The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-12
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At the historic town of Brecon, In
South Wales, one of the greatest choral
competitions of the decade came off re-
Gently. Some Of the most famous
choirs of Gwalia participated in the
contest. The names of the noted choirs
are included in the adjudication of
Joseph Bennett,of the Royal Academy
of Music. London. The Builth choir,
which won at the Llandudno national
eisteddfod last year. won in this con-
test, which now places the famous
choir at the head of the choirs now in
active practice in Old Gwalia.
The Newport choir at a recent con-
test defeated Merthyr, which was hith-
erto looked upon as the most invulner-
able, and Builth, in two successive con-
tests closely following each other, de-
feated both Merthyr and Newport,
which, by the way, with the exception
of Cardiff, are the two largest cities in
Wales, while Builth Is only a very
small rural village in Breconshire.
The adjudication will, no doubt,
be of great interest to the Bry-
thonian of our city and vicinity. The
choirs sang in the following order; 0)
Trecastle United choir conductor Mr..
Davies); (0 Newport (Mon.) Temper
ance Choral society conductor, Mr.. G.
II. Edmunds); (3 Builth Choral Society
conductor, Mr.. A. r. Morgan); az
Morriston Glee party conductor, Mr..
Penfro Rowlands) (5) Brecon Philhar-
monic society Conductor, Mr.. r. 7.
Heins)
Joseph Bennett, who delivered the
adjudication, said his colleagues and
he were in perfect accord in stating
that the singing had been far above
that ordinarily heard. Dealing minute
ly with the contest, he said Trecastle
choir had exhibited defects in both
pieces, their intonation being faulty in
places, and now and again there was
a hesitency about their reading. 1t had
been agreed to fix the maximum at 20
marks in each piece, and Trecastle
had been given IA in each. Morristons
rendering Of the first piece was very
fine indeed, though a little light and
shade would improve it.
Eighteen marks were awarded them
Tor the first piece, but they lost all
chance of success by losing tune in the
second, so that they only secured 10
marks for that. So magnifciently did
Brecon sing their first piece that it was
decided to give them the full marks
He had heard the best choirs in this
country, Germany, France and Italy,
and was surprised to find that from
such a small town a choir could be
draWn; and he said emphatically that
IL was as good as, If not better than,
any ne had heard. Brecon, however,
failed somewhat with the difficult
piece OF Bach's, there being a little
raggedness, and in one place a faulty
attack
SAID, Fine voices and admirable quail
Ity' ana well balanced power on the
whole"
The difficult religious piece was the
triumph of this choir, their reading be-
ing excellent, and it was music which
demanded very great perceptive quail
tiles and no less executive skill. They
mad gained 10 marks in the first and II
In the second piece. The Builth choir
made poor attack in returning to the
hrst subject in the first piece. That
was their only blot in the performance.
ana IL that pretty part-song by their
townsman were an easy effort, he
would say that it promised that Hadley
watkins would reflect infinite credit
upon Brecon. The second piece as sung
by Builth was a splendid performance
one which he should certainly remem-
Der, whether the rest of the auditors
did or not. They had interpreted the
music of Sebastian Bach--who had left
MS work unmarked, leaving interpre-
tation to his performers-as he and his
fellow -adjudicNtor would have read II.
and, as he believed, the great Bach
himself would have had it performed
Builth had been allotted 80 marks out
of the total of 40, and had gained the
full award for their second piece. This
decision was received with cheers. The
order of merit is-Builth, 80 marks;
Newport SO; Brecon, SO; Morriston, 30;
Trecastle, 2S.