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mil, ELECTION IN I GLAMORGANSHIRE.!

EAST GLAMORGAN.

PONTRHYDYCYFF NATIONAL SCHOOL.

[No title]

,BRIDGEND EISTEDDFOD. "I1

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BRIDGEND EISTEDDFOD. "I 1 I 1 OPENING BY THE LORD MAYOR OF I LONDON. j ADDRESS ON WELSH NATIONALITY. The visit of the Lord Mayor of London to Bridgend on Monday for the purpose of opening 1 the fifth annual eisteddfod drew an immense con- course of people into the town. The town was profusely and tastefully decorated. Assembled upon the platform to meet the distinguished visitor were Mr. Arthur J. Williams, M.P., Mr. LI. Wallington (chairman of the Local Board), Mr. County Councillor T. J. Hughes (clerk to the Local Board), County Councillors J. Barrow, E. Price, and Evan Evans, Messrs. McGaul. M* Davies, J. G. Jenkins (secretary to the Eisteddfod Committee), T. Stock wood (clerk to the migis- trates), S. H. Stockwood. F. Moon, W. J. Lewi?, T. G. Smith (chairman of the committee), W. Powell, Jenkins, Captain F. R. Crawshaw, W. Francis, T. Edwards, O. 1-1. Lloyd, P. Thomas. E. Rich, and others. The train drew up a few minutes late, and accompanying the Lord Mayor were Judge Gwilym Williams, Sir Morgan Morgan, and Mr. John Evans, Abersykir Court, Brecon. The members and clerk of the Local Board and the members of the Reception Com- mittee having been introduced, his Lordship pro- ceeded to the carriage outside the station, and was received with ringing cheers. County Councillor T. J. Hughes, as clerk to the Local Board, then read the address. Mr. LI. Wellington, chairman of the Board, in presenting the address, said he had the honour of to represent the Local Board of Bridgend, and it was his duty to present the address. He expressed the hope that his Lordship's life might be spared for a long time. (Cheers). The Lord Mayor said Members of the Local Board of the ancient town of Bridgend. In coming back once more to my native place, I wish to ex- press to you, one and all, my deep sense of grati- tude for the manner in which you are receiving me. You are receiving me in a dual capacity. I will put it first as a Welsh- man and upon National grounds—(applause)—and I will put it secondly that you recognise the fact. and desire to pay respect to, the ancient and honourable position and office of Lord Mayor of the greatest city in the world. (Applause.) I thank you most heartiiy and most sincerely for this spontaneous, kind, and hearty reception. (Loud cheers.) The procession, marshalled by Mr. McGaul, then moved off in the direction of the Eisteddfod field, proceeding via Caroline-street, Dunraven-place, and Park-street. The procession included friendly societies, cyclist corps, mounted police, and bands. The first carriage contained Mr. John Evans, Mr. A. J. Williams, Sir Morgan Morgan, and Councillor E. Price. The second carriage contained the Lord 1 Mayor (who was everywhere greeted with the utmost enthusiam) Judge Gwilym Williams, Mr LI. Wallington. and Mr. J. G.Smith. At the Eisteddfod, the Rev. T. Cynonfardd Edwards acted as Conductor, and also as adjudi- ( cator for poetry and elocution. The musical ad- 1 judicator appointed were Mr. E. H. Turpin, Mr. 1 David Jenkins, and T. Price. Mr. Turpin was, however, unable to attend, and his place was filled 1 by Mr. C. Warwick Jordan. The pavilion was 1 crowded, and the Lord Mayor was loudly cheered. Mr. David Jenkins sang the opening piece Hen } Wlad fy Nhadau, and was loudly applauded.— ] The Lord Mayor then delivered the President's Address. He said Perhaps you will permit] me, by way of preface, to tell you how 5 thoroughly and how sincerely am I pleased at the honour conferred upon me to-day, in being ( asked to take this important chair. (Cheers.) ] Although I appear before you in my capacity as < Lord Mayor, I hope you will regard me first of < all as a fellow-countryman, and also believe me that within me and in my heart are the same feelings and aspirations of our national life as any one of you possess. (Lead applause.) The corporation I have the honour to represent is an ancient body of many centuries of existence, and so is the Eisteddfod. (Cheers.) We can trace the Eisteddfod back to the year 1070—to the eleventh century when Griffith ap Cynon, and Griffith ap Rhys, held Eisteddfod feasts of great renown. (Applause.) Ever since that period down to the present day it has been the symbol of your I nationality—no empty survival, no barren revival, but a living reality. (Loud applause.) At one time, fortunately — not so far as we are concerned, but for them—there was a time when our Saxon neighbours and others derided and laughed at our proceedings. To-day they pay us their sincerest flattery that is possible. They imitate us. (Loud applause.) I have—as you have—opportunities of reading of musical arrangements and gatherings similar to this held by our French neighbours in the Albert-hall; and of an annual eisteddfod