Photographs by Colleen Gauntlett. Click on images to enlarge
For the first time since 2004, Caldicot Male Voice Choir took up the challenge to enter the National Eisteddfod, this year held at Abergavenny on Saturday 6th August. Entry into this has meant huge amounts of organisation, dedicated practice and commitment from all of the choristers and the Musical team of Siân Hatton, Shirley Anne James, Stephen Berry and John Nicholson over the past 6 months.
Arriving in glorious Summer weather the choir had the opportunity to spend some time walking around the enormous Maes before making its way to the Pavilion to prepare for the competition against some of the leading choirs in Wales. After suffering sweltering temperatures in the ‘holding area’ the choir took to the stage as the last of the eight competitors, nervously but with superb discipline to face an audience of self considered experts, not to mention the adjudicating panel.
Conducted by musical director Siân Hatton and accompanied by Stephen Berry, the 72 strong choir opened its performance with Schubert’s beautifully written ‘Psalm 23’ with its quietly moving cadences throughout the story. Following enthusiastic applause the next item was the rapidly tongue twisting ‘Deryn y bwn o’r banna’, sung unaccompanied to a fast moving rhythm. Although short, this is a technically demanding piece to maintain the pace and of course keep in tune from beginning to end. The choir succeeded in this admirably. The performance ended with the contrasting ‘Bywyd y Bugail’ with its changing tempo, key and volume to test any choir’s ability to sing together. The three pieces chosen had all been included in previous Eisteddfodau as test pieces and represented a severe challenge to the choir not only in the musical interpretation but was also demanding in the language.
After leaving the stage, to loud applause the choir and its supporters took the opportunity to acquire some refreshment before the long awaited adjudication. Finally, the adjudicators commented very favourably on our performance although the eventual winners were Côr Meibion Brythoniau. We were disappointed that we did not come away with any silverware, we all felt that we had won gold medals for the huge efforts, incredible discipline and superb musical performance on the day. The whole choir deserves enormous praise and respect for all the hard work put in over several months which culminated in a fantastic performance and an incredible experience. Well done all.
Footnote:
For two choristers, tenor Alan Loy and bass Stuart Parry, this was their first concert performance after passing their second voice test. Well done both for what must have been a nerve racking experience which is one you’ll never forget.