THE COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17036, 9 May 1923, Page 8

THE COMPETITIONS.

THIRD DAY. The Christchurch Competitions were confined to-day in the Theatre Royal and Choral all, when a number of preliminaries were heard. The following arc the VOCAL SOLO. Baritone or Bass. Own Selection Recalls 1 F. G. Boyce (Opawa), -There Are No Dead.” J. Tennent (St Albans), “ The Diver.” G. Cordner (Christchurch), " Drake Goes West.” A. S. Bell (St Albans), ” The Lovers Wish.” C. Harraway (Christchurch'', ” King Charles.” Also competed: Sydney Armstrong (Christchurch). Cyril Shaw (St Albans), F. E. Olds (Sydenham), R. Campbell (New Brighton). J. Mayfield (Richmond), A. Murray (Wellington), D. N. Bishop (St Albans). R. Allison (Christchurch), G. Patterson (Christchurch.) ENGLISH SONG. j Contralto Own Selection. Ifiss Stella. Goodwin (Pigeon Bay), ” felow. Blow.” Miss Alice Vineeu (Wanganui), ‘‘Early One Morning.” Miss Nellie Spencer (Waltham), “ Drink To Me Only.” Miss Vera La wry (Christchurch), "Golden Slumbers.” Also competed: Misses Mona- Fisher (Christchurch), Ella Dailey (Riccarton), Elaine Moody (New Brighton.) HUMOROUS REC.I TATI ON. Ladies. Open Class. Own Selection. Recalls: Miss S. I. Aitken (Invercargill), “ The Pudding.” Miss Phyllis Adams (Wellington), “ The Vicar’s Presentation.” Miss Mavis Halliday (Wellington), " At The Photographer's.'* Also competed: Misses Eileen Carter (Christchurch), Constance- Aldridge I (Opawa), Alma Finnerty tChristchui-c-n), ! Clarice Ritchie (Merivale), Anita Winkel j (Dunedin), Gladys Tanner (Christchurch), Gladys Ganman (Marton), Bertha Cross (Wellington), Dulcie .Fowler Christchurch ), Juanita Jfanhire <«nrej - don), Mavis Ritchie (Merivale), Marjorie Mounsey (Riccartoii), Valerie Anderson (Linwood), Sadie Jackson (Cashmere), Neta Bill cliff (Opawa s, Rini Armstrong (Christchurch), Gertrude Johnson (St Albans), * Myrtle Simpson (Avonside.) YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. SHAKESPEREAN RECITATION. (Under *21.) Own Selection. Miss S. I. Aitken (Invercargill) 89 ilies Anita Winkel (Dunedin), 86 points 2 Miss Mavis Halliday (Wellington), 85 PIANO DUET. (16 and under 18.) Own Selection. Misses Madge O’Malley and Madeline Kennedy ” Rhapsodie Mignonne ” 90 Misses Ivy Evans and Edna Gill “ Hungary,” 86 points 2 VOCAL SOLO Mezzo. Own Selection. Miss Constance Harrison (Wanganui), ” Spirit Flower " 85 points . . 1 Miss Mabel Eaglesome (New Brighton) " Like to a Damask Bose,” S 4 points 2 Miss Amy JLilley (Christchurch), ” Hindoo Song,” 78 points . . .3 RECITATION. Gentlemen. “ The Noblest Work.” Open only to those who have resided six months in Canterbury, and have uev*. won a first prize in this or any similar competition. John Voss (Spreydon), 78 points . • 1 A. Johnson (St Albans) 77 points . . 2 QUARTETTE. Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass. Open. Own Selection. Edgeware Road Quartette, No. 2 " Sleep Gentle Lady' »fi points . . . 1 IRISH SONG. Gentlemeii. Own Selection. A. S. Bell (Spreydon) “ Silent, Oh Moyle ” 90 points 1 Johnson Mayfield (Richmond) ” Meeting of the Waters ” B*2 points . . 2 A. Murray (Wellington) "The Minstrel Boy ” 81 points . . . . .3 RECITATION. Ladies. “ The Elplain Artist." Miss S. I. Aitken (Invercargill, £4 points I Miss Anita Winkel (Dunedin), 83 points 2 Miss Phyllis Adams (Wellington). S 3 points, equal . - - 3 Miss Clarice Ritchie (Merivale), 83 points equal 3 VIOLIN SOLO. Open Glass. Own Selection. Rees M'Conaehy (Timaru) ** Cause Hongroise,” 90 points . . . 1 Harry Unwin (Petone) “ Intermezzo,” 85 pointe 2 Miss Ada King (Christchurch) ” Souvenir.” 79 points .... 3 PIANO SOLO. CS and under 21.) ” Tendre Aveu ” (Schutt.) Recalls; Miss Piri Thompson (Avonside.) Miss Eileen OMeeghan (Timaru.) Miss Bessie Pollard (Christchurch.) Miss Madge Nixon (Christchurch.) Mr A. Lurnmie (Riccarton.) SCOTTISH SONG. Ladies. - Blue Bolls of Scotland.” Recalls: Miss Eileen Warnook (Wanganui). Miss Eva Marshall (Oamaruj. Miss Stella Goodwin (Pigeon Bay). VOCAL SOLO. Contralto. Own Selection. Recalls: Miss Vera La.wry (Christchurch). Miss Ella Dailey (Riccarton). Miss Stella Goodwin (Pigeon Bay). DOMINION RECITATION. Gentlemen. Own Selectiou. Recalls: W. H. Moses (St Albans.) R. A. Turner (Christchurch.) A. Johnson (.St Albans.;

