News 2005

 CWMBRÂN MALE CHOIR - NEWS 2005

 

Cwmbrân Male Choir - Newsletters

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The concert going public of Torfaen were provided with a musical treat courtesy of David Davies and Cwmbrân Male Choir on Thursday 7^th July 2005, at St. Hilda's Church in Griffithstown Pontypool. The concert featured the combined mixed choirs of Mouez Bro Konk, Concarneau and the Abouez Penn, Brest both in Brittany under the direction of Jean-Marie Airault in a very varied and extremely well sung programme. The concert started spectacularly with the choir being set out in the four corners of the church, and providing a true quadraphonic experience.

 

The next group of songs featured various Celtic songs and hymns, and as a mark of respect to the Welsh hosts the first song was entitled "Meulomp Doue", and when translated it was instantly recognised as "Cwm Rhondda", and this set the mood for a splendid evening of singing. A Cornish hymn was next to be sung by the choir, and then to demonstrate it's high degree of versatility this was followed by a very demanding Breton song, which they are using at a test piece for a forthcoming competition.

 

A humorous selection followed all based on one of the main Breton products, cider, and the choir performed the sounds of the farmyard including some of the animals. Then to finish their first section of the programme the song "Broiou ar mor", was sung and this was about the Countries of the Sea, and was beautifully arranged to the tune "Amazing Grace".

 

The choir was on the last leg of a short concert tour of Wales, and has given concerts in Porthcawl and Cardiff during their brief stay in the principality. Their long day started with a visit for the majority of the group to the Pontypool Inheritance Museum, a small party were provided with a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Torfaen Councillor Lyn Irwin, and was staged at the Pontypool Community Council Offices, and was attended by the Chairman of Pontypool Community Council, Councillor Huw Corfield. As a result of Cwmbrân Male Choir taking the group to the reception, the choir was asked to sing at the Chairman's Charity Concert, which will be staged at St. Alban's School Pontypool on Friday October 14^th 2005. After the reception the choir was then whisked away to Torfaen's World Heritage town, namely Blaenavon for a "formidable et magnifique" visit to Big Pit. On returning to Pontypool, the whole party was provided with a sumptuous feast at Panteg Employees Club, and the management had even arranged "moules marinieres", "mussels" as a special treat. 

 

Cwmbrân Male Choir were fortunate enough to have attended the Interceltic festival in Lorient Brittan in 1979, and many choristers still remark on the fantastic experience to sing there. To give our Breton colleagues a break, before embarking on their very ambitious second half, David Davies the Cwmbrân Male Choir Deputy Musical Director and very good friend of the Breton Conductor took up the baton for the combined voices of Cwmbrân Male Choir and Pontypool Male Voice Choir. The program included "Oes Gafr Eto", and a great favourite of the Mayor's, " Comrades in Arms" partly because it was written by Adolph Adam a native of Pontypool's twin town in France, Longjumeau near Paris. This was also sung in tribute to the nationwide celebrations to be staged on Sunday to mark the end of the Second World War, and at which Cwmbrân will be singing in Cardiff. David also reflected on the terrible tragedy that had occurred in London earlier that day, and how we all hoped and prayed for those affected. The choirs finished with the stirring end of "Nidaros" by Daniel Protheroe.

   

The Breton choir then sang a mass entitled "Ar Marh Dall", which is a rallying cry to Bretons to recognise their language and culture. In addition to the choirs, the opus featured a large number of instrumentalists, and earned the choir a richly deserved standing ovation. The concert ended with the Breton choir singing their national anthem, which has the same tune as the Welsh anthem, and then all the audience present joined to sing the Welsh national anthem to coincide with the second verse of the Breton anthem.

