Celebrating 50 years in Wales
Dave Bannister writes: Fifty-five singers and 39 supporters from Croydon celebrated the choir’s 50th anniversary on an exhilarating tour to Wales. After a quick stop (and a song) on the M4, the two coaches and numerous cars arrived late on the afternoon of May 16 in the enchanting city of Brecon, known as Aberhonddu in the local language.
The choir sings at Llandaff Cathedral (photos Judith Thomas)
The first concert, staged jointly with the local male choir, was that evening in the early-Victorian Plough Chapel, with its distinctive balconied interior.
Both choirs impressed with their individual sets, but the highlights were Croydon’s distinctive subgroups. First up were the 12 members of Octet(ish), impressing the locals with both language and musical skills with Myfanwy, delivered appropriately a capella by the group split across both sides of the balconied chapel.
In contrast, the Sandilands Shanty Crew lined up in front of the organ and performed three rollicking sea shanties. The concert concluded with the two main choirs singing traditional male voice classics, including a dramatic Morte Criste, before retiring to the nearby Wellington Hotel for refreshment and more après singing.
Music director Andrew Moore: took pity on the choir
Early risers the following morning, May 17, enjoyed a trip along the local canal, while the more leisurely salved their hangovers in the sun-kissed coffee shops. All assembled in Brecon Cathedral at 1pm for an hour’s recital. This time the highlight was choir accompanist Sam Prouse exercising the organ with the magnificent Widor Toccata.
Early risers enjoying the canal trip in Brecon (photo CMVC)
There was just time for lunch (and some refreshing beer) in the ‘Spoon’s garden before the coaches left for the trip across the mountains to Ystragyrlais. Supporters were dropped at a nearby pub to watch Croydon’s very own Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final while choristers rehearsed with the Ystragyrlais choir ready for the second joint concert of the tour.
Again both choir impressed individually, and nearly raised the church roof with the amens at the end of a Welsh Gwahoddiad. The biggest audience response was to CMVC’s liberal interpretation of the Song of the Jolly Roger, where customary pirate flags, eye-patches, parrots, sabres and “aaarrrs” were accompanied by a large Crystal Palace flag celebrating their momentous Wembley triumph.
Then off to the local rugby club for lots of beer, cawl, thank you speeches to CMVC’s organisers and more joint singing with the locals.
Spirited farewell sing (and beer) in Cardiff
There were a lot of croaking voices at Sunday breakfast, but all were up for one last effort as the coaches travelled to Cardiff and the imposing Llandaff Cathedral. MD Andrew Moore took pity on his weary cohorts and included a gentle Dona Nobis Pacem to warm up the choir before launching into a memorable Hallelujah Chorus accompanied by Sam on the 4870 pipes of the cathedral organ.
With Barry MVC as the co-performers this time, the joint choirs made the most of the acoustics with a resounding Divine Brahma. Cardiff Bay was the setting for lunch and a final few songs overlooking the harbour before the exhausted party left at 5pm for the long journey home.