The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

FOLLOWING the usual custom at Christmas- tide, eisteddfodau were held in the prin- cipal towns along the Welsh Coast on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Reports of the principal gatherings are given below. -0--

RfiYL. SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. [BY OUK. OWN JlEI'OaTEK..] The annual Boxing-day Eisteddfod took place on Friday in fine weather. It was- a great satisfaction to the manage- ment to be relieved of the cramped and poor accommodation afforded in the Town Hall last year, and by securing the use of the Queen's Palace, they were emboldened to launch out into a full-fledged chair eisteddfod. Besides the chair prize, valued at £4 4s, which unfor- tunately was not awarded through want of merit on the part of the two competitors, prizes ranging from £ 10 to £5 were offered in the choral competitions, and some excellent per- formances were given by well-known choirs. An innovation introduced into this year's eis- teddfod was the extension of the competitions over the two meetings. Formerly, all the com- petitions were, decided at the afternoon meet- ing, a concert being held in the evening. The new feature, was found to wor4 admirably. Over 1,000 people attended in the afternoon, and in the evening, the beautifully-decorated hall and spacious galleries were filled. The ornate embellishments, upon which money has been so lavishly expended, were seen at their best under the brilliant glare of electricity, and admiration was, general. I The following acted as Mr Tom Price, Merthyr; poetry, Pedro'g and Pedr Mostyn; essays, Mr T. Morgan Owen, H.M.I.S.; recitations, Huwco Penmaen and Pedr Mostyn; arts, Mr John Williams; and knitting, Mrs Morgan Owen. Pedrog acted as conductor, and the Rev Thos. Shankland made a very efficient secretary. Competitions. The. various, competitions were followed with keen interest, but in future more life and energy must be infused into the stage management, the lack of this being very noticeable at the evening. meeting. There was very keen competition in the reci- tation, entitled "Keeping his word," and Master Thomas Henry Jones, of Rhyl, was loudly ap- plauded on being awarded tihe prize. Mrs Parry, of Mold, succeeded in carrying off the prize offered for the best rendering of a contralto solo, a success this competitor repeat- ed at the evening meeting. The juvenile choir contest attracted three en- trants, viz., TrefLawnwyd, Holywell, and Ffyn- nogroew. The last-named choir, under the conductorship of Mr Thomas Jones, schoolmas- ter, came with a good reputation, having won the prize at the previous eisteddfod, and the artistic rendering which it gave on this occasion of 'The Stream and the Flower" elicited a storm of applause from the audience and a meed of warm praise from the adjudicator, who said he had no hesitation in awarding them the prize. The prize for the best pen and ink sketcih of any eminent Welshman was awarded to Mr Williams, Cefn, his subject being the late Mr Thomas Gee, Denbigh. The competitions were interlarded with songs by Miss Teify Davies (a popular Eisteddfod artiste) and Mr Meurig James, and the audience were loud .m their demand for encores. Out of three competitors in the mixed choir contest, the Llanfairfechan Ohoir, conducted by Mr H. Jones, emerged the victors, the award being greeted with cheers. The minor competitions resulted as follows Soprano solo, "Sunbeams:" Miss M. E. Evans, Dyserth. Essay on "What the Bible has done for Wales: r, Mr Robert Parry, Holywell; 2, Mr Owen Evans, Chapel-street, Denbigh, the latter recelv,ng a speoal pnzer from the adjudicator, Mr Morgan Owen. Knitted stockings, in Welsh yarn: Mrs M T. Owen, Ty'nybont, Trefriw. Needlework: Miss Ida M. Edwards, Birch- wood Upper Colwyn Bay. The adjudicator Mrs Ingham, High-street, Rhyl, 9poke highly of the specimens sent in by Miss Fd wards, and described them as works of ait oUSSZ Uo°styTm iS 1116 Night:" Mr R- 01. Llanfairfechan, and Mr Tho £ ,"f Tenor solo, "Land of Long AgoMr E W Parry, John-street, Rhvl. W" The meeting concluded with the sineine of Land of My Father*" W T bmsI,nS OT Teify Davies 7 Mx Jataes and Miss

