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The people running St Johns are percipient
enough to realise that if you want P&DMVC to sing at your St
David's Day Concert there is need to book well in advance; say a
year or so, perhaps more? Should that invitation include the
opportunity to enjoy the provision of cawl and “welshcooks”
after, then so much the better!
You would expect the majority of items to be in the language of
Heaven at a Dewi Sant concert, those hopes confirmed on the
night for the expectant audience.
As with all choir concerts, funds are raised for local good
causes, on this occasion, St Johns Community Hall, truly an
important focal point for PD.
This was Rev Shirley Rayner’s, (curate at St Johns and lately of
the Diocese of Southwark) first experience of P&DMVC,
Southwark reportedly a choir free zone! She offered the
blessings before the choir got into its stride with three
opening items.
What a pleasure it was for everyone to have Owen Jones back in
top form, with “Elen Fwyn” A beautifully delivered Welsh
traditional song this, especially the chorus, very quiet, very
intense, sung from the heart of a Cymro Cymreig.
Alyson Griffiths (flute) was in good form too with a medley of
favourite Welsh airs, familiar to all, but worth the listening
to over and over because they are so deeply ingrained in Welsh
folk memory.
Henry Johnston, a major and much involved member at St Johns sang
“Unwaith Eto’n Nghymru Annwyl” with great passion and no
little commitment.
Time then for the choir to return with another three offerings
that included the familiar (some would say rather too familiar!)
“Myfanwy.” The choir are normally reluctant to bring this
piece to the stage because it has been so much overworked in the
past. The audience though love it, so, being the kind soul that
she is Mrs Lloyd was prepared to accommodate them on this
special occasion, to their obvious delight we might note. |
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The choir finished the
first half with the magnificent “Deus Salutis” and two
others with the ability to evoke hiraeth were one absent from
Wales for any length of time, “Take me Home” and “There is a
Land”
Vanessa Owen took us to the interval, thanking all present for
their support and teasing the choir with the dismal prospect of
“Ascetic Cawl” This new fare, designed seemingly, to
proportionally correct, some of the waist lines observed within
the choir. Thankfully, we report that her threat was not
implemented on the night!
Compére Phil Lloyd (in top form as usual) offered the audience
the golden opportunity to purchase the choir’s latest CD and was
nearly trampled in the rush! Every home should have one he
argued, and who could disagree with that? Joan Lewis sang
“Bugeilior Gwenyth Gwyn” a beautiful old Welsh air, this
followed by a duett with Mrs Lloyd that had the audience
transfixed till the final note, just lovely.
Sam Thomas gave us a fine “Without a Song” before the
choir finished with a further two Welsh items suitable to the
occasion. Absolutely essential of course to finish with “Mae
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” then for the choir and its musical team
(Jenny Griffiths accompanist) to accept the vociferous,
enthusiastic plaudits of the audience before everyone in the
church retired to the community hall where a veritable army of
helpers under the leadership of Ann Scott and Phil Tallott were
waiting to serve food traditional to Dydd Dewi Sant. On behalf
of the choir Ch/man Frank Harries thanked the volunteers most
warmly for their efforts. There is no doubt the audience were
more than delighted with the evening, so too the choir and its
inspirational leader.
Report and Choir pictures from
Anthony Stewart |
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