Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

10 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

Mountain Ash Easter Eisteddfod.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

Mountain Ash Easter Eis- teddfod. A bright siinny and snowy morning greeted the 23rd annual eisteddfod held in the Mount Pavilion on Easter Mon- day. The adjudicators were: Music, Messrs. E. T. Davies, F.R.C.O., Mer- thvr; W. J. Watkins. F.K.C.O., Dow- lafs; W. George, L.T.S.C., Yetalyfera, aud Madame Alicia Cove, L.R.A.M., Ahercynon. Literary: Pedr Hir, Liver- pool. Recitations Rev. Rd. Williams, Aberdare, and Rev. Gwrnrvn .Jones, Penrhiwceiber. The accompanists were: Professors R. Howells, Aberdare D. Erasmus, Penrhiwceiber; J. W. Evans, Abercwmboi, and Miss A. M. Mulvey, R.A.M. The conductors were Mr. W. Myrddin Hicks, Rev. John Phillips, Mr. J. 0. Jones, M.E., Moun- tain Ash. The secretarial duties were capably carried out by Mr. Thomas Hughes, who had as assistant Mr. W. J. Griffiths. Despite the fact that railway fares had increased and many other diffi- culties. the number of entries was exceedingly gratifying and perfectly justified the committee in continu- ing this enormous festival in aid of the funds of the local Cottage Hospi- tal. The Presidents for the day were Lord Aberdare and Hon. John H. Bruce. The first competition was the Ju- venile Violin Solo. There were four competitors, all of whom were com- Phmented by the adjudicator. Most interesting, he said, although mak- exacting demands on such youth- u* Performers. The G string and °uble stopping were most difficult nV Raff's well known "Cavatina." revor Harris, Porth, won. Piano solo, "Sonatas on National Airs," Maggie Davies, Ogmore Vale. "Piano solo, "To Music." Some of the competitors scarcely understood the test, said the adjudicator, The piece was an ultra-modern musical competition, which was always ugly unless performed as the composer in tended it to be. Miss A. M. Stephens, Newport, was adjudged the winner. Contralto solo, "Night of Delight' and "Desert Morning," brought forth 6 competitors. The adjudica- tor was disappointed. It surprised him how Welsh singers neglected the classical for the melodramatic style. He gave the prize to Miss Maggie Jones, Treorchy, English Recitation, The Tongue of Cymric Story," by R. A. Griffith (Elphin). won by Miss Annie Mor- gan, Pontypridd. Mezzo-Soprano solo, "Dream of To-night," and "Come., waltz with me." The adjudicator thought that the singers desired to paint too much every phrase and consequently lost evenness. The winner was Miss Ceridwen Price, Rhymney, daughter of Mr. John Price, the well-known conductor. Soprano solo, "A Faded Rose" and "In June." "Don't stick too strictly to the book," said the adjudicator. "Strict time in a ballad is an error, take notice of that." The prize was £ lyen to Madame Nana Lewis, Uydach Vale. Tenor solo, "Leila," John L. Bebb, Newbridge. « Tenor Bolo, "God keep thee, dear," John Williams, Dowlais. i> mr s°l0) "0, mother mine," Thomas, Troedyrhiw. Adroddiad Cymraeg, "Ymson y Milwr. The winner, Signaller W. i, .ns Mountain Ash, appeared "i khaki. 1 Juvenile recitation, "Yr Anthem ^yffredinol" 1st, Cecilia Williams, u i en ^n< Aubrey Thomas. Ynys- ybwl. Baritone solo, "Shake the rosy apples down," John Williams, Moun- tain Ash. Piano solo, "The Escapade," Gwyneth Hopkins, Penrhiwceiber. The Juvenile Choir Competition always provides a real battle, amongst the youngsters. Six choirs took the stage in the following order 1st, Mountain Ash Young Choristers (Wm. Morris) 2nd. Carnetown School Choir (Harrv J. Evans) 3rd. Aoddfa Juvenile Choir, Blaenclyd- ach (Willie Edwards) 4th, Newtown Juvenile Choir (Llew Newman) 5th, Caegarw Juvenile Choir (J. H. Thomas); 6th. Fochriw (Miss Marsie Davies). The adjudicator was pleased at the revival in the chil- dren's section of choosing their own piece. He had hoped that the old "Comrades" song had been allowed to die a natural death, but from the ("hoice of the choirs it seemed likely to flourish. The children had not been allowed to sing naturally, and they showed a lamentable want of 1-hithm. The voices were good, but with a marked tendency to force. No. 1 Choir had a splendid climax, and childish beauty in tone. -No. 2 had good voices, but oversang. No. ;j had excellent voices, were well blended, gradation excellent, with splendid contrast in the allegro. No. t were allowed t6 force beautiful quality in tone, but lacked finesse. N'o. 5: Vigorous singing, but lack of sway. No. 6 Small tone. but pretty with lively animation. Marks: (3) o7 (6) 85 (1) 79 (5) 78 (4) 77 (2) 70. Girls' solo (not over 17). "Love s Arcady," May Powell, Treharris. Has won 183 prizes. Boys' solo (not over 17). "The land of our birth," David George Hardi- man, Mountain Ash. Tenor solo (principal), "God bring you home," Todd Jones, Treherbrrt. Action song was very disappoint- ing, said Mr. Davies. The singing was fair, but the girls did not have the opportunity 0 exhibiting that innate gracefulness that is so natural to them. The general effect was in- ) ferior and lacked naturalness. The acoocupaniments were faulty and the I music shoddy. He awarded first prize to Carnetown Juvenile Choir, and 2nd prize to Mountain Ash Young Choristers. Girl. solo, "June's golden song," I divided between Doris Davies, j Fochriw, and May Powell. Tre- | harris. Baritone solo, "Mary O'Neil, Wm, Skym, Abertridwr. Piano solo. "Gentle and