now held in the East of London; and of those held in the Crystal Palace— at once paying you a tribute and following and copying you in your high intellectual movement. (Applause.) We rejoice in the antiquity and in the progress of the eisteddfod let us hope that you may in the immediate future, and in the distant future, maintain it in the saipe excellence, and if possible with greater excellence than it possesses at the present moment. Raise its standard as high as possible. Do not be ashamed to look at any of its defects for there is no institution, there is no individual, there is nothing absolutely here on earth, that may be pointed out as perfect; and, therefore, although we glory and rejoice in our national development of the instinct we possess for higher culture—and that is really what it comes to—the soaring after something that is ennobling, something that shall raise us, as it were, above the every-day life. (Hear, hear.) It is to retain and to further de- velope such aspirations and such deep-rooted feel- ings that we are met to-day, so that you may give utterance and expression to them in a beautified form. Lord Bute, when, he took the chair—he believed it was in 1883—at the Eisteddfod held at Cardiff, told you to cling to' your Eis- teddfod and to your language, and I am here to-day to emphasize that expression in the strongest possible way. (Applause.) Encourage the love of your language encourage all that goes to make up our national life, but at the same time I was almost going to say don't carry it too far. You will understand me, perhaps, when I shall have said- a few words more. You have to compete with your Saxon neighbour, and with others in this age of terrible competition. See that you acquire, in the first place, a knowledge of the English language. Add to that the know- ledge, if possible, of the German and the French. The acquisition and the addition of these lan- guages need not in any way interfere with what youaredfingto-day. If it did interfere, it is possible this would be wrong. There is no fear of that, because this can be brought in by way of relaxation. It is not labour that brings you here to-day. It is not irksome for you to further im- prove yourselves in your own national language. It is a holiday and a relaxation. Therefore compete with the English on their own grounds. My first thought when elected to the position of Lord Mayor was what can I do for my country, and may I so enter upon my duties so as to give satisfaction not only to the citizens of London, but to those of you who live in Wales. (Loud and continued applause). Cynonfardd then invited poetic address from the bards. Master Giraldus Gurnos Jones, the son of the Rev. E. Gurnos Jones, Porthcawl, read a yostey (I englynkm, composed by his father in honour of the Lord Mayor, and he was followed by Dafydd Morganwg, Mr. John Morris, Penygraig and the Rev. Cynonfardd Edwards, the latter of whom wound up by inviting the audience to give three cheers for the Lord Mayor. These were lustily given, as were three more for the Lady Mayoress. THE COMPETITIONS. The competitions were disposed of in the follow- ing order:— Male Voices Choral Competition.—A prize of j630 and a gold medal was offered to the choir of male voices numbering less than 90 members that would best render Saintis's On the Ramparts." This was one of the test pieces at the recent Porth Eisteddfod, and the choirs that competed on that occasion mustered at Bridgend to "fight their battle o'er again." The choirs competed in the following order, viz. :—Porth and Cymmer Male Voice Glee Society, numbering 67 voices, and con- ducted by Mr. Rees Evans Rhondda Fach (Fern- dale) Glee Society, numbering 73 voices, and con- ducted by Mr. Enoch Lewis Treorky Male Voice Society, numbering 72 members, and led by Mr. William Thomas; and the Rhondda Glee Society. under the baton of Mr. Tom Stephens, and numbering 75 voices. The Treorky Choir was the only one that sang without a pianoforte, thereby following out the suggestion of Mr. Venables at the Porth Eisteddfod.—Mr. David Jenkins said the contest had been a remarkably close one, particularly so far as two of the choirs were concerned. The first choir opened very well, and the choir was in good tune the serenade was good the tenor solo was also good, and was sung with a good deal of spirit. The choir was in excellent tune from first to last. The second choir were not so good in the opening as the first choir the staccato was not so good, the first tenors were flat, and at the fortissimo the choir was out of tune, and the pinoforte had to stop*; the serenade was too sad, and altogether the performance could not rank with that of the first choir.. The third choir was very good in the opening, but in the xtaccato they were a trifle too vigorous the dole;- was good, and the tenor soloist sang well, but the humming accompaniment was not so good as in that of the first choir: the pianixxim-o was too strong