| Show MUSICAL COMPETITION Suggestions Regarding the Manner Man-ner in Which Awards Should be Made Notwithstanding the praiseworthy movement of the Sunday School Union in donating so liberally of their means for the purpose of encouraging en-couraging excellence in the divine art and poetry it is a matter of regret to those who understand how such competitions are carried on to note the arrangements iu connection con-nection with it I fear it has not only created a discomfiture to the judges but a dissatisfaction to the competitors For instance words and music where required of the same author this iswrong Those gifts are separate and do not usually go together at least it is seldom the case that we find any cue who excels ex-cels in both It is not the purpose of competition to create jackof alltraaes but to encourage excellence excel-lence in some particular feature Thosearts are progressive hence it is not at all likely that the same person can excel in both so to offer a prize to the best author for music words etc is nearly if not quite as mcousistant as to offer a prize to the one who can compose the best music and build the best threshing machine Who ever heard of Burns music or of Handels poetry For poetry the subject should always al-ways be given and the number of verses and the prize awarded to the one who treats best upon the subject in this way the judges can easily conclude which piece is best otherwisa it is almost impossible I will venture to say that we have over one nundred hymns in our present pre-sent hymn books which we may sayare all good and it would be difficult indeed for any judge to tell which of them is the best but when the subject is selected you can very readily arrive at the proper conclusion conclu-sion The same reasoning will apply ap-ply to tbe music but in this case the words should be given and the one who will compose the most appropriate ap-propriate music according to the true meaning of the words should have the prize Hence those who have received prizes should take no credit to themselves nor the unlucky ones feel any ways discouraged This is theproper way and in none other can justice be done Who will presume to say which of Handels choruses is the best or whose music is the finest Mozarts or Handels or which of the standard English glees even is superior It is very true they vary in style and character but different differ-ent subjects call forth different treatment which accounts for this endless variety we hear in music Composers of music have taken up different subjects for instance the storm on the sea some fearfnl conflagrations the battlefield the rising of the sun the life of the gypsis the Irish wedding etc etc Some splendid music has been written writ-ten upon each of these subjects and it would he impossible to decide de-cide which is the best But if the same authors were to write on the same subjects a good judge would very soon with careful examina lion determine which he preferred A + hn nnif 14h T hdm ia muubu L JJU1UU VYJLJLlll J VII JUA J wrong you should never demand at the hands of a vocal composer instrumental accompaniments There are scores of them who know very little about instruments A common vamper who knows little or nothing about theory would stand a better show in this respect You really ask of amateurs in these instances what never was required re-quired of the great masters in the old country It is Novello and other instrumentalists who have added the accompaniments to the oratorios and most of the standard music of England They also required the words and music to be judged together and not separately consequently if the one happened to be inferior while the other was never so good that counts against it A prize was offered for the best txnes etc but there was nothing said whether those tune should be arranged in parts or not Technically Tech-nically speaking a tune may consist of one or more parts The idea of introducing the eisteddfod in this country could be made remunerative as well as very beneficial but in selecting your subject for competition you should always have an eye to business The committee of arrangements who are entrusted with the peoples means as wise servants should look to the returns For instance choir singing should be introduced four or five pieces selected and plenty of time given to learn them to perfection per-fection and prices awarded for the hPRt rendition But at the camne tition meeting there is no necessity of singing more than one and that one will be selected at the meeting by the judges Quartetts trios duets solos recitations etc etc can be introduced by taking this course You will readily perceive that you have the material on hand for a grand concert in the evening at which all the choirs will unite as one led by the victorious conductor and all the pieces learned can be utilized to advantage and a large revenue realized that will more than defray all expenses as these so called eisteddfodes are immensely calculated to draw It is the duty of the judge to notice not only the more frequent errors in music such as consecutive fourth firths and octaves etc but to analyze the piece thoroughly by commencing on the chords giving them their proper names showing their proper resolutions and mental effect etc Modulations and transitions transi-tions will claim his attention as well passing and ornamental dis cords sequences and points of imitations imi-tations melodial phrases with their replies inversions and also the crowning of chords constitutions of chords delayed resolutions similar and contrary motions cadences rotation simple and complex chord retalion preparation and resolution of dissonances false relations all these and many other points too numerous to mention must have the attention of the judge In fact he Is expected to give the general progression pro-gression of the piece show every point of defect or merit in it and wherein one excels another a perfect per-fect analysis of every piece must be written and given to the author so that each competitor will see for himself the correctness correct-ness of the decision Hence if numbered among the vanquished I he is amply rewarded through the I just and wise criticism of the judge In fact all the criticisms are published pub-lished and a mutual benefit derived by observing the foregoing rules No committee of arrangements in the future can lay their plans for the benefit of any particular one individual in-dividual nor any of our young aspirants as-pirants receive the prize from wiser and better poets on the ground that they are no musician nor from musicians on the ground that they are no poets neither can they palm off on a community secular music for religious music Judges also will be prohibited from voting prizes for themselves and I think those in charge of the music will take the precaution not to call on a competitor compet-itor to overhaulother peoples music before it is handed over to the judges More can be said but I refrain re-frain at present Rerpectfullly L S J SALT LAKE CITY May 21th 1883 |
