MUSICAL COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1930, Page 10

MUSICAL COMPETITIONS

IMPRESSIONS AT HAWERA.

OPINIONS GIVEN BY JUDGES. Salient points in connection with the Hawera competitions were mentioned by the judges in conversation with a News reporter at the conclusion of the festival. Mr. W. H. Dixon said he was pleasurably surprised at the numerous entries and quality at the festival, which had drawn upon only a limited area. He was impressed by several classes but by none more than for wood-wind players. “The entry of nine good woodwind instruments would probably be unique in New Zealand,” he said. “I ’will go further and say that I do not know of a place in England that would have such a class. There has been an absolute dearth of wood-wind players in recent years.” Mr. J. \V. Bailey, judge of elocution, said the children competing at Hawera were very good because they were both natural and artistic. Costume pieces had been well designed and carefully executed, while in the monologue classes fine appreciation of rhythm and musical effect had been shown.

“The standard ot national dancing was high with a pleasing number of entries,” stated Mies Vyner. “Though the standard was not low and considerable promise was shown, the numbers in operatic and character classes were poor and I would like to see those in the national classes taking a greater interest in other types of dancing. Folk dancing is unusual but was a welcome addition to the" programme.” The three judges paid tributes to the manner in which the -.competitions had been conducted. It was obvious that the committee was progressive, altering the programmes to suit public tastes so that the festival would not languish as had been the case elsewhere. HAWERA COMPETITIONS. ’ END OF SUCCESSFUL SEASON. The work of the ‘judges and those who had assisted, with the conduct of the Hawera competitions was acknowledged at the concluding session. The season, said Mr. F. W. Horner, chairman of the committee, had been! one of the most successful yet held as fa- as the standard of work was concerned, and the complimentary remarks made by the judges during the week had been satisfactory indeed. Perhaps •due to the wet weather there had been, a decrease in receipts, and next year the committee might have to discontinue the scholarships. Mr. E. Dixon, president of the Hawera Male Choir, under the auspices of yhich the competitions were held, expressed regret at the impending departure of Mrs. McQuin, the accompaniste. Mr. Dixon hoped the competitions, would not fall through as they had in other centres. Commenting ,on the musical classes, Mr. W- H. Dixon advocated singers over 18 years entering the competitions, as it would stimulate their work. Expression and atmosphere in the use of words, he reminded singers, would make the subject live. Some people decried the English tongue but it wag really a beautiful language if used rightly. Miss Vyner said the national dancing had been difficult to judge as all competitors were progressing on the right lines. Good work had been done in the other classes .but the entries had been disappointing in numbers. Mr. J. W. Bailey said that in . the musical monologue, for children under 12 the way competitors had kept to the rhythm had been rather remarkable. The children were good at reading at sight, a sign of culture. The work in the Shakesperean dialogue had been ar- . tistic but the atmosphere had not been very good. The competitions were an excellent way of building address and personality. The judges wer" entertained by the committee at supper.

UNUSUAL SELECTION. MUSICAL SCHOLARSHIPS. An unusual selection wa«s made by the judge at the Hawera competitions, Mr. W. H. Dixon, in making a recommendation for the. instrumental scholarship. The boy ho chose, Charles Carrel, Hawera, plays the oboe. / Discussing his choice, Air. Dixon said that players of wood-wind instruments were to be encouraged. In morst cases When a child was taking up music 'his parents would select tlw piano. Pianoplaying wa<j therefore not in the same need of encouragement. The boy he had chosen played a beautiful but unusual instrument and showed distinct promise, which was why he had been selected. As far as Alios Gundeson, whom he, had recommended for the vocal scholarship, was concerned, Mr. Dixon said he had been guided by the fact that she had natural gifts as yet to be developed. He hiid* accordingly given her preference over better singers who had had more training. Miss Gundeson had a voice that should respond readily to training and a nice sense of tone. I .■■■_. _ FOOTBALL AT HAWERA. FRIENDLY MATCHES PLAYED. Two friendly Rugby matches were played at Hawera on Saturday. Kaponga thirds beat Hawera juniors, who included several third grade players, by six points to three. For the winning team Alty and Behl scored tries, 'AVest failing to convert. Clements scored for Hawera, Cairncross failing to convert. Hawera High School beat Hawera thirds by nine points to six. Surgenor and Lee scored unconverted tries for School and Campbell kicked a penalty. Moloney scored two tries for Hawera. PATEA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP. The draw for the Pa tea Golf Club’s championship is:-— Senior Championship.—Findlay a bye, Wills plays C. Harris, Wybourrie plavs Hunger, Edwards plays Hughes, Sheild plays Torrens, Mitchell plays Rook, Jenkins plays Pettigrew, Fraser plays Hegarty. Intermedia tc Cha m pion ship. — Roberts plays Robinson, Simmons plays L. Har-

ris, Honeyfield plays Thompson, Aleharry plays Jones. ( Junior Championship.—Harnett a bye, Bourne plays Corbett, Sheahan plays Wither, Hodge plays C. R. Honeyfield, K. Honey field a bye. Currie plays Edwards, Glenny plays Besley, Haddow a byee