Good Friday is patently a special day in the religious calendar. Among other members of Gilead, Joan Lewis is, for many reasons, quite special too. It follows that celebration of such an auspicious occasion requires a special choir bringing to it a special performance.
Delighted to accept an invitation from one they hold in such high regard, Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, together with the capacity audience, braved extremely wintry conditions Good Friday night to serve in the creation of a really, quite outstanding, musical evening.
A choir is not merely a group of choristers, however committed they may be (and this choir is certainly that!). At the heart of any choir there must be a dedicated musical team. To their great good fortune, P&DMVC are blessed with this most invaluable of gifts.
Accompanying or performing, the ladies' musical team is the integral backbone of the choir. Jenny Griffiths, faced with an instrument she had never played before, coped tremendously well, especially the final item in the concert. The piano itself was donated to Gilead as part of Olwen Major's (Joan Lewis's sister) legacy. The choir is beholden to Olwen and Joan for their countless years of support. So, too, to Billy Gibby, long-serving member, sadly no longer with us, who has had choir music in the form of 'Cadwyn o Emyn' purchased and dedicated to his memory. Alwyn Humphreys, Welsh and world conductor, kindly agreed his arrangement to be so dedicated; more of this item later. Those who have gone before must always be remembered.
Mrs. Lloyd demands always that the choir performs to the highest standard and it was felt (and hoped!) she was not disappointed on this night. Her programme was designed to reflect the mood and inspiration of all Good Fridays, sombre for it's significance, yet triumphant.
After the choir opened with three items. soloist Henry Johnson contributed a fine piece called 'Price', better known perhaps to us all as 'Pen Calvaria'. The choir were intense but controlled in items needing finesse, 'Kymbayah', 'Morte Christe' and 'Glyn Rhosyn' being examples.
P&DMVC ladies quartet (Chris Lloyd, Joan Lewis, Jenny Griffiths and Allyson Griffiths) were superb when offering to the audience 'He was nailed to the Cross'. Their quiet, sweet, touching harmonies would have melted an iceberg. The audience (and choir too) were spellbound.
Allyson further contributed two items on the flute, 'I walked into the garden' and 'In the Cross', with fine feeling, then Sam Thomas gave us 'I am here Lord', with great sensitivity.
Perhaps, though, most of the audience present considered the two final pieces a fine and fitting end to a wonderful evening of music. The choir performed a piece arranged by Alwyn Humphreys, 'Cadwyn O Emyn' (literally, a chain or series of hymns). This is a piece for Albert Hall 2009, but we also believe this will be a firm favourite in the choir's catalogue for years to come. It is a wonderful arrangement by him, needing good interpretive control by the choir of all the cadences contained within.
The final piece of the evening was a personal triumph for Jenny, Joan and Chris, who sang the 'Easter Hymn'. This piece is devilishly tricky and difficult to do well, but they managed it magnificently, with the choir lending inspiring, exultant support to the final verse. So much so, the audience were provoked into a spontaneous standing ovation in recognition of the performance and a committed rehearsal effort.
Frank Harries (choir chairman) was unfortunately absent due to hospitalisation for a short period. We wish him a speedy recovery to full health and a rapid return to duty.
Mrs. Margaret Brown, church elder and secretary, was kind and complimentary about the choir and led the prayers and thanks in the interval, while Rev. Hugh Michael led prayers at the finale.
Following the choir's expenditure of so much energy, the Gilead ladies committee seemed determined to replace it in one attempt, as the feast they laid on after would have fed most of Pembroke. Unkind rumours abound that this contributes to the choir's willingness to return to Gilead whenever asked! We believe they simply love the place and the people there.
A.S.