August

On Thursday 11^th August 2005, Cwmbrân Male Choir added a new chapter to it's list of concert achievements, when the choir sang for the first time, and possibly uniquely as far as male choirs are concerned at the engagement proposal by Neil Fry to his girlfriend Imogen McCarthy, originally a native of Carmarthen. The event took place in the beautiful surroundings of the Nailcote Hall Hotel in Solihull, and to say that Imogen was shocked by the romantic gesture by Neil would be an understatement.

 

The choir had to arrive in secret at the Hotel, and then under the baton of David Davies the Choir's Deputy Musical Director, and with Heather Wyatt at the electric piano, remain on the 9^th hole of the golf course which is attached to the Hotel, until the signal was received that the couple were on their way. The couple then proceeded to sit at a table adjacent to a convenient tree, and sip at some glasses of champagne. The choir then started singing the Welsh hymn tune "Gwahoddiad", and Imogen became very emotional. The choir then sang the very appropriate song "She", which was the theme tune to the recent movie hit "Notting Hill", and then the choir song anther romantic favourite "Let It Be Me", at the end of which Neil happily exclaimed that Imogen had accepted his proposal, and this allowed the choir to relax.

 

The choir's next song was "The Rose", by Rita McNeil, was also well appreciated, by a number of other Hotel guests and management who were curious about what was taking place. Lawrence Thompson's arrangement of "There Is A Land" was the final item for the choir before Imogen joined in with a rendition of the Welsh National Anthem, "Mae Hen 'Wlad Fy 'Nhadau". The choir then toasted Neil and Imogen with more champagne, had various photographs taken, and wished the couple every happiness for the future, and hoped that Cwmbrân Male Choir would be invited back to the wedding. The choir presented the pair with a copy of their latest CD "In A Lighter Mood", and with the choir lapel badges.

 

It was then back the Hotel for a chance to socialise, the highlight of this part of the evening was the serenade by Graham Bowkett a baritone with Cwmbrân Male Choir, to Imogen, of the lovely Welsh folk song "My Little Welsh Home".

 

To stage such an unusual event is not easy, and thanks must be expressed to Neil Fry for initially inviting the choir in the first place. Ben Strawson, the Choir Secretary was responsible for providing the transport for the electric piano, and John Carter provided a generator to power the piano in its al fresco setting. Neil's friend Frank was very helpful, and acted as photographer, and the Hotel staff under manager Kando, were very accommodating.

 

The choir's next engagement is singing to the holidaymakers at the Giltar Hotel in the lovely harbour town of Tenby on Friday 19^th August 2005.

 

September

October

Prior to that the choir will be singing for the Chairman of Pontypool Community Council's Charity Concert on Friday 14^th October 2005 in St. Alban's School Pontypool.

 

On Saturday 29^th October 2005, Cwmbrân Male Choir staged its Annual Concert for 2005 at the Salvation Army Citadel in Old Cwmbrân as it had proved such and excellent venue in which to hold concerts. After the National Anthem, Cwmbrân Male Choir sang unaccompanied the tone poem "Finlandia" as composed by Jean Sibelius, this was in complete contrast to the normal rousing start of "Men of Harlech", which the choir sang to conclude the first half.  

 

It was then the chance for David Davies, the choir's Deputy Musical Director and Compere for the evening to introduce the Musical Director, Paul Cook and the Accompanist Heather Wyatt, and to inform the audience that all three had shown their musical prowess in arranging some of tonight's ambitious and highly varied programme. The choir then sang two old favourite Welsh hymn tunes, namely "Gwahoddiad" and "Llef".

 

Paul Cook, who it must be remembered originally came Staffordshire, then showed another of his many talents by singing the Exiles Song "Unwaith Eto'n Nghymru Annwyl" from the National Eisteddfod as a tenor solo, in impeccable Welsh as tutored by his fiancée Jill Padfield who was the guest artist at last year's concert and for this solo he was accompanied at the piano by one of his school pupils Kirsty Worth.

