Blair Collection > Deo-gréine

32
AN DEO-GHREINE.
than strathspeys and reels. For the encour-
agement of amateurs in this class of music (< »n
the piano), Mrs. A. Ogilvie Grey, Edinburgh,
herself a capable exponent of strathspeys and
reels, has intimated a donation of £5 5s.
annually, to be given in prizes for this
competitii m.
There was an encouraging turn out. of com-
petitors in the Violin Competition. The first
prize-winner isa youthful perfi irmer of consider-
able promise. The second prize-winner is also
an excellent player, but restricted her selects »ns
to tunes more suitable for the bagpipes, and
which did not give much scope or variety.
There are numerous other tunes which are
nn u'e appropriate to piano playing.
The judges in the violin and pianoforte com-
petitions were Archibald Menzies, Edinburgh,
Andrew Mackintosh, Inverness, and William
Waddell, Edinburgh.
Mr. Menzies, at the close of the Violin Com -
competition, spoke some words of counsel
to the competitors. He said that the per-
formance' of most of the competitors was
less or more marred by nervousness, indis-
criminate use of the forte pedal, and want of
consistent, well-marked time. He pointed out
that correct lingering, regular and distinctly
marked time, and a good, sound bass, in octaves
'without sameness), were all-important in the
rendering of this class of music. Several of the
1 ompetitors used iheforte pedal and chords in
the bass, not always in good harmony, which
detracted much from the simplicity and effec-
tiveness necessary for this class of music. With a
good fundamental bass,/;/ octaves, the harmony
is sufficiently brought out by the quick succes-
sion of the chord notes in the treble. The
forte pedal should not be used ; except,
perhaps, by indifferent players, who imagine
that its use covers "a multitude of sins"
otherwise.
On the whole, the competition was satis-
factory; and it is to be hoped that greater
interest may in future be evinced for this class
of music among amateurs, especially ladies.
We hope to sec ;i larger nun out of com-
petitors at future Mods.
The competition in violin playing was
neither so encouraging nor so good as the
piano competition. The Inst prize-winner's
playing left much to be desired lor an effi< ient
rendering.
Here, as in piano playing, regular and well-
marked time is an absolute necessity. The
bowing is by far the most important factor in
the playing of strathspeys and reels; and
neither of the players made sufficienl use of
their bow, more especially of the old style up-
driven stroke. In particular, the second prize
winner used only a few inches of his bow,
and his playing was consequently jerky and
inefficient. There is no reason why the whole
length of the bow, or very nearly so, should
not be used in playing this class of music.
especially in strathspey playing. The use of
the " slur" is by many not well understood or
exercised. In each bar there are generally two
groups of four notes. In reels, the first two
notes of the group should be slurred — in the
first group w ith a " down " bow, in the second
w ith a well-marked " up " or driven bow — the
other notes of the group receiving a bow each.
This treatment enables the performer to use
more of the bow, and a better "swing" is
obtained. Like the advice on the penny
savings box : Let the players take care of the
" up " bows, and the " down " bows will take
care of themselves.
The slow airs played by the competitors —
who nearly all played tiie same airs — were
only fairly rendered ; and several of them used
incorrect settings, possibly, having acquired
the air by ear. This should not be so. There
are hundreds of very beautiful Gaelic song
airs, the music of which is easily and cheaply
obtainable. We hope for improved numbers
and better appearances at future Mods.
Musical Composition.
1 Composition - of a Melody to Donald Mac-
kechnie's song"Chunnaic mi na gruagaichean."
Entered 2.
John Cameron, Paisley, 15s. gd.
1 John MacCallum, Glasgow, 15s. gd.
equal.
Neither of the tunes submitted were consid-
ered by any of the judges as of more than fair
merit.
Music ac Compilation'.
1 Collection of Unpublished Vocal .Music.
Entered 1.
John Cameron, Paisley, £2.
This collection, which consists of 46 tunes,
received high commendation from all the
judges, who agreed in giving it 100 marks.
Within the last three years, Mr. Cameron has
had taken down from his singing 1 20 melodies,
10N of which are now in the possession of the
Coniunn. Making allowances for variants
differing slightly from published versions and
for a few about which there is doubt, Mr.
Cameron can make the proud boast that he
has recovered from danger of being lost 100
melodies, of varied style and character. A
large proportion of these melodies have well
known words; a certain proportion are for
songs of which only a verse or two is avail-
able; and the remainder, being instrumental
in purpose, have only puirt a beul, or single
words.
The judges in the preceding competitions