News 2003
CWMBRÂN MALE CHOIR - NEWS 2003
Cwmbrân Male Choir - Newsletters
News of 2003 By Month
January
Cwmbrân Male Choir under the baton of it's new Musical Director David Davies, who took over the helm in January 2003, together with Heather Wyatt, who took over the post of accompanist in October 2002, have a full and varied programme of events for 2003.
February
March
St. David's Day, March 1st 2003, was the date of Cwmbrân Male Choir's first concert under the baton of David Davies, who was appointed as Musical Director in January 2003. The accompanist that evening was Heather Wyatt, who also had only been appointed as recently as October 2002. The concert, at the Congress Theatre Cwmbrân was the second to be organised by Torfaen County Borough Council, in celebration of St. David and was bilingual throughout, and featured many local groups and schools. The choir sang "God Bless the Prince of Wales", together with an arrangement by Walford Hutchings the Conductor of Pontnewydd Male Choir, of three Welsh hymns namely "Calon Lan"," Mae D'Eisiau Di Bob Awr" and to finish the heart stirring "I Bob Un Sydd Ffyddlon". This was the first public performance of these three items, and the second hymn featured a baritone solo, by John Probert. The choir also sang "Ar Hyd Y Nos", "Gwahoddiad", and also "Eli Jenkins' Prayer", from Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood, which was narrated by the conductor. To finish the choir's programme the choir sang, probably the most famous Welsh hymn namely Cwm Rhondda, together with audience participation.
April
The choir's next engagement was it's first visit to the Garndiffaith Millennium Hall on Friday 11th April 2003, to help raise funds for Sardis Church. Due to a previous commitment, the choir was without it's normal accompanist Heather Wyatt, so the ever helpful Gaynor Smith, provided the accompaniment, and as always proved more than equal to the task. Cwmbrân Male Choir sang a number of new items for the very appreciative audience, including the "Anthem" from the London hit musical "Chess", which was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber
The soloist for the evening was Shirley Leigh, a regular visitor to the Centre, and she sang a full repertoire of songs, featuring items from musicals, operetta and traditional songs, including "Can't Help Loving Dat Man" from Showboat, and "Don't Be Cross", which was greatly appreciated by all who attended. Accompanying Shirley that evening was the former accompanist of Cwmbrân Male Choir, Derek Parry, and he received a very warm welcome from both the audience, and of course the choir for whom he played seven years.
An unusual contribution to the evening harked back to the days of the old music hall, and featured the choir Secretary Ben Strawson, an adopted Welshman from rural Hertfordshire, performing his renditions of "Burlington Bertie From Bow" and another old favourite namely "I Live in Trafalgar Square", complete with rapturous audience accompaniment in the choruses. The choir concluded the first half with their rendition of "Ar Hyd y Nos", and closed the half with Walford Hutching's arrangement of the three hymns.
The second half started with a trio of love songs from the choir, and included Graham Bowkett in the first bass providing the solo in "There is nothing Like A Dame" from the musical "South Pacific". Shirley then returned to the stage to sing "Love Changes Everything", from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Aspects of Love"
The next item involved audience participation after some basic teaching by the conductor of the song "Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet", which ended with David playing his silver euphonium in the last verse. His euphonium was played again in the next item "The Holy City", for which Shirley sang the solo.
The choir's next song "I got Shoes", a different arrangement of the old spiritual was one of the final songs to be sung. Then as a finale, all ex-choristers and current choristers were invited to join the choir, but only one hardy soul, chorister Mel Jones from Pontypool Male Choir took up the challenge, in it's inaugural performance of "Amen", and this proved an instant favourite, leading to the audience singing along, and hand clapping to the rhythms. The piano arrangement for this piece is extremely difficult involving syncopated jazz playing, and Cwmbrân are very fortunate in having both Heather Wyatt and Gaynor Smith with the necessary talent and expertise to be able to provide the accompaniment.
May
The 23 members of Cwmbrân Male Choir, together with their replacement conductor Keith "Ozzie" Arnold, Deputy Conductor of Blaenavon Male Voice Choir and Côr Meibion Gwent and their accompanist Heather Wyatt, and 19 supporters attended the first ever Cornwall International Male Voice Choir Festival, which took place over the recent May Bank Holiday, and featured forty five male choirs from all over Europe.
