points . . .-. . . . . 2 MLS Annie* Yuill (Dunedin) 79 points 3 The judge stated that Miss • Parsons, in choosing an Irish folk song, made a welcome change from the two or three songs usually chosen. She should avoid a tendency to indirect attack. Miss Croxton gave a quiet, sympathetic rendering of "The Last Rose of Summer," but was a little too fast for , phe, traditional rendering. Miss Annie Yuill tendered "Kathleen Mavourneen" very j creditably.

VOCAL SOLO, Baritone or Bass. Amateurs. Own selection. Mr A. A. Scott (Christchurch) 77 points 1 Mr Norman V. Smith (Sumner) 72 points 2 Mr W.. Hutton (Riecarton) 70 points 3 The judge stated that Mr Scott's voice was of good quality in "The Wanderer," and his words were, on the whole, satisfactory. He was inclined to take breath at the wrong places. Mr Smith, in "Lend Me Your Aid," made a creditable attempt of a difficult number. Mr HuttoV in "Drake's Drum,'.' was rather jerky in style, and his articulation was imperfect. His words did not carry 400 well, but he gave a pleasing rendering. ! RECITATION, "Bell Birds." Ladies not

having won prizes at other competitions. Miss Elsie Coppen (Christchurch) 75 points . . .. . . .. .. ~- .. 1 Miss Louisa Burns (Addington) 71 points 2 Miss Madge Higgins (Linwood) 70 points 3 The judge said Miss Coppen's deportment was very faulty, tfud she gestured far too much, the piece being a reflective lyric. She also dropped her voice badly at the end of phrases, but she eauglit some idea of the poet's meaning. As regards Miss Burns, her voice was weak and lacked expression, and her pronunciation was not always correct Her facial expression also was weak, and her phrasing faulty. Miss Higgins dropped her voice at the end of phrases, and her facial expression was rather painful at times. COMEDIETTA. Miss Gwen Moody, Mr S. Harris Vo.gan, and Mr W. Hawkins Little, all of Christchurch, gave "The Scoop," Mien Moody acting in a very capable manner. RECITATION, "The Three Bells." Boys,

under 16. The recalls were:— F. Brown (New Brighton). E. N. Smith (St. Albans). E. Ball (Dunedin), »\ ' There were seven entrants in this competition. RECITATION, "The Little Mushroom Girl." Girls, under 12. The recalls were:— Miss May C. Brown (DunStHu). Miss Florence Brewins y (Christchurch). Miss Juanita Manhire (Beckenham). There were 25 entrants in this competition. PIANO SOLO, Handel's "Prelude in G," s 'No. 39. For children under 13. The recalls were:— Miss Norma Middleton (Christchurch). Miss Ida Bradford (Christchurch). Miss Neenie Kenny (Dunedin). Twenty-four entrants competed. PIANO DUET. For Children under 10. The recalls were:— / Miss Doris Middleton (Christchurch) and Master Roy O'Malloy (Christchurch). Miss Irma Quane (Christchurch) and Master Cyril Edwards (Christchurch). Miss Jessie Rosewarne (Christchurch) and Master M. Armstrong (Christchurch). Seven duos competed.

PIANO DUET, Schumann's "Impromptu," Op. 66. For children of 13 ant? under 16. The recalls were:— M>s Dorothy Talbot (Papanui). Miss Lorna Timbell (Christchurch). Miss Kathleen Haydyn (Christchurch). Five duos competed.