Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

28 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

Pontypridd.

- Treforest.

itRhydfeleq

Williamstown.

Porth.

Perjrhiwceiber.

Senghenydd.

[No title]

Trealaw.

Treorky.

- Treherbert.

Ferqdale

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MTION.M EISTEDDFOD OTE LETS.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

MTION.M EISTEDDFOD OTE LETS. Honours for Pontypridd. MAGNIFICENT VICTORY OF THE PONTY- PRIDD LADIES CHOIR. Never in the history of the National Eistedd- fod has the great Welsh festival been fraught with such vital issues for Pontypridd and the surrounding districts; and never have we cf the Taff and Rhondda Valleys had more reason to congratulate ourselves npoa the distinctions won by our representatives* On Monday the Cymmei" Colliery Brass Band, conducted by Mr Martin; secured second prize (Ll5), obtaining 54- marks out of a possible 100. Monday evening brought the gladsonw news to Pontypridd that the first prize in the glee singing competition ( £ 15) was won by Ponty- pridd vocalists, eisteddfodical 1 v indicated by the title "Glamorgan? Glee Singers." The con- ductor cf this talented combination was the veteran: leader, Mr T. H Maddock, all the lady members being diniwa from the P jntypridd Ladies' Choir. This was a splendid augury of what the week's competitions would bring forth. But we are anticipating. It should be men- tioned that the Glaiaorgan Glee Society sang with a precision and artistic feeling which won the highest eulogiums from such leading musi- cians as Mr D. Emlyn Evans, Mr Lv5 J. Thomas and Dr Rola.nd Rogers. Brynfab, the eminent hill-side p< et of Eglwys- ilan, was on Tuesday declared winner of the prize for eight "Cywyddau" onche subject of "Electricity," Amongst the parties who competed in the se- cond choral contest were Pontypridd Philhar- monic Society (Mr W. Thompson); Efail Isaf United (Mr John Lewis); and Blaenycwm Choir (Mr Evan Watkins). The prices, however, did not travel in this direction. On Wednesday the bass soib contest attracted 70 entries, and the singing was of an exception- ally high standard. The test pieces were Bene- dict's "Rage, thou Angry Storm," and E. Evans "Dreams of Homeland." Two competitors were selected to appear on tite platform, viz., Mr David Chubb, schooler, Pontypridd, and Mr T. G. Llewellyn, of port Talbot. Tile pnze was awarded to Mr David Chubb, a pupil of Ma- dame Clara Novello Davies. Miss Clara Butt, the eminent artist, invested the winner, one great singer, as the jenductor put it, investing another. The success of Mi D- Chubb (writes our pavil- ion contributor) as a soloist at tl-i,- National Eisteddfod brings another houoiu- to Pontypridd, and especially so to the locality of Mail Isaf, whose choir was: commended on Tuesday. The singing in the second choral competition was very keen, a)#Í has until another competi- tion takes nla-je given a local pre-eminence to Mr J. Lewis. The balance of this choir and the singing of Eijijyn's glee without accompaniment brought the ehoir its speciaJ distinction. Now that one of its singers in the person of Mr Chubb has won the bass solo, it fairly mastered the situation ideally. Thus the Newport 4<Argus":—Mr David Chubb. (of Pontypridd) has been highly honoured. He won the prize for the bass solo, and at the request of the conductor Miss Clara Butt made the award. Two great singers together," iaid ,CyioDfardd." To b coupled with Miss Clara Butt is honour indeed. Mr Ben Davies afterwards tried to persuade the great contralto that it was her duty to kiss the successful competitor, but though she knows little of the picturesque little customs of Wales, she declined to believe it. Writing on Wednesday from the Pavilion our representative savs* Whether the Pontypridd Ladies' Choir win the prize or not, they have every occasion to congratulate themselves upon the fine performances of two of their members at the Eisteddfod n Wednesday. A prize of £ 5 5s was offered in the mezzo-soprano solos, "My heart is weary," and "The Silent Singer," and out of 63 competitors Miss Maggie Morris, Tonyrefail, and Miss Janet Garnet, Cilfynydd, (both members of the Ladies' Choir) were the two selected to appear on the platform. After an exceptionally brilliant rendition, Miss Morris won first prize, and Miss Garnett was awarded second. May she long continue her successful march in eisteddfodic honours. Wednesday found Brynfab once more crowned with laurels, he being the author of the best Hir a Thoddaid on .Wales's Lament after the Lady Llanover." Thursday was a dabig with fate for Ponty- pridd, for did we not stake our musical repu- tation on the achievements of the Pontypridd Ladies' Choir? Miss Annie Delaney Williams and her dear girls, marshalled by anxious Mr Maddocks, left by an early morning train for the scene of the great fight, and every one of us offered up something like a prayer that they would come back laden with honours. Oh, how long were the weary hours of waiting! The town clock, wearing an air of unusual import- ance, chimes the quarter hours, an dwe wait, and listen, and hope. Five o'clock! Ah! here comes a post office messenger, telegram in hand, his face red with much exertion. For even post office messengers can hurry on such an im- portant occasion. A telegram is placed in the sub-editorial hands. It is from the Editor, and reads: "Pontypridd first, Swansea second." Glorious news! The buff message is gummed to the office window, and soon the street is lined with thousands of enthusiastic