the voices were excellent, and there was in the choir strength and refinement. Unfortunately for the choir, they sang without a pianoforte accompaniment, and they lost the pitch thereby. Thy deserved all credit for singing un- accompanied, but there was the fault referred to, and the adjudicators could not overlook it. In the fourth choir the iopening was very good, but the eeho was not so good as in the last choir the serenade was exceptionally good the andante was given with great dramatic power in the last part; the phrasing was good, and the attack was very good, and the whole was sung with plenty of life the serenade was very beautiful, and throughout the balance of parts was most excellent. In con- clusion, he would only repeat that the competition had been a very close one. Three points had attracted the attention of the adjudicators in coming to their decision. Those points were dramatic effect. balance of parts, and the grand attack in the last part. In all these the fourth choir excelled, and, although in a few touches the first choiriwere better, on the whole the last choir was the best, and to them was awarded the prize. Mr. Tom Stephens was loudly cheered. Euglyn.—Cynonfardd had received 12 composi- tions in competition for a prize of two guineas for the best set of engljnion (Welsh four-line stanzas) on "YrYsgol" (The school). Some were very good, but that sent in by Mr. William Coslett (Gwilym Elian), Caerphilly, was adjudged the best. Pianoforte Solo.—A prize of a guinea was offered for the best performance of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata," by competitors under 20 years of age. The prize was awarded to Mr. Wm. Morgan, Dowlais. Soprano Solo.—The test piece in the soprano solo composition was, "Thou didst blow with the wind." from Handel's Israel in Eyypt. Mrs. Rowlands, Morriston, was awarded the prize, eleven com- peting. English Recitation.—There were 15 competitors for the prize of one guinea, offered for the best rendering of Macaulay's Armada." The prize was awarded to Miss May Morgan, Merthyr. Contralto Solo Competition.—The popular song Angus Macdonald formed the test piece in the alto competition, the prize being one guinea. The successful competitor was Miss Edith Parry, Ystrad, Rhondda. Welsh Recitation.—A prize of one guinea was offered for the best rendering of Geirionydd's famous poem, Morfa Rhuddlon. The prize was awarded to Master John Daniel Lewis, Pentre Estyllt, near Swansea. Male Voice Duet.—Two guineas was the prize in the male voice duet competition, the test piece being Mr. R. S. Hughes's 0 rhowch i mi fy ngloewgledd." The contest resulted in favour of Mr. Samuel Rees (Ap Rhys), Treorky, and Llew Rhondda. Elegy.—A prize of five guineas was offered for the best elegy written in either English or Welsh on the death of the late Colonel T. Picton Turber. vill. Nine compositions had been received, of which five were in Welsh and four in English. Cynonfardd said his detailed adjudication would be published, an'in the meantime, he would con- tent himself with saying that Calon wrth Galon was the signature. The winner was the Rev. J. Ceulanydd Williams, M.1esteg, who was invested by Mrs. Turbervill. Tenor Solo Competition.—Mr. Tom Price's Y Rhosyn Unig (" The Lonely Rose ") formed the subject of the tenor solo competition, and the prize was one guinea. Of the 25 competitors who entered only Mr. Afanlais Lewis and Mr. Howell Davies, Treorky, passed through the preliminary ordeal. Mr. Tom Price spoke in very high terms of the performance, and awarded the prize to Mr. Afanlais Lewis, Port Talbot. The Folk-Lore Prize.—Mr. Arthur J. Williams had given a prize of .(: 15 15s. for the best collec- tion of the folk-lore of the people of the Vale of Glamorgan. The adjudicntor. Professor John Rhys, of Oxford, was not present, but Cynonfardd, acting as his mouthpiece, s.iid that two compe- titions had been received, and they were both so meritous that there was nothing for it but to divide the prize. The winners were Mr. Jenkia Howell, Aberdare, and Mr. D. C. Evans (Cadrawd), LlangYll wyd. Bass Solo Competition.—A prize of one guinea was offered for the best rendering of the famous solo, It is enough Lord now take away my life," from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Twenty com- petitors sari'jr in the tent set apart for preliminary tests, and of this number two sang on the Eistedd- fod platform. Mr. Warwick-Jordnn. in giving his award, said he had often read high praise of the Welsh voices in the London papers, but he did not always believe what he saw in print. That day, however, he had heard the Welsh voices, and he could bear out to the fullest extent what had been said in their praise. Of the whole 20 singers scarcely one of them was inferior, and most of them fell very little short in point of merit to those who sang on the platform. He had never enjoyed a competition so much in his life. (Ap- plause.) The prize was awarded to