The National Eisteddfod

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. ITS AIMS AND PURPOSES BRIEFLY OUTLINED— NAMES OF THE RECENT PRIZE WINNERS. BY JOHN JAMES, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY CAMBRIAN ASSOCIATION. The spirit of song, poesy and oratory held sway and dominated the five sessions of the fourth grand National Eisteddfod, held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, October 1, 2 and 3, 1808. Arthur L. Thomas, President Cambrian Association. D. L. Davis, Vice-President. The great event will live long in the memories of the people who were fortunate enough to be present at the meetings, and without a doubt will be memorable in the musical and literary annals of the State of Utah.

50 IMPROVEMENT ERA. H. F. Evans, Secretary. The significance of the Eisteddfod (pronounced ice-teth-vod,) is perhaps now more generally understood, in so far as it relates to music, literature and art. The prevailing opinion among musicians and those competent to judge such matters is that the recent Eisteddfod has raised the standard of music in Utah to a very much higher plane, and that the results for good are already manifest and will be felt for many years to come. The aim of the Eisteddfod is to encourage, to instruct, and to elevate. The history of this worthy institution dates back to the prehistoric period. The first historical reference to an Eisteddfod occurs in Ccesar's Commentaries. History tells us that an Eisteddfod was held at Conway, North Wales, in 540 A. D., at which Prince Maelgwyn Gwynedd presided. From that date to 1568, sessions were held at regularly stated intervals, the most notable probably being those of 680, 1176, 1360, 1368, 1461 and 1523. After the sovereignty of Britain passed out of the hands of the Welsh the Eisteddfod lost its authority, but suffered no loss of influence in literary matters. Those held under royal commission in 1568, we are told, exercised authority in some things. The modern Eisteddfod dates from 1771 and has been held, wherever Welshmen may be found, even in Australia, South Africa and Patagonia. The Eisteddfod has given to Wales almost all of her poets, essayists, singers and composers, who have made Welsh poems, Welsh literature, and Welsh songs famous the world over. Other nations have imitated Wales in the National Eisteddfod, but only in John James, Cor. Sec.

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. 51 the musical sense, omitting the characteristic Welsh literary feature. In Great Britain the annual Eisteddfod is controlled by the Eisteddfod association, and the "Bardic Gorsedd" (the "dd" in all cases has the sound of "th" as in "thou.") This Bardic High Circle is a powerful organization jealously guarding the honor and place of the bardic chair as the chief recognition of poetic merit in the form of the alliterative "awdl" or ode— a word that cannot possibly convey the Welsh meaning. There are twentyfour alliterative metres to be mastered, besides the production of poetic thought in each Nephi L. Morris, Treas. Cambrian and every one> ^ the bard who Association. aspires to be installed in the "bardic chair," and who must be ready to answer in public all questions that may arise as to his ability in these wonderful metrical mazes, and as to the genuine quality of his verse. The result of these bardic efforts is a rich poetic literature utterly unknown to all except Celtic scholars who are conversant with the Welsh system of alliteration. The Eisteddfod also offers prizes for compositions in the ordinary metres, and there exists a literature of lyrics, chansons, extensive poems, battle songs and elegies which are only beginning to appear in English in the scholarly translations of Rev. Edmund 0. Jones, vicar of Llandiloes, North Wales, the poet Elved, and others. Another splendid feature of the Eisteddfod is that the judges in all departments of competition read their adjudications to the audiences assembled in which they point out the merits and demerits Prof. William ApMadoc, Conductor of the Eisteddfod.

52 IMPROVEMENT ERA. of soloists and choirs, closing by announcing to whom the prizes are awarded. This is admirable and just, and accomplishes much good, provided the judges succeed in convincing contestants of the correctness of their criticism and the justice of their decision. In choral contests, and especially if the prize is large, the task of the judge is truly painful, while the nervous tension of choirs and audience, most of whom have no technical knowledge of music, is more painful still. The adjudications upon essays, poems and translations are well prepared and are published, and are of literary value. In order that one might thoroughly understand the amount of preliminary work necessary to the holding of an Eisteddfod it need only be stated that the officers of the Cambrian Association, under Daniel Protheroe, Mus. Bac. Adjudicator of Music. Dr. Henry Houseley, Director Denver Choral Society. Prof. J. J. McClellan, Director Salt Lake Choral Society. whose auspices the 1908 Eisteddfod was held, as well as those of 1895-8, commenced their labors in April, 1907 — exactly eighteen

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. 53 Miss Hazel E. Barnes, Winner Contralto Solo Contest. months before the great festival opened. Only those who have had experience along similar lines can appreciate what these months of toil mean. It has meant the sacrifice of much time to the individual membership all of whom feel amply repaid in the results attained. The officers and directors of the Cambrian Association are: President, Arthur L. Thomas; Vice-President, D. L. Davis; Secretary, H.F. Evans; Cor. Sec'y, John James ;Treasurer,NephiL. Morris; Directors, Wm. N. Williams, Walter J. Lewis, T. F. Thomas, Mathonihah Thomas, Thomas E. Jeremy and Wm. D. Prosser. Three of the original members of the board of directors have passed into the great beyond. They are Elias Morris, George G. By water and David John, all men of sterling integrity and character. Herewith is presented the names and residences of prize winners in both the musical and literary contests: 1— Grand Choral Contest— 125 mixed voices; test pieces. "Sylvia" (frotheroe) and "Challenge of Thor" (Elgar), first prize, $1,000 and grand Kimball piano to successful con. ductor ; second prize, $250. First prize won by Denver Competitive Chorus, Denver, Colorado, Dr. Henry Houseley, director. Second prize, Salt Lake Choral Society, Prof. J. J. McClellan, director. 2_Minor Choral Contest of 50 mixed voices— "How Sweet the Moonlight Sleeps" (Evans). Prize, $100, won by the Liberty Choral Society, Gordon E. Garrett, director, Salt Lake City, Utah. 3- Male Chorus of 40 voices; test pieces, . "Nocturne" (Protheroe) and "The Bugle Song" (Dudley Buck). ^*I«"^ lilt AT, First prize won by Salt Lake Glee Society, *»^/^ second prize, The Orpheus Club, A. H. Peabody, doctor, Salt Lake City, Utah. 4— Ladies' Chorus of 40 voices; test piece Prize, $100, won by Salt Lake Ladies' Chorus, Prof Miss Edna Evans, Winner Soprano Solo Contest. The Bells of Aberdovey" iDavies)- J. J. McClellan, director.

