The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-08
GREAT CHORAL COMPETITION.
Was Decided in the Historic Town of
Becon. South Wales.

At the historic town of Brecon, in
South Wales, one of the greatest choral
competitors 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 in
cluded in the adjudication of Joseph
Bennett, of the Royal Academy of
Music, London. The Builth choir,
which was 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 very
small rural village in Breconshire.
The adjudication which will, no
doubt, be of great interest to the Bry-
thonian of our city and vicinity. The
choirs sang in the following order: Q
Trecastle United choir Conductor, Mr..
Devies); (2) Newport (Mon) Temper
ance Choral society Conductor, Mr.. G.
II. Edmonds); (S) Builth Choral society
Conductor, Mr.. A. p. Morgan); D
Morriston Glee party Conductor, Mr..
Penfro Rowlands); (5) Brecon Philhar-
monic society Conductor, Mr.. r. T.
Heins).
Joseph Bennett, who delivered the ad-
judication, said his colleagues and he
were in perfect accord in stating that
the singing had been far above that
ordinarily heard. Dealing minutely
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 hesitancy 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. Morriston's rem
dering of the first piece was very fine
indeed, though a little light and shade
would have improved it.
Eighteen marks were awarded them
for the first piece, but they lost all
chance of success by losing tune in the
second, so that they only secured IL
marks for that. So magnificently 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, in 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
it was as good as, If not better than,
any he had heard Brecon, however,
failed somewhat with the difficult
piece of Bach's, there being a little rag
gedness, and in one place faulty at
tack. OF Newport's singing, his notes
said, "Fine voices and admirable quail
ity, and 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
had gained 10 marks in the first and II
in the second piece. The Builth choir
made a poor attack in returning to the
first subject in the first piece. That
was their only blot in the performance
and if 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-
ber, whether the rest Of the auditors
| did or not. They had interpreted the
music of Sebastian Bach-who had left
his work unmarked, leaving interpreta-
! tion to his performers-as he and his
| low-adjudicator would have read it,
and, as he believed, the great Bach
himself would have had 1t 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 I;
Newport, SO; Brecon, So; Morrlston, 3O;
| Trecastle, 2S.