THE COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 16

THE COMPETITIONS.

Church Choir Contest This Evening. YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. The Competitions Society has experienced an adverse season financially so far, but now that transport problems are solved for the evening patrons, prospects are decidedly brighter. This statement was made by Mr C. S. Thompson, treasurer of the society, in the Civic Theatre last evening, when the festival was continued. To-night’s programme at thg. Civic includes the church choir contest, in which Shirley Methodist and Knox Presbyterian Churches will appear. Each choir will sing two selections, the test anthem and the hymn. Uncompleted classes heard last night included the ballet, twelve and over, and the song in character, man or woman. The sacred solo for basses was a non-recall item. The piano solo for the Bristol Scholarship was decided, the finalists playing their test solo. The winner was Miss Merle Cunningham (Sumner), who is thus entitled to free tuition to the value of £6 6s. She may select her own teacher. A request was made by the vocal judge, Mr Will Hutchens, Wanganui, | that competitors, when choosing a song for the English solo class, should ignore all the hardy annuals that were so often heard. He urged students to consider the wealth of folk songs that was extant, and to introduce something new into the programmes. Mr Hutchens will be remembered for the lecture he delivered from station 3YA on the ballads and folk-songs of some of the English districts. Good Instrumental Work. The general standard of the instrumental work last evening was high, both pianists and violinists giving meritorious performances. In the piano solo for the Bristol Scholarship, the test selection played was “ In a Boat ” (Camille Zeckwer). The task of conveying the impression of a boat floating lazily on the waters of a lake proved difficult, but the three girls gave fairly convincing interpretations. The winner, Miss Merle Cunningham, found favour for the colour and expression she used so effectively. She was free from any disagreeable technical errors, and this made her work all the more realistic. The winner of the violin solo, under twelve, was Miss Ethel Gibson, who played “ Humoreske.” She was accompanied by her tutor who, like his pupil, was blind. Considering this handicap, the performance was a meritorious one. Miss Gibson proved a most capable player, and received valuable assistance from a sympathetic accompanist. The second prize-winner. Miss Claire Simpson, made an unfortunate blunder, but otherwise her handling of “ Kigaudon ” was truly brilliant. The other competitor, Master Phillip Lawrence, was very fair. The impression gained from the recital with musical accompaniment was that too much consideration had been given to the extra marks allotted for the playing of one’s own piano effects. An uncertainty seemed to mark the efforts of some of the reciters, all of whom played their own accompaniments. The winner, Miss Molly Fowler, depended as much upon her piano work for effect as she did on the lines of her piece, and, altogether, gave a capable rendering. The musical effects of the second prize-winner, Mr Denys Cow, were amusingly introduced. Almost the only fault with Miss Watson’s performance was that some of her chords and runs in “ Having It Out ’’ were not always correct. Search for Humour.

There is a constant complaint among reciters that there is almost a dearth of suitable humorous selections. This was evidently true last evening, for two of the three recalled competitors contributed •* If Life Were a Play.’’ The result was that the second performer was received in almost chilly silence by the audience, who knew the sequence of the piece. The winner was Miss Daisie Armstrong, whose selection, though amusing, was marred only by an insufficient knowledge of the peculiarities of Cockney speech. The other competitors, Miss Kathleen Chappie, second, and Miss Molly Fowler, both invested the same piece with a laughable versatility, and displayed a natural gift of humour in this type of burlesque. Picturisation of “ The Old Man,” the test for the Dominion recital for men, was obtained only by tone colour and word emphasis. These qualities were possessed to a fair degree by the winner, Mr Denys Cow. The second prize-win-ner, Mr Clarence Paine, had a good speaking voice, which could have been used to better effect. Mr Cyril Rishworth, although his tone was dull at times, was very fair. Spirited Jigs. Animation marked the efforts of the dancers in the Irish Jig. under twelve. The winner, Miss Hazel Neil, succeeded in maintaining an even balance in her exhibition, yet her performance was bright and rhythmical at the same time. Miss Billie Addis was particularly vivacious, and earned praise for the manner in which she used her legs in the stepping of the beat. Miss Maisie Wilson also gave a capable performThe operatic dance, sixteen and over, would have been much improved if some of the competitors had aimed at a more unpremeditated atmosphere in their work. Inspiration in some cases was lacking, but the winner, Miss Gladys Smyth, succeeded fairly well in a role that did not appear to be over-rehearsed.. Miss Dorothy Judd, second, danced a 1 fairly graceful movement, the ensemble being pleasing. Miss Marjorie Austin showed promise, and like the others, her costume was a factor that contributed to her success. Vocal classes. A devotional air characterised the work of the contraltos, open class, in the sacred solos. The winner. Miss Myra Sutton sang “Abide With Me” feelingly, her rich voice showing to ad-, vantage. Miss Bertha Bawlinson, second, gave a sympathetic rendering of* “O. Divine Redeemer,” light and shade receiving careful attention. Miss Anita Graham sang Luzzi’s “ Ave Maria” in Latin, and Mrs F. Quarrell used a promising voice In “ Nearer My God to Thee.” In some cases, the English songs chosen by the mezzos in the open class did not >llow them full scope, as the four voices heard indicated greater potentialities. Miss Myrtle Wralght, the winner, impressed by the tunefulness of her voice. Miss Florence Sumner, second, was notable for her judicious use of tone effects, but her diction was sometimes spoiled by her production. Miss Linda Mills, who sang the same solo as the previous competitor. “On the Banks of Allan Water,” possessed plenty of volume, but forced her voice a little too much at times. Mrs D. E. Turnbull was too restrained in “ Nymphs and Shepherds.” Results:— VIOLIN SOLO. Under twelve. Own selection. Six entries. Miss Ethel Gibson (Timaru), “ Humoreske,” 79 points j Miss Claire Simpson (Papanui). ’ Rigaudon,” 78 points ’ 2 Master Phillip Lawrence (Cashmere), “ Tempo di Minuetto,” 77 points 3 RECITAL WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT. Man or woman. Humorous. Marks to be awarded for own accompaniment Ten entries. Miss Molly Fowler (Christchurch) “The Picture Pianist,” 8.3 points 1 Mr Denys t ow (Christchurch), “Love in a Car,” S2 points *> Miss Audrey Watscn (Dunedin)', “Having it Out,” SI points 3 SACRED SOLO. Bass. Open class. Not from oratorio. Five entries. Mr A. J. Cadman (Christchurch), “ Fear Not Ye, O Israel,” 80

