21st FESTIVAL OF MALE CHOIRS
A review by Barri Hurford-Jones

“The foundation for the Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir was laid in the late 18th- century when a band of murderers, cut-throats and robbers was deported from Wales to Australia. These new colonists quickly developed the technique of standing on raised platforms and singing in the Welsh tradition whilst their colleagues moved amongst the enthralled gathering purloining their pocket watches, snuff boxes and purses.  Over two centuries later, descendants of this motley crew continue the proud tradition of engaging audiences in Australia and across the world whilst relieving them of their valuables.”

So read the winning entry in the programme competition for choirs taking part in London Welsh’s 2008 festival of male choirs in the Royal Albert Hall on 18th October.  The other 15 groups similarly entered into the spirit of the evening, providing a great introduction to another fine festival, the 21st in the series.

Hosts London Welsh were joined by six Welsh choirs: Brecon, Builth Wells, Cardiff Arms Park, Dunvant, Onllwyn and Treorchy. There were four from England: Alcester, Cheddar, Hampshire Police and Rushmoor and one each from Australia [Melbourne Welsh], New Zealand [National Male Choir], the United States [Boston Saengerfest] and Slovenia, joined by the sartorially elegant Hong Kong mvc.  “It’s taken us 39 years to get here,” remarked organizing committee chairman David “Cochyn” Williams. But this show could go on for ever.

Haydn James was popular and successful musical director for the ninth time, supported ably by Annabel Thwaite [piano] and Jeffrey Howard [organ]. Frank Lincoln held the show together as compère. Soloists Gwyn Hughes Jones [tenor] and Gwawr Edwards [soprano] pleased the audience by coming together for an additional duet. And the presence of the multi–prize winning Cory Band under Robert Childs offered variety and brass support

. Musical items from the massed choirs, resplendent in their multi-coloured jackets, varied as usual from hymn tunes and choruses from grand opera to spirituals, folk songs and to arrangements of music from current West End productions.  Nearly five thousand voices, choirs and audience, came together as a finale to sing together the great Welsh hymn Blaenwern.

Date of the next festival: Saturday 23 October 2010.

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Last updated 28 October, 2008
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