Low," Piano solo. "Gentle and Low," Mrs. Cook, Pontypridd. Piano solo, "Little Miss Nobody, Robert J. Evans. Treharris. Soprano solo, "Ynys y Plant, Megaa Williams. Dowlais. | Englyn, T. Evans (Tel), Cwmaman. Darn Adroddiadol, Rev. Arthur Jones, Ynysybwl. Mezzo-soprano solo, "Song of the Lotus Lily," Miss Gwladys Brittain. Mezzo-soprano solo, "Iairyland oi i dreams." Miss Annie Flooks, Peny- graig. Pia.no solo, "Lovellt," divided be- tween Idris Owen. Mountain Ash, and Robert J. Evans. Treharris. Second Choral, always a delight- ful competition at this eisteddfod, was more than usually so. Gwilym Gwent/s "Blodeuyn bach wyf fi mewn gardd" was the test. The splendid soulful chorus suited the Welsh temperament admirably. This choice of the musical sub-committee may be made, with great advantage, an ex- emplary one for the future. The choirs sang in the following order: 1st. Deri t nitd (John Owen) 2nd, Penygraig Philharmonic (Thomas Howells); 3rd, Caeharris (Wm. Morgan) 4th, Blaenclyaach 5th, Dowlais Music Lovers (Tom Col- lins) 6th, Bargoed (Wm. Davies). The adjudicator said that No. 1 Choir had good voices, nicely bal- anced and well sustained in the piano passages they were excellent, but rough m the louder ones. 71 marks. No. 2 was a choir of rich voices, matured and resonant, and gave evi- dence of more experience than No. 1. Their phrasing was cut too short. 74 marks. No. 3 had fair voices, sopranos were not blended, although nicely sustained and nice rhythm. 60 marks. No. 1 made a fair start, but later the chords were not true harmony and the ends of the phrases not tapered sufficiently. Tone pure from the fortissimo passage. 69 marks. No. 5 was a choir of excellent voices and capital rhythm. The opening charming and the phrases tapered uicely. Soprano tone excel- lent. A really great performance. although the final cadence was too abrupt. 78 marks. No. 6 opened too jerkv and the in- tonation suffered considerably from poor contraltos. 67 marks. Dowlais were thus declared the winners, and Penygraig 2nd. The respective conductors were invested by Miss li. M. Mulvey. R.A.M. Bass solo, "Into the silent land, John Williams, Mountain Ash. Duet. tenor and baritone. "Soldiers and Comrades," Messrs. Morgan Edwards and John Williams. Baritone solo. "The Arabian Lovers." Wm. Davies, Treherbert. There were close upon 8,000 people present when Mr. Tom Williams, M.K., one of the presidents, ad- dressed the crowd, which he thought was all but a record. He hoped that when next they met the terrible war would be over. Contralto solo, "The bygone Hill," Miss M. Jones, Treorchy. The Chief Choral, "Hallelujah Chorus," attracted 5 choirs, that saIJg in the following order: 1st. Porth (Tom Morgan) 2nd. Peny- graig (Daniel R. James) 3rd, Pont- lottyn (Edward Davies) 4th Dow- lais Choral (James J. Lewis); 5th. Penrhiwceiber United Choir (Sam Davies). The choirs, said the adju- dicator. had given a most disappoint- ing display. He had been led to ex- pect something most interesting when he noticed that "Hallelujah Chorus" \va« the test, knowing how admirably it suited Welsh singers. It required more than ordinary tone and colour, with dynamic force and religious fervour. The choirs, he felt, had come there imagining that they knew it, and consequently there had been inadequate preparation. All through there had been a lack of unity. No. 1 Choir had good voices and the men excellent, but they lacked dynamic force. Vocalization was weak and was not impressive enough. The word "King" was sung as though it were "Keeng." 78 marks. The 2nd choir had good voices, but had a delicious disregard of the conductor's beat. The choir alto- getiier was good, and had great potentialities, but they didn't know the Hallelujah Chorus. They also hurried to the end. 71 marks. No. 3 was a mediocre performance. The parts were loose and the so- pranos feeble in sostenuto and got sharp. The tenors shouted. There was great lack of unity. 67 marks. No. 4 was a fine choir with rich voices. They started the tempo too slow. It was so slow that he won- dered how they would get through the chorus. Had they taken it a, little faster they could have waltzed through it without the conductor. The sopranos, and they knew it. made a serious mistake. He was sorry, but he was there to give credit where it was due. They didn't, do justice to themselves and should go home and ponder it. 76 marks. No. 5 was a great big choir with a rich tone in all parts. The basses rang true and resonant, and so did the tenors. He hoped the sopranos would forgive him, but they were weak and certainly uncertain. How- ever, the whole ensemble showed a grip and splendid resonance. It was good, healthy, exuberating and ex- ulting singing. 84 marks. Penrhiwceiber were thus awrarded I first prize, JE30. and Porth second prize, £10. Lady Aberdare invested the successful conductors. In the Male Voice contest there 1 were three choirs: 1st. Is eath 2nd. W illiamstown; 3rd, Tydraw. The adjudicator gave 75 marks to the 1st choir 80 to the 2nd, and 63 to the 3rd. Williamstown were thus award- ed 1st prize (Teddy Lewis), and Neath (Tom Dummer) 2nd prize. The winning choir gave a good dramatic rendering of the Tyrol with splendid effect and tone and a good Crliuax. Contralto soja. "Entreat me not to leave thee," Miss Gladys Arthur. Newbridge. Piano solo, "Carnival Time." Miss Gwyneth Hopkins, Penrhiw- ceiber.

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