On Friday the 2nd May 2003, the choir sang at Truro Cathedral for their lunchtime opening concert, together with the Snowdown Colliery Choir from Kent. On taking the stage, Cwmbrân Male Choir could see that the nave was full, and there were more people coming in all the time. The choir then opened this and every concert, with the rousing "Men of Harlech", as outlined by its usual Musical Director David Davies who was unfortunately unable to attended due to family commitments. The acoustics were fantastic as the echoes of the amens reverberated around the nave. The choir then continued with its programme of hymns and songs from the musicals including the song "Nothing Like a Dame", with Ozzie Arnold himself taking the lead. Then it was back to the traditional Welsh hymns including John Probert as baritone soloist in "Mae D'eisiau Di Bob Awr". The choir finished its programme with the ever-popular "Gwahoddiad", which was perfectly suited for the venue. This led to the choir being given a standing ovation by the huge audience.
Saturday 3rd May unfortunately the weather had not improved for the choir's second lunchtime concert, which was due to take place at Lemon Quay Truro, outside the Hall for Cornwall. The choir sang two songs in the rain, "Men of Harlech" and "Amen", to an appreciative but very wet audience. The choir then travelled to Wadebridge for the evening to give a concert at the local school, together with two Cornish choirs, namely Wadebridge itself and Tintagel. The excellent evening finished with all the choirs combining for Emrys Jones' "Morte Christe" which again was sung to a full and appreciative audience.
The venue for the concert on Sunday night was Hayle Church near St. Ives, where there were also three other contrasting male choirs, Constantine from Cornwall, the English Concert Singers, and the Jussit Male Choir from Finland. The English choir performed a number of technically difficult new male choir works, "Waltzing Matilda", and "Time and Tide", and the Composers of both these works were present in the church. The final item by the Finnish choir was Jean Sibelius' famous poignant anthem, "Finlandia", and this earned the Finns a standing ovation for the beautiful tonal quality and power of their singing.
On Bank Holiday Monday the 5th of May, Cwmbrân Male Choir concluded its programme by singing at the innovative Eden project, near St. Austell, where it started the proceedings off with another lively and varied programme. Eight more choirs, including Rhos Orpheus from North Wales as the only other Welsh choir to attend, then took the stage. The day concluded with an excellent performance in Estonian and English by the very talented Revalia Choir from Estonia that was the deserved Champion Choir of the Festival, and amazingly the average age of the choir was only 22.
The choir thoroughly enjoyed its weekend and is looking forward to attending again in two years' time.
June
Following Cwmbrân Male Choir's recent successful tour of Cornwall in May 2003, the choir's next engagement was unusual in that the choir appeared as guest artists at a surprise birthday party for a gentleman named Nick from Merthyr Tydfil, and was staged at a camping site just outside Tewkesbury. Particular mention must be made of the valiant effort made by the choir's accompanist Heather Wyatt to extract a recognizable tune out of the electronic keyboard. This she finally achieved and her playing of the very difficult syncopated jazz arrangement of the song "Amen", proved her dexterity.
The choir's next engagement was at Maesglas Church, in aid of roof funds, where the highly talented trio of Shirley, David and John, who together make up, "Just Good Friends", joined the choir and sang a selection of songs from the musicals together with some ballads, and folk tunes. The choir's own Musical Director David Davies is a member of this group and he showed his instrumental prowess in playing the euphonium. The night was also special as it gave the opportunity for Paul Cook the new Musical Director of Cwmbrân Male Choir his first opportunity to conduct in public, when he conducted the choir in the song "An American Trilogy".
Saturday the 28th June was the choir's Annual Concert, which was staged this year at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran. The choir's guest were Cathryn Crane a local soprano from Griffithstown, together with a quartet of highly talented young female students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, who perform under the title of "Beauty in Brass". The group consists of Laura Davies on cornet, also on the cornet is Alex Janes, Heather Giles was on tenor horn, and Emma Shakeshaft played the euphonium.
