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The Great Welsh Choral Collection
Seven of Wales’ Top Choirs
Perform 14 Classic Pop BalladsVolume 2
THE LONG & WINDING ROAD
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Choose 1 title from each category
1 CAVATINA
(Robbins Music)PONTARDDULAIS MALE CHOIR 2 PORTRAIT OF MY LOVE
(Edward Kassner Music)TONNA MALE CHOIR 3 THE NEARNESS OF YOU
(Warner-Chappell)FRONCYSYLLTE MALE CHOIR 4 YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE
(E.M.I. Publ.)ABER VALLEY MALE CHOIR 5 HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE
( Northern)RISCA MALE CHOIR 6 I KNOW HIM SO WELL
(Bocu Music)RICHARD WILLIAMS SINGERS 7 WHEN I’M 64
( Northern)RISCA MALE with THE TREDEGAR TOWN BAND 8 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
( Pattern Music)FRONCYSYLLTE MALE CHOIR 9 BRIGHT EYES
(EMI Songs)TONNA MALE CHOIR 10 HOW SOON CWM MALE CHOIR 11 SOLITAIRE
(Kirchner-Warner Bros.)TONNA MALE CHOIR 12 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY RICHARD WILLIAMS SINGERS 13 SOMETIMES RISCA MALE CHOIR 14 THE LONG & WINDING ROAD
Northern SongsRISCA MALE CHOIR and the RICHARD WILLIAMS SINGERS With the TREDEGAR TOWN BAND With Black Mountain’s Sounds Orchestral accompaniment
Arranged & Produced by Nigel HopkinsTHE LONG & WINDING ROAD
This title could actually be the apt description of the history of Welsh Choral Music rather than a Beatles song. Our choral prominence came to the fore during the Industrial Revolution and the various associated Religious Revivals, but as a Nation we had been known for our ‘peculiar treatment’ of well- known songs for hundreds of years before that. It was only in the early 1800’s did it become acknowledged as ‘four part harmony’.
In the last 150 years, Wales built up its international reputation as the Land of Song with its close association with religion through its hymn-singing. But as we enter a new Century, Welsh Choirs have evolved into ‘different beasts’ with a new remit and raison d’être.
They still dip their hat to tradition (not that many of them wear hats today!) with the inclusion of the big hymns, but they are not driven by religion. This role is now more social and along with changing times, their repertoire has become broader. The trend toward the ‘pop song’ has further been encouraged with the prominence given to choral singing by Saturday Night television and competitive elimination.
This latest development will greatly enhance recruitment to these choirs, but maybe at a cost. With this drive toward light entertainment, there are those traditionalists who believe this is a dangerous path. Encouraging a new generation of singers is to be applauded, but if the approach is to ‘glitz it up’, then something very fundamental is being lost – the famous Welsh Choral Sound. It is born out of the harsh, rugged lifestyle of our ancestors and which up to now has been upheld. Whatever your view, it is essential that this very special sound is not lost – it is the Sound of our Nation.
At least here, you can sit back and enjoy a compromise – a range of very popular, modern ballads sung by traditional Welsh Choirs – and maybe that is one element of the formula for the future.Featuring
THE MALE CHOIRS OF:
ABER VALLEY . CWM , FRONCYSYLLTE . PONTARDDULAIS . RISCA . TONNA
WITH THE RICHARD WILLIAMS SINGERS & THE TREDEGAR T0WN BANDFrom the archive of Black Mountain Records
Sleeve Notes and Series Producer, Mike EvansFor further details of the Collection: Tel: 01792 301500
BLACK MOUNTAIN RECORDS
P.O.BOX 89,
MUMBLES, SWANSEA SA3 4XT
e: mike@blackmountain.me.uk
w: www.blackmountain.me.uk
