The Griffon Choir rounded off their summer season with a concert at Angle Church on Sunday, August 14, which was the finale to the Flower Festival. On a beautiful summer evening, the church was filled with locals and holidaymakers alike and the choir were thrilled to welcome their president, Grant Llewellyn, on holiday from international conducting duties. The choir was conducted by John Harrison, who compered the evening, with Juliet Rossiter as guest accompanist. The concert began with everyone singing the well known hymn 'Cwm Rhondda' and the choir sang the opening chorus from Vivaldi, 'Gloria'. John then explained that the theme to the evening was music selected from around the world, both ancient and modern, an objective of the choir. Following on, the choir performed 'All in the April Evening,' Mozart's 'Ave Verum' and a well known comedy television theme, the setting by Howard Goodall of 'Psalm 23.' Charles Clewett was soloist for the evening, opening with 'Silent Worship' from Ptolemy by Handel, followed by an old Welsh air, 'All Through the Night', and concluding with 'If I can help somebody' by Bazel Androzzo. The choir, continuing to ring the changes, sang 'As Long as I have Music,' a musical setting of Elizabethan Serenade by Ronald Binge, 'Where the Gentle Avon Flows', and still out in the country, very fitting for this occasion, "Linden Lea.' There followed most appropriately 'Summertime' from Porgy and Bess and 'Tonight' from the ever popular musical West Side Story. Charles, seeking to follow the theme of musical variety, sang 'Faery Song' from the opera 'The Immortal Hour' by Boughton, 'Kashmiri song' by Amy Woodforde-Finden and concluded with 'On the Street where you Live' from My Fair Lady. Returning in different mode, the choir performed 'Non Nobis Domine' by Roger Quilter and the very popular 'Troyte's Chant,' a setting to words by Dylan Thomas. Next for a very enthusiastic audience, 'Myfanwy,' followed by a hymn, always a favourite, 'How Great Thou Art.' To conclude a most enjoyable and entertaining evening, the audience joined in the chorus of 'Siyahamba' with a warm and appreciative clapping of hands. The choir reassembles at Coronation School, Pembroke Dock, on Monday, September 5, at 7.30 pm. If you have ever been tempted to join a choir and have fun, why not take the plunge and join for what promises to be a very exciting year?