The concert started with the choir hidden behind the theatre curtain, and then a fanfare was heard to ring out from the Beauty in Brass group, and on opening the curtains the choir sang "the Queen". The choir then sang "Men of Harlech" and David in his role as Master of Ceremonies introduced the artists for the evening. The choir's next spot was all Welsh based, and the songs were "Llanfair", followed by "Ar Hyd y Nos", and to finish the section the arrangement of three Welsh hymn tunes by Walford Hutchings that featured John Probert as soloist in "Mae D'eisiau Di Bob Awr".
It was then the turn of the group Beauty in Brass to perform and they also played a hymn tune called "Rousseau", by Edward Gregson, the beautiful melodic song "The Lamb" by John Taverner followed this, and to finish the section they then played the lively "La Danza", by Rossini.
It was then the turn of the choir to sing again, and the next section featured a trio of songs from films and musicals including "She", from the film Notting Hill, this was accompanied by a Laura Davies on solo cornet, and Heather Wyatt on piano in the humming section. Then the choir sang, "My Heart will Go On" from the film Titanic. The next song was "Anthem" from the musical "Chess", again accompanied in part by Laura Davies as solo cornet player.
Cathryn Crane then took the stage, and was very ably accompanied by Paul Cook, the new Musical Director of Cwmbrân Male Choir and she opened her programme with the hauntingly beautiful "O My Beloved Father" from the opera Gianni Schicci by Puccini. This was followed by the song "Think of Me" from the musical "Phantom of the Opera".
Cwmbrân Male Choir then sang the nostalgic song "Take me Home", and to finish the first half all the artists took the stage to perform the famous Welsh hymn tune "Morte Christe", and David also invited all the choristers and ex-choristers in the audience to help augment the sound, and a number joined the choir on stage. Cathryn sang the third verse as a solo, and the audience showed it's appreciation in the usual vociferous manner.
The second half started with the choir seated, then Heather Wyatt struck up the chords of the jazzed up version of "Amen – This Little Light of Mine ", and the bass section started singing, followed by an echo from the tenors. After the verse in the middle of the song the reprise consisted of the basses standing on their repeated solo section, followed by the tenors and the whole ensemble joining together for a rousing finale. Alwyn Humphreys arranged the next two items from the choir, the first was the spiritual "There is a Balm in Gilead". It was then the turn of David to change places with Paul Cook the choir's new Musical Director who is originally from Stafford, to conduct for the first time in front of the Cwmbrân public "An American Trilogy". Paul begins his new job teaching music and drama at St Albans Roman Catholic School in Pontypool this September.
Cathryn with Paul at the piano then returned to sing, "If I loved you", from Carousel, followed by the old Irish favourite "Danny Boy". The choir then performed as a "serene chorus of monks", as accompaniment to Cathryn in the song "The Virgin of the Angel Host" from the Force of Destiny by Verdi, and was rapturously applauded by the audience. It was then the turn of the choir to sing songs from the musicals and these included "Nothing Like a Dame" and "Some Enchanted Evening", with Graham Bowkett providing the humorous solo in the first song. The next song was "I'm Getting Married in the Morning" from My Fair Lady, which concluded this section of the choir's programme.
Beauty in Brass then returned to play the melodious Pavane by Faure' and Eine Kleine Nacht Musik by Mozart. David then took over as narrator informing the audience about the quaint village of Llarregub invented by Dylan Thomas, in his famous and humorous drama "Under Milk Wood", from which the choir then performed the "Reverend Eli Jenkins' Prayer". This was followed by "Gwahoddiad", which translated means an invitation and David again extended this to all the choristers and ex-choristers in the audience to join the choir on stage. Again this led to a wonderful sound, and richly deserved applause.
Prior to the last item, Clive Williams the Chairman of the choir made two presentations to David, by way of thanking him for his services to the choir when in time of need, particularly over the last six months, the first gift was an electronic metronome. Then much to David's surprise, and this actually left him speechless, for once, Clive presented David with a Life Membership Certificate of Cwmbrân Male Choir, and this led to a richly deserved standing ovation from all in the auditorium. It was all the more enjoyable, as David's wife Pearl who has not been in the best of health recently was in the audience to see her husband receive his accolade.
Then to close the concert, yet another special band arrangement by David of "Cwm Rhondda", and this time as well as the choir, Cathryn Crane, the extra choristers, Heather Wyatt, and Beauty in Brass, he even drafted in the audience to join in the choruses.
