We
perform about 20 concerts a year in a variety of venues from churches
to concert halls. Our full concert programme lasts about 2 hours and
normally consists of 17 or 18 items as well as 3 solo spots from choir
members. We have regularly shared a concert platform with other choirs
and musicians, including brass bands and orchestras. Our concert programmes are
selected from over 50 different pieces which are regularly rotated
during a concert season which runs from September to the following
June. This programme changes as new pieces are learned and others are
dropped.
In
the 85 years of our existence, we have accumulated more than 550 sets
of music covering almost every type of vocal style and taste. During
the last twelve months, we have carried out a critical review of our
"library" with a view to determining what we will introduce as time
goes on. The conclusion was reached very quickly that the majority of
copies were in bad condition, insufficient in number to cater for the
numbers of choir members or were quite honestly "old hat" and unlikely
to please audiences in the Second Millenium. We have therefore invested
heavily in new pieces of music, including a large number from one of
the most prolific composer/arrangers in the male voice field - Alwyn
Humphreys, (Musical Director of the renowned Morriston Orpheus Choir
for more than 25 years until his retirement. We now feature his
arrangements of a medley from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "The Wonder of
You"; "Sensenina" (a Zulu chant) "Always on my Mind" as well as two
stirring hymns "Aberystwyth" and "Rachie". Other current pieces
are arranged by Gwyn Arch - "African Trilogy", "Sloop John B"; Alan
Simmons' "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "When I Fall in Love".
We are particularly fortunate that our choir President – Goff
Richards – who is renowned as an arranger of music for brass bands and music ensembles,
has in recent years, turned his attention to male voice music. Our library has many of his arrangements
which are usually very demanding for our pianists as well as for our members to learn and sing. Two
pieces which regularly feature in our programmes are "Psalm 150" and "Let There be Light". One of his
newer arrangements which is included on our most recent recording is a medley of "George Formby" songs
which is fun to sing and is much appreciated by audiences. It should also be mentioned that a
few years ago we recorded "It's Most Unusual" with the Leyland Brass Band on which every item was
arranged for brass and voice by Goff.
It is our intention to sing music which is pleasing for audiences whilst at the same
time interesting for our members to sing. Our programmes are balanced with traditional male voice songs,
spirituals, Show songs and motets. Do come and see us perform - see our Diary Page for our engagements.