Ryan at the Rank

Ryan a Ronnie

20 Great Welsh Classic Melodies

A Nation Sings

Massed Male Voice Choirs of North Wales

Pontarddulais Male Voice Choir

The Crusaders

Themes and Dreams of Wales

Best of Welsh Comedy

Black Mountain Records
A Nation Sings

The Great Welsh Choral Collection

Over 5,000 Mixed Voices Celebrate Wales' Best Loved Hymn Tunes at the Royal Albert Hall

A Nation Sings

(Volume 1)

Buy this CD for £8.95
+ £1.00 P&P

---------------------------------------------------------------

Why not Mix and Match 3 CDs for only £11.95?
+ £1.95 P&P.
Choose 1 title from each category

Great Welsh Choral Collection
Famous Welsh Choirs
Best of Welsh Comedy
1. Calon Lân - Hughes 11. Blaenwern - Rowlands
2. How Great Thou Art - Trad./T.R.Hine 12. Finlandia - Sibelius
3. Rhyd Y Groes - Edwards 13. Mawlgân - Roberts
4. Rhys - Evans 14. Bro Aber - Phillips
5. Ty Ddewi - Francis 15. Bryn Calfaria - Owen
6. Côr Caersalem - Parry 16. Deep Harmony - Parker
7. Diadem - Ellor 17. Cwm Rhondda - Hughes
8. Llef - Gutyn - Arfon 18. Pantyfedwen - Evans
9. Rachie - Roberts   19. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau - James/ James
10. Mae D'eisiau Di Bob Awr - Lowry    

With Wales’ reputation as a musical nation through the centuries, Gymanfa Ganus have been the
means to that musical expression for the last 150 years. To clarify, if gospel music is the religious
expression for Afro-Americans then Gymanfa’s were designed to ‘fire the heart’ of every religious
Welshman. These singing festivals have been held regularly across the Principality and the great
Welsh hymns are sung by the congregation. It was by these means that many a Religious Revival was launched especially if a ‘Fire & Brimstone’ Lay Preacher was added to this emotive mix.

Sadly, these Gymanfas are growing less frequent in line with the closure of many Welsh Chapels.
At their height, there were over 6,000 chapels in Wales and such was the extent of the religious
fervour that a new chapel was being built every 8 days! Now the number has reduced dramatically
to nearer 2,000 and continues to diminish with every new year. The largest Chapel in Wales is the
Morriston Tabernacle in Swansea with a congregation capacity of 3,000. Therefore, in order to
achieve the magical figure of 5,000 for this event it was necessary to go outside the Principality.
It was nearly 50 years ago that the last mammoth Gymanfa was held at the Royal Albert Hall in
London under the Musical Direction of Dr.Terry James. It then took another 30 years for this event to be recreated, this time under the auspices of the London Welsh Association. They drew their ‘congregation’ of 5,000 from far and wide; whilst at the heart of this great assembly were choristers representing the following Choirs:

Côr Bargoed Teifi * Côr Dyffryn Tanat * Llwchwr Choral Society
Cantorion Bro Cefni * Cantorion Pontyclun * Mid Glam Mixed Choir
Côr Bro Dysynni * The Griffon Choir * Pontypridd Choral Society
This, to date, was the last 5,000 strong Gymanfa and encapsulates the beliefs, hopes and traditions of a Nation.

Musical Director: John Peleg Williams
Organist: Carys Hughes


The Many Faces of Ryan

Cymanfaganu

Music of South Wales Choirs

Froncysllte

Long and Winding Road


Seasons Greetings from Wales

Lennon and McCartney

Dunvant Male Voice Choir With a Voice of Singing


Black Mountain Records 2010
mike@blackmountain.me.uk