July
Following Cwmbrân Male Choir's successful Annual concert on June 28th, the choir's next engagement was at the Glen-yr-avon Hotel in Usk for the Annual Dinner of the Probus Club of Pontypool. In addition to singing for the group under the batons of Paul Cook, the choir's Musical Director and David Davies, the caretaker Musical Director, the choir also used the opportunity to have a new photograph in preparation for the choir's fortieth anniversary, which it celebrates in 2004. In addition to singing a number of traditional choir songs, the choir introduced the Everley Brother's melody " Let it be me". David Davies compered the evening in his own inimitable style; this was in addition to actually attending as a Probus member. Heather Wyatt ably accompanied the choir, and Paul Cook joined her at the piano for some duets, to break up the evening.
The choir's next engagement was at the Panteg Village Hall, where after an absence of a number of years, the choir sang to a very appreciative group of pensioners for the new Inn Area. Shirley Leigh, who amongst other songs was accompanied by David Davies on the euphonium, in "The Holy City", joined the choir on the concert platform. Again the concert was shared between Paul and David, who acted as compere and Heather Wyatt was at the piano. The evening was so successful that the choir has already agreed to attend in March 2004, for a return to the Hall. Also that evening Cwmbrân Male Choir was able to announce that David Davies had officially accepted the post of Deputy Musical Director, and this was greeted by the choir, and Paul Cook, as wonderful news, as in the event of his absence, David was more than capable of stepping into his shoes. Additionally David would be available to strengthen the top tenor section.
August
September
On Friday the 5th of September, the choir made a return visit to the Giltar Hotel in the West Wales holiday resort of Tenby to entertain holidaymakers from all over the country,
The Holiday Inn Newport the following Friday was the next venue for the choir, when it sang to an audience of Valkyrie Motorcycle specialists from all parts of the United Kingdom; also in attendance was the Deputy Mayor of Newport City Council. The motorcycles were parked in the Hotel's car park, under constant security, and all were extremely well cared for, and some painted with air brushed patterns, leather trims, and all sorts of expensive equipment. The members of the club also were very colourful, and many had on all sorts of leather clothing, and weird and wonderful headgear. Their organiser informed us that the group was very pleased to be in Wales, many of them for the first time ever, and to hear a live Welsh choir was a great thrill for them.
On Friday 26th September 2003, Cwmbrân Male Choir acted as hosts for the eighty-strong Côr Meibion Gwent, in a concert at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran. Côr Meibion Gwent's Musical Director is Siân Hatton, and the Deputy Musical Director is Keith "Ozzie" Arnold. The accompanist is Meurig Jones, and the Deputy Accompanist is Margaret Davies. This concert marked Côr Meibion Gwent's final farewell concert in Wales, prior to their departure to Australia in October 2003.
To start the concert Côr Meibion Gwent sang the Australian National Anthem, "Advance Australia Fair". The Choir, then continued their programme with "Speed your Journey", followed by the very moving spiritual "My Lord what a Morning", and ended with "Stout Hearted Men".
Siân then took on the role of soloist, accompanied by Meurig, and sang the aria "Art Thou Troubled" from "Rinaldo" by Handel. The mood then was totally changed when Siân beautifully sang her very individual version of "Summertime ", from Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin.
It was then the turn of the host choir Cwmbrân to takes the stage, and David Davies the choir's Deputy Musical Director took over the podium. Paul Cook the choir's Musical Director, once again displayed his versatility when he took over as accompanist. The choir started with the "American Trilogy" this was followed by "My Heart Will Go On", from the film Titanic, and finally the spiritual "Amen", arranged in spectacular format by Haydn James.
The tenor soloist for the evening, Mark Burrows then took the stage. He then started his programme with two operatic arias by Verdi and Puccini, respectively. His final song was an Irish Ballad entitled "Mother Macree".
The two choirs then combined with David narrating the tale of Dylan Thomas' play for voices, "Under Milk Wood", from which the choir sang the simple but moving "Eli Jenkins Prayer", to the chant by Troyte. To finish the first half the choir with David at the helm sang the rousing Welsh hymn "Llef".