Pontypriddians, anxious to learn for themselves the news that seems almost too good to be true. Of course, other telegrams with the result had been flashed to the town, and soon the whole place is in a state of delirious joy. Groups of people discuss the all pervading topic, and everywhere are to be heard loud praise for our plucky song- stresses and their talented conductress. Mad- docks? Oh, it's "O'r Jfaddocks ag e" all over the place! Once more our Pavilion representative: We are once again delighted with the success of the Ladies' Choir, ably led by Miss Delany Wil- liams. It is gratifying to find that Pontypridd ladies, at any rate, are able consistently to up- hold the reputation of the town, and that our Ladies' Choir looks that its progress up the ladder of fame is going to be well-sustained. The two other Rhondda choirs were not success- ful in bringing home commendation. The Swan- sea Choir interposed and took away the second prize. We congratulate lMiss Williams, and confidently predict for her and her noble band a bright and prosperous musical career. The test pieces were: (a) "The Fairies Song" (Bishop), and (b) "Good Night" (Marie Wurms), and a first prize of R25, and a second prize of £ 10 were offered. Eight choirs had entered, viz., Treherbert Ladies' Choir, Swansea Ladies' Choir (Miss M. A. Jones), Pontypridd Ladies' Choir (Miss Delany Williams), London Kymric La- dies' Choir (Miss Francis M. Rees), Blackpool Prize Choir (Mr Herbert Whittaker), Rhondda Female Musical Society, Aeron Ladies' Partv, and Cardiff Ladies' Choir (Madame L. H. Rees). Of these, only four appeared, and sang in the following order: Rhondda., Pontypridd, Swan- sea, Treherbert. The choirs had to sing the pieces unaccompanied, and the competition on that, account was a very difficult one, the ques- tion of keeping in tune being of paramount im- portance. In addition to being difficult, the competition was a keen one, and to the unso- phisticated there was little to choose between the first three choirs, at least. Sir Alexander Mackenzie delivered the adjudication. He said they had had four delightful choirs, each of which had excellent points, and he could not. say that none of them would fulfil the Dromise they made in one of the pieces—"we will cease to sing." He was not going to enter into the merits of each choir, but, adopting his usual practice, wou.a tell them at once that they gave the second prize to a choir which sallg exceed- ingly well, and satisfied them better than the two which they placed oil one side. He must- repeat what he said the -revious day, that the excitement produced the 'effect of finishing much too sharp. In this case, even the choir that he was about to name did it, and there was one particular part in the Fairies Song" which not one of the choirs sang as it was written. How- ever, they were perfectly satisfied with the choir which haded from Swansea, and gave them second prize. (Applause). Another choir was intelligent in its sin-ring, the colour was srood and delgate, and there was just sufficient strength. Altogether, they found-there was no getting out of it-that, the choir worthy of the first prize was number 2-Pontyprirld. :Cheers). Miss Delany Williams, the conductress of the winning choir, and Miss Jones. the conductress of the second, were invested amid renewed cheers. The Ladies' Choir returned with the eight o'clock evening train, and their reception was of a most cordial and enthusiastic nature. Long before the train was timed to arrive, the pre- cmcts of the station were crowded with thou- sands of neople, all anxious to be the first to nour forth sincere congratulations. Mr Mad- docks was immediately shouldered, and a huge demonstration was at once formed. Headed by- the Town Band, under the leadersh p of Mr Foxall, the procession marched triumphantly along the streets, still bearing aloft the choir's representative in the person of "T.H." It was a scene of intense evcitement, and one worthy of the town. Eos Dar has upheld Iiis huge reputation as the national penillion- singer. No greater fa- vourite was to be found at the Eisteddfod, but he must take a suggestion from us.. We cer- tainly think that when he gives a representation of this special feature of the Eisteddfod, it would be more characteristically done were he to robe himself in the bardic garb. If the chair- ing ceremony is enhanced in effect by the new vestures we think also that the penillion singing -,vou-,t be likewise more in tone with its sym- bolic features.. Rev D. G. Williams, Ferndale, took awav another C21 prize on Thursday- The Taff Vale Company had made excellent arrangements t3 carry eisteddfodwyr to New- port. Indeed, the arrangements were of such a character that fous times the number could have been transported to the great festival. The Rhondda did not turn up eitsteddSodically strong at all. Only Blaenycwm and Pontypridd choirs represented the great mining district on Tues- day and when. mixing in the crowds on the first days,, it was striking to notice the absence of Rhonddaites. It is-a pity that there was no choir entered from the Rhondda in the chief chorel competition. The talent is ,,)Iii,ntiful, for or-a nntic* d vocalists like DaviJ Dsuvies, TndcL Jouts, Jubji Thomas, Tom Thomas, and outers, a sitigers of other choirs, aud it b obvious t;idSj witucut Rhondda singers many 1>1 t;le leading choirs uo not feel themselves w'dl equ ^yed for the blue-ribbon fray of an Eisteddfod. The Rev. J. T. Job, of Aberdare, was the chaired bard.

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