EVENING MEETING. CHAIR PRIZE WITHHELD. The evening president was Mr Lewis Tones rolicltor, who addressed an audience of some 3,000 people. He wisely contented himself Sh SJf1? f? «' the Course of ^icti he allu- ded to the effective manner in which the vast audjence had joined in singing well-known thafS w"rnS" He said/t ^Pified iue saying that Wales was a Sea of song all over. H| hop-ed their different places of worship would do all they could to revive the old-fashioned tunes. He believed they would add much to the spiiat of worship, ,as well as promote that religious fervour for which Wales had been noted throughout the ages. (Applause.) Eight competitors' came forward in the soprano solo contest, the prize being, awarded to Miss Louie Williams, Rhyl. In the contralto solo competition, Mrs Parry of Mold, emerged a winner for the. second time! In the course of his adjudication, Mr Tom Price expressed a popular sentiment in remark- ing that he w.as getting tired of hearing second- rate English songs sung at Welsh eisteddfodau. He was prepared to listen to first-class com- positions in the English language, but there were plenty of Welsh composers who had an infinitely better repertoire than some. of their English brethren. (Applause.) Mr E. W. Parry, Rhyl, out of three competi- tors, won for the second time premier position in the tenor solo competition. The recitation contest, "Rie,nzi to the Ro- mans" (Miss Mitford) was one of the best como" petitionsl in the programme, the elocutionary powers of three competitors.-Prince, Kaboo, from: the- Colwyn. Bay Congo Institute; Mr Reg- inald Amos, and Mr T. Amos. Jones—being very fine. The adjudicator, Mr P. Mostyn Williams, said the competition had: given rise to a fine display of passion, which was- necessary to give emphasis and meaning to the piece. He re- ferrod in complimentary terms to the display given by the two latter competitors, and said that as the best expression of a soul on fire and for the greatest, force of indignation, he thought Mr Amos's recitation was the best. (Applause:) Three male voice choirs entered for a prize of £10, the competitive piece being "The Psalm of Life" (Tom Price). Mr" rice awarded the prize to the Ruthin choir, who beat the Llan- fairfechan choir by one point. The duet competition was won by Messrs LI. Davies, Colwyn Bay, and David Morris, Traws- fynydd. Miss Olwen Blackwell, Llandudno Junction, was awarded the prize in the pianoforte com- petition. Baritone solo, Mr Llewelyn Davies, Colwyn Bay. A prize of four guineas was offered for an essay upon "Jonathan," but the adjudicator, Mr Mostyn Williams, said he regretted to announce that the two es-says sent in were, not worthy of either the chair, the subject, or the eisteddfod. The prize would, therefore, be withheld. The singing of "God Save the King" conclud- ed a very successful eisteddfod. (O)

CONWAY. A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. SINCE its inauguration by "Bangorian," some years ago, the Eisteddfod held in connection with the Baptist Church has been looked upon as the principal item in the Christmas Day pro- gramme at Conway. Generally speaking, the institution has proved the distinct success which its genial promoter prognosticated. That last Thursday's function was no excep- tion to the rule, is a fact—particularly in rela- tion to the question of patronage. me musical success of the evening entertainment was, per- haps, not so well maintained as some of its pre- cursors. This was due to a number of causes for which the Executive Committee cannot be blamed. Every effort had been made to ensure a fine array of artistes. For instance, the sub- stantial prizes of three and one guineas were offered to the first and second winners of the champion solo event. Plenty of entries were forthcoming, but for some reason or other, only about half-a-dozen came forward, and one of these-Mr J. T. Owen, of Blaenau Festiniog- was requested by the adjudicator, Mr Wilfrid Jones, to refrain from competing on the ground that he was a pupil of his. Mr Wilfrid Jones is to be congratulated upon his straightforward action, and the competitor deserved the sincere commiseration of all music-lovers. The Afiern»«H Programme was eminently satisfactory, and quite a big ad- vance over that of the previous, year. Councillor Robert Roberts, ex-chairman of the Llandudno Urban District Council, and Councillor John Williams, Conway, presided over a full house. The latter kindly succeeded Mr Roberts, who was called away during the meeting. The Rev Idwal Jones, Llysfaen, conducted tactfully, and with distinct success.' The adju- dicators- were:—Mr Wilfrid Jones, R.A.M., of Wrexham, music; with the Revs T. Jones Hum- phreys' and Menai Francis, literature, all three giving all-round satisfaction. Mr D. D. Parry, organist, Llanrw.st, accompanied with such suc- cess that Mr Wilfrid Jones went out of his way to pay a special public compliment to him for his services, the adjudicator saying the commit- tee were: to be congratulated upon securing the services of so excellent a performer, as but few in his profession could give such a good account of themselves as eisteddfod accompanists—an observation which called forth the heartiest ap- proval of the audience. The other officials were Mr Levi John and Mr W. P. Humphreys (hon. secretaries), both of whom deserve toe best thanks of the execu- tive- for their judicious management of the secre- tariat; Mr W. Roberts (Bang'orian), treasurer, the Rev Wm. Edwards and Mr John Jones, chairman and vice-chairman respectively of the committee-. The stage was effectively decorated wi a number of beautiful plants, kindly lent by the ex-mayor (Mr Albert Wood, J.P., D.L.)