A SHEAF OF NOTES

Another day has gone by. \\ bile no performer ot really outstanding quality has appeared, there are some who are exceedingly promising, and who knows but they mav excel themselves before the festival ends? It .stands to reason that some of the aminnorou? competitors will be much better in some sections than others. A noteworthy thing in this year's entries is the large number from outside centres. Few of these are members of the roving competitor clac-s. During the last two years there have been remarkably few entries from outside Christchurch, and those few were all-conquering. The imported element- most certainly adds interest to the festival and makes competitors all the keener. There were only two entries in the quartette for soprano, alto, baritone and bass, both of these coming from the Edge-ware Road Choir. The first quartette chose ‘‘ Alas, That Spring Should Vanish ” (Lehmann.) It is a difficult number. but very beautiful. The voices were well balanced, and the blending was good, but there seemed to be something a little inconspicuous about the rendering when it was taken as a whole. The second quartette was much better iu * Sleep. Gentle. Lady." The balance and blend again were good, and the work much more vigorous and colourful. The pia.no duet (16 and under 18) lured only three competitors. one pair of which broke down owing to nervousness. The winner. Misses Madge * Mai ley and Madeline Kennedy, played ” Rhapsodie Mignonne." They worked well together, and there was a brightness in their interpretation which placed them well above the other pair. 1 The mes*o «010 brought to iighA the best

singer yet heard mnoii? the ladies. She G Mise Constance Harrison, of Wanganui. She has a very sweet voice, and a pleas ant manner on the- stage. Her choice wa* the " Spirit Flower.” a difficult, but* beautiful song. She gave a bright interpretation and the whole effect was artistic—and of course, pleasing. On the whole the class was a good one. but Miss Harrison stood well out from the others. In awarding the prize for the violin solo (open) Mr Asprey (the judge of mVisic), made a plea for plain music, rue! lie advised competitors not *0 choose trick piece-. fTn thought there were more commendable things than getting •canary effects." The entries in the class were not great, hut Mr Rees M'Conaehy had no difficulty in winning. Ho was the one competitor who had advanced well beyond the learning stage. He approached hi? piece •• Danse Hougroise ” with a musicianly appreciation of' its spirit. He understood what .he was playing and his worst fault was a breathless speed at the finish.

Tt. is a- dauce. certainly, but it would have been a distressed set of Hungarians that danced at that pace. Mr A. S. Kell, who won the Irish song, has a light, voice, just a little too even and restrained. But this is infinitely better than a t,pudency the other way. Still it would he better for him if he could try to develop a little more enthusiasm in his work. He has a voice, and if be did this it. would add to the general quality of his workMr Johnson Mayfield’s great fault is a forcing of tone. He does not seem to be able to sing without an effort, and this tends in the end to make a lack of tonal colouring in his. singing. The restricted recitation for gentlemen had only two entries. Mr John Voss wa-s tfar too admonitory and he stressed words far too much. Mr A. Johnson would have done better if his enunciation of odd words had been cleaver. ” The Elfin Artist” was a good recitation for ladies. It is a very dainty little work, imaginative and demanding a lightness in handling. A number of competitors took it far too heavily. Miss Anita Winkel was best as far as catching the atmosphere of wonderment wa-s concerned. but alio- lacked one or two other qualities. Miss Aitken was very artistic in her interpretation. The only fault, she has is a pedantic accentation of some words and syllables. The Shakesperean Recitation for ladies (under twenty-one) was an amazingly good class. All the competitors recalled gave excellent Shakesperean studies and they must be congratulated on their work. Miss Aitken gave one of Katherine's speeches from “ The Taming of the Shrew.” The study of the character was rood, and Miss Aitken got some beauti fnl voice tones, which would be still more effective if she strived towards a little brightness. There is just a suggestion of heaviness, which would more c-erreoMly be described as lack of vivacity. Miss \n m el’s work was good as usual: her emotional qualities are remarkable. Tf ==he develops her art along the right lines—who knows what, she might, not dor TO-NIGHT'S PROGRAMME. The popularity of the day sessions is e-owin" many voung people home on holidays from school find excellent entertainment at the sixpenny concerts given in the Theatre Royal and Choral Hall, morning and afternoon. At the grand concert in the Theatre Royal this eVenimr the finalists will be heard in the following classes: Piano Solo ‘ Tendre Aveu." Dominion recitation (men). Contralto solo, humorous monologue, bass or baritone duet, duet in character (hoys or girls tinder sixteen.', classical dialogue in costume. and story without wo**ls (third section.' It will be seen that the programme is an attractive one, and it should draw a good audience. The concert will commence at 7.-15 p.tn. The box plan is at The Bristol.