Mr. John Williams, Eryn Avon. Briton Ferry. THE CHIEF COMPinrnOV. It was five minutes past four o'clock whon the great event of the day came up for decision. The prized offered was jC105 (presented by Lord Duu- raven) and a gold medal (presented by Mr. Beha). Two guineas was offered for each conductor of an unsuccessful choir. Three choirs had entered for this competition, and very great public interest was manifested in the contest, the laryre pavilion being packed. Probably over dC! 0,000 people listened to the singing of the test piece Hark the deep tremendous voic," (Ifa yd n ). The contestants were :-1. Dowlais Harmonic Society, conductor, Mr. Dan Davies 2. Llanelly Choral Society, con- ductor Mr. John Thomas 3, Pontycymmcr Choral Society, conductor. Mr. Jehn Phillips. The Dow- lais Harmonic Society last year found themselves hampered by the presence of an opposition choir in the town, and it was not until the collapse of this opposition at Swansea that they again ventured in the competition lists. They appeared at Ferndale last September, and since then have carried all before them. The Llanelly Choir was re-formed a few months ago, under the leadership of Mr. John Thomas, who acted as secretary to the choir in the time of Mr. R. C. Jenkins's regime. The Ponty- cymmer Choir was quite a new one. for although the male-voice choir from that place is well-known all over the world, a mixed choir from Pontycym- mer is quite a new thing. The first choir numbered 165 voices, and were conducted by Mr. John Phillips. The performance was decidedly good for a new choir. The Llanelly Choral Society next. They were led by Mr. John Thomas, and num- bered 182 voices. Many of the singers were much younger than those who brought such renown upon the choir last year. The female voices were really beautiful. Last came the Dowlais Harmonic Society, led by Mr. Dan Davies, and numbering about 180 voices. The choir was received with loud applause. The singing was excellent. The adjudicators lost little time in giving their reward. Mr. Jenkins said that in the first choir the opening was harsh, the tenors overpowered the other parts, the altos were weak, but the bass was the best of all the parts. In the last movement the sopranos were flat, but as the choir was a young one he did not think it desirable that he should be too severe on them they would, doubtlesS; be heard again, and there was plenty of time in which they might improve. In the second choir the opening was better, and the performance all round was better than that of No. 1 the sopranos was very good the altos were very bright in p. 87 the staccatos were sung very nicely, but the fugue was detached, and this took away somewhat from the excellence of the performance; all through the choir sang with much finish. In the third choir the sopranos were not quite so good as those in No. 2, but the altos were better the fuge was better, it was more grand, more majestic, and from that point to the close the choir sang with marvellous dramatic effect, the pianissimo was very good, indeed, and the words, O God," were remark- ably effective in fact, from the commencement of the fugue the performance was simply excellent. Mr. Warwick Jordan followed in English. He said that two of the three choirs had run each other very closely. The rendering by number three choir was more dignified, and in the last movement it was exquisite. The last 12 vocal bars were given with great effect, and they had no hesitation whatever in awarding the prize to the third choir. The announcement was received with loud and prolonged cheers, renewed when Mr. Dan Davies ascended the platform to receive the £105 and the gold medal. He was invested by Mr. T. G. Smith. The winning choir was accompanied by Mrs. Clara Novello Davies, Cardiff, and Mr. Harry Evans, Dowlais. Drum and Fife Band Competition.—Two prizes of the respective value of £5 5s. and £2 2s. were offered in the drum and fife band competition. The test pieces were an arrangement by Mr. J. Peters of the March of the Men of Harlech," Morfa Rhuddlan," and Caerphilly March." Five bands competed in the following order, viz.:—Sftewen, Cymmer, Llansamlet, Resolven, and Treboeth. Two others had entered, bvt they failed to put in an appearance. The first prize was awarded to the Llansamlet Band, conducted by Mr. Tom Griffith, and the second to the Cymmer Band, conducted by Mr. L. Davies. f- I.' Second Choral (Competition.—A prize of jE20 was offered for the best rendering- of Alaw Ddu's glee, Y Gwlithyn (The Dewdrop), and to the con- ductor of every unsuccessful choir one gninea. was offered. Ten choirs competed in the following order :—Tonypandy, Zoar, Maesteg, Dowlais Music Lovers, Mid-Rhondda Harmonic Society, Carmel (Maesteg), Pontycymmer Glee Society, Zion (Cwm- avon), Cymmer Glee Society, Abergwynfi, Neath and Melyn Choralists. The prize was awarded to the Dowlais Music Lovers.

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