EXCELSIOR - Treorchy Male Choir

EXCELSIOR 17
of the auditorium and performing the role of Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ with great
effect as she moved teasingly towards the front.
The first part of the evening was brought to a magnificent close with a medley
of songs from Les Miserables, in which the multi-tasking Dean Powell stepped
out from the phalanx of tenors to share with Kate a couple of solo items.
Even the interval break gave me an added bonus point. A small handful of
choristers joined those of us in the bar, but only of course for rehydration purposes,
and it was very pleasant to share their company, albeit briefly.
The second part of the evening comprised songs by the Choir, including an
elating Abba medley and further songs and arias from Kate Woolveridge.
Another accomplished soloist, Ray Daniels, emerged from the ranks to join
Dean in singing From Far Inside the Shrine, from Bizet’s The ‘Pearlfishers’.
The last item from the Choir was a song entitled ‘Senzenina’. I hadn`t heard
this before but I`ve since learnt that the title means “What have I done?” It’s
a Zulu protest song, in which Ray Daniels again contributed in no small way.
I also learn that there are many alternative lyrics which became more aggressive
as the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa intensified. This now puts
nicely into perspective the Choir`s rebuttal with an off programme and stirring
rendition of ‘Men of Harlech’. If I didn`t always think of Stanley Baker,
Ivor Emmanuel, Michael Caine et al when I hear this, I will now!
Dean Powell was not only a tenor in the ranks and soloist, but also acted as
Master of Ceremonies. His personality seemed to equip him ideally for the
role, and his humour and professionalism meant that the whole event proceeded
very slickly. It would be easy to forget though, that without an
accompanist and conductor there wouldn`t have been a concert of such outstanding
quality. Helen Roberts and Janice Ball respectively, both highly
accomplished musicians in their own right, ensured that the Choir enjoyed
an enviable standard of direction and support.
If like me you’re a lover of choral singing, Welsh, and male, then you`ll know
straightaway how difficult it is to sit in the audience and silently mouth the
words being sung, desperately wanting to get up and join the men on stage.
For those of us in the audience who met these criteria our chance partially
came of course at the end, in the singing of the national anthems, (ladies also
allowed). I think that in my own singing of ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ I couldn’t
have injected more hwyl, and did so for the ten miles back to the house.
I once heard it said that the music of Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ is such that it wraps
its arms around you and takes care of you, something like a comfort blanket
I suppose. For me, a child of the Valleys, the close harmony of the Treorchy
Male Choir has the same effect, (as long as it’s in the minor key?)