 

It was then the turn of the first group of young and highly talented guest artists for the evening to take centre stage. They are all music pupils at St Alban's School, with Paul as their Head of Music and their names are Adam Dibble and Sophie Philips (Flute) and Kirsty Worth (Piano), and they then thrilled the audience with their instrumental rendition of the beautiful "Flower Duet" from the Opera Lakme' by Delibes.

 

The next group sung by Cwmbrân Male Choir featured two new items in the concert repertoire, first Heather Wyatt's arrangement of the "Humming Chorus", from Puccini's Madam Butterfly, and this was followed by Schubert's "Heilig, Heilig, Heilig", which was sung unaccompanied.

 

The eight youngsters who make up Torfaen Young Jazz then performed a number of very catchy jazz tunes, including a very upbeat version of "The Ash Grove", which had everybody swaying to the complex rhythms.

 

The choir's first soloist of the evening Des Gough then sang the lovely spiritual "Lily of the Valley" with David Davies in the role of conductor.

 

The choir started the second half with the lively "Okalahoma", which featured four soloists from the choir, namely Ben Strawson, David Paton, Michael Kirkham-Jones and Eric Edwards and also a special mention was made of Ray Gratton, who although he did not sing a solo during the evening had learnt and sung all four solo parts during the run-up to the concert. It was then Cwmbrân Male Choir's turn to jazz up the evening with its rendition of Paul Cook's arrangement of "Me and My Shadow". The policy of having a standby in case of illness again proved invaluable as Ben Strawson took on the solo role for "Li'l Liza Jane", following the illness of Graham Bowkett the original soloist.   

 

Paul Cook then provided the piano accompaniment for Adam Dibble's intricate playing of "Humoresque" by Dvorak.

 

It was another two of Paul's new arrangements of songs from the shows that were the next items sang by the choir. The first song was "Sunrise, Sunset", from "Fiddler on the Roof". This was followed by a spectacular version of the song "Sit Down Your Rocking The Boat", from "Guys and Dolls" that is playing to rave reviews in London's West End, at the moment. Alan Gerrard from the baritone section took the part of Nicely Nicely, complete with actions and again it was his first public performance as a soloist, and both he and the song proved to be an instant hit with the very appreciative audience. Also including in the piece was a very short accompanying trio, which was also performed by choir individuals who had never performed in public before with Cwmbrân Male Choir and they were Alan Lewis, Peter Coleman and Ralph Powell.  

 

Torfaen Young Jazz then returned to the concert platform and played more of their unique style of music including the melodic "Stranger On A Shore".

 

To finish Cwmbrân Male Choir's programme the choir sang a new arrangement of "Bring Him Home" from "Les Miserables", and this was followed by Laurence Thompson's tribute to Wales "There Is A Land". Then all male choristers past and present were invited to the stage for the grand finale of "Morte Christe".

November

After the very successful 2005 Annual Concert, Cwmbrân Male Choir's next engagement was as part of a massed male choir at St. David's Hall in Cardiff on Saturday 5^th November under the baton of Alun John, to commemorate the Royal British Legion Armistice Concert. 

 

On Monday 7^th November the choir sang at the Orchard Lane Centre in Newport and the programme contained a number of the new items sang at the recent Annual Concert. The choir also featured a euphonium solo by David Davies the Choir's Deputy Conductor, and a number of piano duets by Paul Cook the Musical Director and Heather Wyatt, the choir's accompanist. The Parkway Hotel in Cwmbrân on Saturday 12^th of November was the setting for a concert with the Ladies of Sincerity, form Bristol which is a similar organisation to the Rotary Club

December

Cwmbrân town centre was the stage for the choir's next performances, on Wednesday 7^th December and as part of the entertainment laid on for shoppers, by Cwmbrân Community Council. Some members of Newport Band, for which David Davies plays, provided the accompaniment and the choir was very grateful for their assistance. The choir also sang on the steps of the bandstand on Saturday 10^th December in Cwmbrân town centre, this time with Heather Wyatt providing the accompaniment on the choir's piano.  