54 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Lue Halsett, Winner Baritone Solo Contest. 5 — Children's Chorus of 75 voices — "A Christmas Song" (Stephens). Prize, $50, and a souvenir to each member of the chorus, won by Salt Lake City Children's Chorus, Prof W. A. Wetzell, director. 6— Male Quartette — "Serenade" (the late Dr. Joseph Parry). Prize, $40, won by the Schubert Male Quartette, Salt Lake City, Utah. 7 — Ladies' Quartette — "Legends" (Mohring). Prize, $40, won by Denver Ladies' Quartette. 8— Military Band Contest, 50 instruments — "Ruy Bias" (Mendelssohn). Prize, $300 and Gold Medal to Conductor, won by Pedersen's Salt Lake City Band, Prof. Anton Pedersen, director. 9— Soprano Solo — "Haymaking" (Needham) Key "E." Prizes, $20, and $10. First prize won bv Miss Edna Evans, Salt Lake City, Utah; second prize, Miss Lurinda Poulton, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10— Contralto Solo— "The Widow's Lullaby" (Evans). Prizes, $20 and $10. First prize won by Miss Hazel E. Barnes, Salt Lake City, Utah; second, Mrs. Hallie Foster Sutherland, Salt Lake City, Utah. 11 — Tenor Solo — "Llam y Cariadau" — Lovers' Leap — (Hughes). Prizes, $20 and $10. First prize won by John W. Summerhays, Forest Dale, Salt Lake Co., Utah; second prize, Charles W. Brown, Denver, Colo. 12 — Baritone or Bass Solo — "Repent ye" (MacFarren). Prizes, $20 and $10. First Prize won by Lue Halsett, Salt Lake City, Utah; second prize, A. K. Houghton, Salt Lake City, Utah. 13— Duet, Tenor and Bass—' 'The Martial Spirit" (Parry). Prizes, $25 and $10. First prize won by William Charles and Thomas Lewis, Durango, Colo. ; second, J. W. Summerhays and Lue Halsett, Salt Lake City, Utah. 14 — Pipe Organ Solo Contest — "Communion in G" (Batiste). Prize, $20, won by Moroni Gillespie, Salt Lake City, Utah. 15-Violin Solo Contest — "Elegie" (Spohr). Prizes, $20 and $10. First prize won by Morris Andrews, Salt Lake City, Utah; second prize divided between Miss Romania Hyde and Edward Fitzpatrick, both of Salt Lake City, Utah, the Cambrian Association generously donating another $10, so as to make second prize even. 16— Piano Solo Contest — "Valse Arabesque" (Lack). Prizes, $20 and $10. John W. Summerhays, Winner Tenor Solo Contest.

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. 55 First prize won by Mae Hawley, Salt Lake City, Utah; second, Naomi Midgley, Salt Lake City, Utah, on recommendation of the adjudicator, a third prize of $10 was awarded Asael Nelson of Provo City, Utah. 17— An Epic Poem— subject, "Owen Glyndwr." Prize $50 and a Bardic Chair, won by the Rev. J. T. Morgan, Cleveland, Ohio, represented in person by Hon. Wm. C. Price Tooele City, Utah. 18— Ten "Englynion" (Ten illustrative stanzas) subject "Theodore Roosevelt." Prize $10, won by Rev. J. 0. Williams, Fairfield, Liverpool, England. 19— English Poem— "The Overland Pony Express." Prize, $25, won by Dr. Edward F. Eldridge, Grand Junction, Colo. 20 — Musical Composition for a chorus of mixed voices. Prize, $25, won by George Marks Evans, Shamokin, Pa. Prof. Anton Pedersen, Director Pederson's Salt Lake City Band. In all of the foregoing contests there were upwards of 170 entries which goes to show the wonderful amount of interest taken in the Eisteddfod. There were twenty-two entries in the soprano solo contest alone, which required a rigid preliminary examination before the adjudicator. The remaining members of the Cambrian Association's official family, who contributed largely to the success of the Eisteddfod are: Dr. Daniel Protheroe, Milwaukee, Wis., who officiated as musical adjudicator; Prof. Wm. Apmadoc, Chicago, 111., conductor; Rev. T. C. Edwards, Kingston, Pa., adjudicator of literature; Prof. J. J. McClellan, official accompanist, and last , but not least, Mr, David Evans , the noted Welsh baritone, Eisteddfod soloist, of whom Madam Adelina Patti said, God." The Cambrian Association is already in receipt of inquiries Evan Arthur, Director Salt Lake Glee Society. 'His voice is a gift of

56 IMPROVEMENT ERA. from people everywhere asking when the next Eisteddfod will be held in Salt Lake. It is of course too early yet to say when we shall have another; but the fervent wish of all good citizens is that when we do it will be as glorious and uplifting in its character and tendencies as the one just given. Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 20, 1908.