To start the second half, Côr Meibion Gwent with Keith Arnold in charge sang Ryan Davies' lovely Welsh song "Pan Fo'r Nos yn Hir". Then it was his own arrangement of "Waltzing Matilda", and to finish this spot Malotte's "Lord's Prayer"
Mark then returned to the stage and sang "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables, and to finish his programme, he sang "My Dearest Dear", by Ivor Novello.
Côr Meibion Gwent then returned to the platform and sang the jazzy, foot tapping, hand-clapping, "Alexandra's Ragtime Band", and then it was a first public outing for an old epic male choir song "Nidaros". This led to David in his role as Master of Ceremonies, taking the unusual step of asking the whole choir to take a bow.
Siân's next group started with the atmospheric Welsh ballad "My Little Welsh Home, and to finish her programme she sang "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square".
David then took over the baton as the two choirs combined for Emrys Jones' famous hymn "Morte Christe", and this featured Siân joining the first tenor section for their solo verse, to provide a totally unique and thrilling sound.
The final item was a song which is sure to be a great favourite out in Australia and is the arrangement by Laurence Thompson and Martin Hodson from Risca of "There is a Land", which paints a musical picture of Wales, it's land, it's people and it's heritage.
To finish the concert David invited all the participants back to the stage to take a bow before the very appreciative audience, and the closed the concert with "Mae Hen'Wlad Fy N'hadau".
October
Cwmbrân Male Choir's Autumn concert season started with a very enjoyable evening of entertainment for the senior citizens of St. Julian's Newport, on Monday 27th of October. In addition to the choir singing it's usual variety of songs both old and new from it's extensive repertoire, the artists for the evening were the very talented Musical Director Paul Cook, and Accompanist Heather Wyatt, who entertained the very appreciative audience with a number of piano duets. Not to be outdone Deputy Musical Director David Davies, also played a few items on the euphonium, with Heather accompanying.
November
The same trio of Paul, David and Heather also performed at the choir's next engagement at St. Thomas' Church Maesglas on the 15th of November 2003, following a return invite.
Another return concert was next on the schedule for the choir at Caerleon College, following its' success the previous year. Once again the compere for the evening's very varied evening of entertainment was the choir's former Musical Director Judith Wood. As the Concert was on the 29th of November 2003, a few Christmas carols were added, David Davies had specially arranged a Christmas version of "Cwm Rhondda", entitled "Come and Worship" and the choir sang this together with a Christmas arrangement of Bette Midler's "The Rose", arranged by Haydn James. David then led the choir and audience in his own inimitable style in a joint rendition of "Jingle Bells" and "While shepherds Watched", both being sung at the same time by alternate sections of the audience. The choir has already received an invitation back in November 2004, so who knows what musical mayhem David will unleash on the unsuspecting audience next time.
December
In December the choir was busy rehearsing for it's third Christmas Concert, held once again at Mount Pleasant Hall on Friday the 12th December, and the main guest artists on this occasion were the Cwmni Gwerin Pontypwl / Pontypool Folk Dancing Group which performed the traditional Mari Lwyd dance, and combined this with the singing of a number of Welsh songs, many of which were in the Cwmbrân Male Choir repertoire, but had not been sung for number of years. Also to represent the younger talent in Torfaen, three pupils from St. Alban's Roman Catholic School, namely Chrissie Stockting (piano), Stella Woodward (flute) and Rhian Meadows (Soprano) together with Paul Cook, their teacher, provided a varied and enjoyable selection of music ranging from classical pieces to Christmas favourites. This set the scene for David the choir's Deputy Conductor to encourage audience participation through singing of Christmas carols and also full involvement in "The Twelve Days of Christmas". In addition to the musical entertainment the choir put on mince pies and light refreshments for the audience, and this was greatly appreciated by all who attended on such a cold and wintry evening.
The very next day it was in the entrance hall to Asda supermarket that Cwmbrân Male Choir performed many of the songs that it had sung the night before. This was as usual very ably played by the choir accompanist Heather Wyatt, and was the first public performance on the choir's newly acquired electric piano, which has been purchased for just such occasions.
Sunday the 14th of December marked the final concert for the year when the choir participated in the enjoyable showcase of Torfaen talent organised by Cwmbrân Community Council at the Congress Theatre.