The Jesuits Children's recitation: 1, James Vvilhams, Berry-street; 2, Nesta Edwards, Gadnant Park; 3 (given by the chairman), Miss Gwynne Ed- wards, Cadnant Park, Conway. Children's solo, "Gyda'r Iesu" (Jenkins): 1, M. E. Jones, Pensarn; 2, Sarah Parry, Pen- maenmawr; 3 (awarded by the chairman), M. J. Jones, Tywyn. r Englyn on "Y Draenog:" Out of 22 com- petitors, "Cystenyn," whose name did not transpire, was awarded first prize, 5s- Vocal solo, for those who had not previously won a prize,: 1, Miss- Edith Rogers, Llandudno Junction, who sang "Entreat me not to leave Thee;" 2, Mr T. J. Williams, Glanwydden, who sang "Y Milwr Clwyfedig." There were eight competitors. At this juncture, Councillor Roberts an-- < nounced he was called away. Forthwith "Bangorian" came forward, and sang the chairman's praise in the following englyn: "Gan Robert, gwir arabedd—o'i lafar Dylifai melusedd; I loni a gloewi'n gwledd, A gweini i'n gogonedd." The lines were greeted with a round of ap- plause. In response to "Idwal's" appeal, "Gwilym DeunantI" added to the fun with a few more cleverly-compiled verses. Mr Roberts left after a hearty vote of thanks had been accorded him on the motion ot the Rev W. Edwards., and' Councillor Williams took the chair, amidst cheers. Tenor solo, "Y Bugail" (Wilfrid Jones) Only one competitor came: forward, and the prize, £1 is, was withheld, the adjudicator deeming the renderin'g unworthy. Love-letter writing: In this department, 13 love-sick swains sought monetary recompense for their declaration of passion. From the re- marks of the Rev Menai Francis,, one would gather that flirting was the prevailing sin of the majority of the scribes. Mr Lloyd Williams (Penmachno) was awarded chief place.