Mr D. M'Culloch (Avonside), ‘ The Lord is My Light,” 79 points - . 2 IMr S. H. Provost (Christchurch), “ God is Our Refuge,” 77 points 3 IRISH JIG. j Under twelve. Twenty-three entries. Miss Hazel Neil (Riccarton), 88 points 1 Miss Billie Addis (Christchurch), 87 Miss Maisie Wilson (Ashburton)*, ’B3 points 3 Highly commended: Misses Jean M’Lachlan (Riccarton), Orma Ford (Timaru), Jean Skilling (Hillmorten), Lorraine Lagan (Spreydon), Greta Archer (Sydenham). SACRED SOLO. Contralto. Open class. Nineteen entries. Miss Myra Sutton (Lyttelton), “ Abide with Me.” 83 points .... 1 Miss Bertha Rawlinson (Dunedin), “O, Divine Redeemer,” 82 points 2 Miss Anita Graham (Linwood), " Ave Maria” (Luzzi) and Mrs F. Quarrel l (Opawa, "Nearer. My God, to Thee,” 78 points, equal 3 HUMOROUS RECITATION. Women. Own selection. Fifteen entries. Miss Daisie Armstrong (Christchurch). “Cockney at the Cinema,” 82 points 1 Miss Kathleen Chappie (Christchurch), "If Life Were a Play,” 81 points 2 Miss Molly Fowler (Christchurch), "If Life Were a Play,” 80 points 3 Highly commended—Misses Isobel M’Gregor (Dunedin), Freda Collogan (Temuka). PIANO SOLO. [Bristol Scholarship. Fifteen and under eighteen, (a) "In a Boat” (Camille Zeckwer); (b) Own selection. Fif* teen entries. Miss Merle Cunningham. Sumner (b) “Prelude” (Dohnanyi), I total 161 points in two sections 1 Misses Jean Webley (Papanui) and M. Morrison (Opawa) were the other finalists. DOMINION TEST RECITAL. Men. “ The Old Man ” excerpt (A. T. Young j. Five entries. Mr Denys Cow (Christchurch), 82 points 1 Mr Clarence Paine (Dunedin), 80 points 2 Mr Cyril Risliworth (Beckenham), 78 points 3 ENGLISH SONG. Mezzo. Open class. Sixteen entries. Miss Myrtle Wraight (Dunsandel), “ Sing, Maiden, Sing,” 80 points 1 Miss Florence Sumner (Dunedin). “ On the Banks of Allan Water,” 79 points 2 Miss Linda Mills (Merivale), "On the Banks of Allan Water,” 78 points 3 Mrs D. E. Turnbull (Bankside) was the other finalist. OPERATIC DANCE. Sixteen and over. Nine entries. Miss Gladys Smyth (Wellington), 89 points 1 Miss Dorothy Judd (Dunedin), 80 points 2 Miss Marjorie Austin (Christchurch), 79 points 3 Highly commended: Misses Tris Hawker (Christchurch) and Winnie Jeffries (Christchurch). EGYPTIAN DANCE. Thirteen and over. Ten entries. Recalls: Misses Letty Naylor (Christchurch), Eunice Fowler (Christchurch), Gladys Rose (Linwood). Highly commended: Misses Thelma Preece (St Albans) and Della Prisk I (Woolston). TO-NIGHT’S FROOB&MHE. To-night’s programme at the Civic Theatre includes the following classes: —Vocal solo, accompanied by self; junior scholarship, boy or girl, eleven and under sixteen; barefoot dance, under ten; sacred solo, mezzo, open class; Irish reel, any age, in teams; humorous character sketch, eighth section; church choir contest, anthem and hymn; vocal duet, man and woman, second section; Egyptian dance, thirteen and over; character sketch, man or woman; step dance, under thirteen; English song, contralto, open class.