 

In between these outside engagements the Cwmbrân Male Choir Christmas Concert, was staged for the first time outside Cwmbrân at St. Hilda's Church Griffithstown in Pontypool on the 9^th December. The concert featured as guest artists the St. Albans's RC High School Choir and Sixth Form Choir, Paul Cook conducted all three choirs on the night. The concert started with a solo by Natasha Gajda, in the Christmas carol, "Once in Royal David's City". Cwmbrân Male Choir then sang the song that in recent years has become their theme tune, namely "Men of Harlech", this was followed by an introduction for the evening by the compere, David Davies. Cwmbrân Male Choir then sang two more Welsh hymns namely "Gwahoddiad" and "Deus Salutis". It was then the turn of the Sixth Form Choir to start their programme with the theme song from the musical "Fame", and this was followed by Paul's arrangement of "Me and My Shadow", which is normally sung by Cwmbrân Male Choir and then to finish their first selection of songs they sang "Seasons of Love". The High School Choir started their programme with a number of songs from the two "Lion King" films by Disney, namely "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and "Love Will Find A Way". The final song in this section was the Afrikaans song "Siyahamba", which featured the soloists Hannah Haynes and Cari Davies. To close the first half Cwmbrân Male Choir sang "Oklahoma", "Li'l Liza Jane", with soloist Graham Bowkett, then "Bring Him Home", and finally "Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat" from the hit musical "Guys and Dolls", complete with actions by the soloist Alan Gerrard.

 

Cwmbrân Male Choir stared the second half with Gareth Whitcombe's arrangement of "O Holy Night" composed by Adolphe Adam, who was born in Pontypool's twin town of Longjumeau, and featured Cari Davies from the school choir as soloist in the second verse. Des Gough was the soloist for the next song "See the Glory of The Saviour", which was based on Schubert's "Heilig, Heilig, Heilig", set to Christmas words. To finish this section the choir sang Paul's arrangement of John Rutter's beautiful "Candlelight Carol". Paul Cook then acted as the drummer in the carol "Patapan" sung by the Sixth Form Choir, and then Sarah Withey provided the solo in "The Little Road to Bethlehem". The next song "Love Shone Down" featured a number of soloists, namely Victoria Haines, Jenny Johnson, Tish Stockting and Kirsty Worth. Kirsty then appeared in the next item that also featured the voices of Victoria Haines and Anna Prosser, and was Bach's "Wachet Auf/Sleepers Awake". The High School then returned to sing the "Christmas Lullaby", "Gabriel's Message", and to close their programme the ever-popular "Winter Wonderland". Cwmbrân Male Choir then returned to the platform to sing under the baton of David Davies, his Christmas Words "Jesus Is His name" to Sibelius' song "Finlandia", then it was back to the musicals for "Sunrise Sunset" from "Fiddler on the Roof", and to close Cwmbrân Male Choir's programme, the patriotic song "There Is A Land". All the artists then mounted the chancel steps to sing the recessional hymn "Hark The Herald Angel Sing".

 

The concert marked Paul Cook's final engagement in charge of Cwmbrân Male Choir and during his time at the helm he constantly strove to improve the standard of the choir, and introduced many new and innovative items and arrangements to the choral repertoire. In 2004, Paul took the choir to Northern Ireland where he was in charge at two concerts, one in Belfast, and another in Coleraine. He built up a great rapport with David Davies, his Deputy and with Heather Wyatt as his accompanist. Cwmbrân Male Choir would like to wish Paul and the school choir all the very best for the future, especially with their forthcoming trip to Disneyland in Paris.

 

On Monday 12^th December Cwmbrân Male Choir concluded it's 2005 concert programme with a concert in aid of Cancer Research UK, at St John's Church Cardiff, and this will be broadcast by Real Radio at 1.00 p.m. on Christmas Day.