Adjudicator and Pupil. Baritone solo, prize £1 is. In no event was there better music heard during the day than in this. The competitive piece was Parry's gara." The prize winner, Mr j. T. Owen, of Blaenau Fe-st-iniog, sang with all the artistic polish of an old professional, and rarely have we remarked such progress in any competitor's performance. Compared with his rendering of "Lead, Kindly Light," at the same eistedd- fod twelve- months ago, his performance of the "Niagara" was a fine tribute to that training which the artiste has since undergone. In giving his award, Mr Wilfrid- Jones, at the outset, complimented Mr D. D. Parry upon his artistic and sympathetic accompaniment of the selection. He then proceeded to say that Mr Owen, whose- fine performance of the solo had easily gained him the prize, was at one time his (Mr Jones's) pupil. This fact placed both judge and competitor in a delicate position. The former could not prevent the latter from com- peting, and could not withhold the prize he thus won because there was no rule- on that point. But the fact could not be ignored that, rightly or wrongly—and he believed, wrongly— there was a suspicion among frequenters of eis- teddfodic meetings that adjudicators were too prone to give prizes to competitors who had been their own pupils. Anxious, therefore, to give no colour to such a suspicion, so far as he was concerned, as it was a suspicion calculated to do harm to the cause of music in the country, he had appealed to Mr Owen not to compete for the challenge solo prize in the evening, nor for prizes at any meetings at which he (Mr Jones) -adjudicated in future. This, Mr Owen, though it clearly deprived him of me legitimate fruits of his musical skill, had kindly consented to do. However, it was palpabler to everyone that Mr Owen had easily won that competition. (Loud applause.) Tenor and bass duet, "Y Ddau Delynor" (Ilf. Griffiths,) 1st prize, _f i 10s, Messrs Henry Lloyd and Ed. Jones, Deganwy. Cywydd on "Gideon:" i-st prize, I is, Mr Robert Jones, Rhyl ("Gwespyr"). There were 18 entries. CII.I'al Competition. The Executive Committee broke new ground by selecting Rhedyno-g Price's "Daw'r garreg oddi draw" as the- test piece in the choral com- petition. The prizes were £5 5s and a gold medal for the conductor to the first choir, and a prize of £2 2s to the second best choir. Four choirs, out of six entered, came on the stage. They were Penrhynside Choir (Mr R. Owen, conductor), Glanwydden Choir (Mr R. Roberts), Cap-el Seion Choir, Conway (Mr J. P. Griffiths), and the Conovium Glee Party (Mr D. L. Hughes), and they sang in this order. In the course of his adjudication, Mr Wilfrid Jones said he was sorry to observe at the start that the four choirs had been singing more or less out of tune. What was to account for that fact he did not know, but he presumed some of them had been practising without an instru- ment, or, maybe, their instruments were out of tune, and that was worse still. The first choir (Penrhynside) contained some good voices, and the reading was fairly correct, but they sang out of tune all along the journey. The second choir (Glanwydden) had better voices, and. they commenced very well; in fact, so well did they begin that he had expected a great deal from them, but they fell off materially towards the end. Their accentuation was an improvement upon that of the first choir. Upon the whole, their rendering was fairly satisfactory. The third choir (Capel Seion) were lacking in voices and colouring, while they also went out of tune. The last choir (Conovium Glee- Party) kept better tune than any. The voices were very rgood, and the sopranos were to be compliment- ed upon their effort to. keep in tune—especially one of the ladies. The interpretation was good and the time fairly correct. On the whole, it possessed a purer tone throughout tnan the others-though that was not much—and he had no hesitation in awarding the first prize to NO.4 and second to No. 2. (Loud applause.) EVENING MEETING. In the evening the hall was packed, and the seating accommodation was far from being up with the demand. Ex-Councillor Llewelyn Jones, M.R..C..S., presided, while the inimitable "Gwilym Deunant," of Colwyn Bay, conducted. The programme was arranged in concert fashion. Challenge solo, any selection. After a keen contest, the adjudicator divided the first and: second prizes, amounting to Z4 4s, between Miss Edith Rogers, Llandudno Junction, who sang Hatton's "The Enchantress," and Mr W. E. Jones, Conway, who gave "The glorious deeds" ("Samson"). There were 13 entries, five of whom appeared in public. Chief recitation (open): 1St and and prizes divided between Miss Gwladys- Hughes, Dinor- wic; Mr Robert Roberts, Lower P-enrhyn; and Evan Davies, ulan Conway. Hymn-tune competition for a party of eight, tune selected: 1St prize, Zi 10s, and silver medal for the conductor: Out of three entries, the Penmaenmawr party were the best. During the evening the winners of the various afternoon events- repeated their selections, while Mr D. D. Parry gave a couple of excellent pianoforte selections, and Miss Annie Jones, of Liverpool, with Mr W. E. Jones, Conway, ren- dered a few solos with good effect. The feature of the meeting undoubtedly was the singing of Mr J. T. Owen, of Festiniog, his songs bringing down the house on each occasion. The meeting concluded with "Hen- Wlad fy Nhadau," Mr W. E- Jones -taking the solo. Nhadau," Mr W. E, Jones taking the solo. --ö--=

TREFRIW. The annual eisteddfod- in connection wiUj. the Pendel Calvinistic" Methodist Chapel was held on Christmas Day in the Public Hall, and was a great success. Two meetings were held, the first at two p.m., presided over by Mr W. Williams, of the Llanrwst County School, and the Rev O. Gaianydd Williams, Roe Wen, was, the conductor. Mr Madoc Davies, A.R.C.M., was the musical adjudicator, and Miss Edwards (Alawes1 Gwynedd), Conway, was the accom- panist. The meeting was opened by the rendering of a popular hymn-tune, and the following were the results of the various competitions Best singing of "Caru'r Iesu," for children under 12 years of age: I, Ceridwen Jones 2, Gwladys Roberts. Reciting, -for children under ten: I, Owen R. Owen, Efail Uchaf; 2, Lilian C. Hughes, Trefriw. Singing "Plant yr Iesu," for" children under 16 years I, E. A. Ellis 2, Ceridwen Jones, Trefriw. Children's choir competition: I, Trefriw; 2, Talybont. Recit- ing for children under 16: 1, Jessie Williams, Blaen Nant; 2, Gwladys Roberts, Trefriw. Alto solo: I, Miss Maggie L. Jones, Gwernhowell, Yspytty, 25 6d -and medal; and 2s 6d to Master R. Roberts, Trefriw. Male voice party's best rendering of "Mwynder y Me-usydd:" Mr W. Elias' party from Llanrwst and. Trefriw: Chief essay: one competitor, Albert Reichel. bari- tone solo: Mr G. Williams, Talybont. -.iief Ccntivued on Nex Page