THE JUDGE'S NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 9

THE JUDGE'S NOTES.

ON BAND CONTEST.

CONCLUDING INSTALMENTS,

BARITONE SOLO.

No . i._«'NORDI§CHE." C. E. SMITH, 2nd. An uncertain start is made in cadenza, but soon alright; second cadenza well played, and playing later is given with fair tone and with safety. Cadenza fairly well done. Style in reeit. is not dramatic in treatment. Allegro: Clean playing here, florid runs are well played. Cadenzas are well given. Andante: Proceeds safely, but rail, bar might have been more artistically rendered. Playing..to end is good. Andante: You m tune opening bars, but rest of movent carefully played, from ff playing is lacking breadth, and high A is sharp. Risoluto: Good, clean technique here, and rythm well marked, very clearly played all through, and finish is good. Points, 87. No. 2.— "OLD FOLKS AT HOME." Opens with good full tone, but movement taken rather slowly. Cadenza well played. All your A's are sharp, now playing with taste; blurred high A. Cadenza very well given. Theme: Tone is good, and treatment is very fair. Var. 1 : Carefully if not brilliantly played. Work clearly put in. Var. 2: Same remarks apply to this variation. Andante: Playing with commendable taste here, but, again A's are sharp. Your valve slides require adjusting. Bolero: You are lacking brilliancy here, but all is clean. Scherzaudo is well done. Finish is fair. Points, 83. No. 3— "SCHNSUCHT." Tone is rather thin for baritone, but movement is going nicely. Cadenza is fair, rather measured in style; from A tempo playing is very fair. Cadenza well rendered. Theme: Uncertain at start, and you are not quite in tune with piano, but movement has been played with refinement. Var. 1: Technique is often faulty, and slurring in places: where you should tongue. A T ar. 2: Fairly well played. Lento: A blur, bar 5, otherwise creditably rendered. Allegro: An improvement in technique in first portion, but playing later is not of a high order. Finish is fairly well played. Points, 79. No . 4.— "JENNY JONES." G. .IENSEN—Ist. Introduction: A bolder style would be an improvement here, tone rather weak, but playing is very neat. Blurred high T> in cadenza, otherwise Avell played, and playing in ensuing bars nicely given. Cadenza is only fairly well played; uncertainty in middle section. Theme: Nice eautabile style here; would like a little more colour. Var. ?. : Technique good, but tone is rather Aveak. Var. 2: First strain well played, butplaying in second strain is indistinct. Good pedal C. Andante: Nice tranquil style, and given with taste. Cadenza neatly done. Polacca: Again neat playiug, but still tone is weak, and as a consequence playing lacks brilliancy. To end of movement proceeds with very nice playing. Finish good. Points, Bi>. No. S.— "SWEET SPIRIT, HEAR MY PRAYER." Andante: Opens Avith fair tone and style. Cadenza very well rendered, and playing later is* \-ery fair. Theme: Tone is rather thin, but song

is receiving nice treatment. Closing bars well done. "Var. 1: Although taken rather slowly, triplets are neatly played, and "good finish is made. .' Var. 2: Again neat playing is heard. Andante: Smooth style here, but trip- , lets at 6 and 7 are uneven. Cadenza well played. Polacca: A smarter style required in this, and triple tongue is not quite clear. Cadenza nicely rendered, .and playing later is very neat. Again triple-tongue-ing is not distinct; finish is good. ' Points, 86. No. 6.—' ' SINGVOGELCHEN. " A good start, uncertain at beginning '.-■"" of cadenza. Second cadenza is also not safe; high G is weak. Andantino: Fairly good playing here. Cadenza very well rendered; low G rather weak; ending is good. Theme: Phrasing is correct. Missed loav G, bar 15, and also missed high A, bar 21. , Var. 1: Very neatly done. Finish is only fair. Var. 2: Playing is fairly good. Missed high C, bar 5. Poco piu nice playing, but later lip fails, and you make some slips. • "Adagio: Creditably done;, from FP fairly - .^ Allegretto': FirsVpoftteß, .neatly ?&&*s%? dcred, and from lento ceptable. Lead is weak iii jgister, and finish is' only fairly well ,'iitl I played. *■' /.-'•', > Y-i Points, 81. s *j No . 7.—"SCHNSUCHT." Only a moderate start is made, tone is not of good quality, and style is not of the best. Cadenza is poorly rendered, and playing later does not warrant much praise; in concluding cadenza, however, an improvement is notice- « able. Theme: Given with fair style, but tone is not clear. Var. 1: Playing here is not good; too Aveak in tone, and technique is not clear. ■ Var. 2: Some faults occur in this varic. Lento: No taste shown, and the whole is amateurish. Allegro: Only a moderate attempt. Points, 75. No . B—"FANTASIA CONCERTANTE." An uncertain start is made, and tone is not the ideal baritone quality, and you arc much out of tune and playing is not safe. Recit fairly well rendered. Andante: Playing here is only fair, but lead was rather well played. Theme: Intonation suffers here; tone is dull. ---. Var. 1: Clearly and neatly played; tone is a little Aveak. Moderato: Fair technique displayed, but you do not intone correctly. Cadenza is only moderately avcll played. Allegro: An improvement here, bxit finish is much out of tune. Points, 79. No. 9— "GOOD-BYE." Opens Avith good tone, but treatment is rather measured in style, and you might be a little more expressive at "Good-bye." In second verse the treatment is not quite as artistic as I would like, and you are sharp on high A's near finish. Points. 78. No. 10—"SINGVOGELCHEN." Opening cadenza safely played, but second cadenza is not so Avell given. Andantino: Playing here is of only fair quality, and is not free from slips. Cadenza well rendered. Theme: Does not receive artistic treatment, and you are not quite safe. Tone is only fair. Var. 1: Fairly well rendered; techuique not sound in places. Var. 2: Bar 5 rather shaky; subsequent playing does not reach a very high standard of excellence; fourth last bar uncertain. Adagio: Again playiug lacks taste, but all is safely put in. Allegretto: First section neatly played, and playing piu lento is acceptable; cadenza well given, and finish is fairly good. Points, 84. The first instalment of the Judge's Notes appeared in our issue of Tuesday,, April 13. Succeeding instalments have appeared daily.