Tenby Male Choir's first public concert of 2007 got off to a grand start on Easter Sunday at St. Johns Church, Tenby, when their new MD, Ian Williams, conducted for the first time in public, a full concert. The choir, during its winter learning period, has sung on several occasions this year, notably beginning on New Year's Day with a 'private' concert at the Giltar Hotel, when the hotel guests and some choristers' wives and friends were treated to an excellent evening of full entertainment, with soloists from the choir and amateur comedian Eddie from the choir, ensuring it was a night to remember! The choir also ably supported the Cymanfa Ganu at St. Johns at the Daffodil Festival to celebrate St. David's Day, when Ian conducted three most moving pieces. However, it was last Sunday that their new MD took Tenby Male Choir for a full concert that was open to anyone who was willing to pay £4 into church funds. The balcony of the church was full and a very good number sat in the body of the sanctuary when the minister of St. Johns, the Rev. Nanette Lewis-Head, welcomed everyone warmly to this annual event which the choir has committed to for many years. It was good to see a number of old friends in the audience and a good number of young people, who were visibly moved by the beautiful musical items. Under the new MD, the compere for the evening was chorister David Blackmore, who gave very interesting and specific introductions to each item. Wanting to begin in appropriate Easter fashion, the choir began with 'Rachie' sung in Welsh and then, in a very contrasted first section, sang 'Dashenka,' 'Shenandoah' and 'Stout-hearted Men' in succession. David spoke of the interesting origins of the songs, and the choir's crisp and clear enunciation ensured that everyone could hear every word. Paul Varallo, second tenor, then sang the Welsh lullaby 'Suo Gan' in Welsh. This was much applauded. David next introduced the guest soloist for the evening, Joel Rees. Joel, doing A-levels this summer at Greenhill School, is a very talented percussionist, so much so, in fact, that he is engaged to play in a series of concerts with Peter Carey during a 'gap year' after May, before going on to university. This evening, Joel chose to play the vibraphone. His sister Miranda, who has been a soloist for Tenby Male Choir in the past, accompanied him on the piano for his first piece, entitled 'Concerto for vibraphone and orchestra'. We didn't have the orchestra, but we had some excellent vibraphone playing! It was an unusual treat for the followers of Tenby Male Choir, and much enjoyed. When the choir returned, it was to sing two more pieces in Welsh, a negro spiritual and an English ballad. They were again loudly applauded, with many sighs of appreciation being heard after certain numbers. Joel returned in the choir 'break' to play alone. This time he played 'Blue for Gilbert,' an emotive piece which was jazzy yet melancholic, and which demonstrated Joel's expertise on the instrument. The choir's final set included another Welsh hymn and two very fast-paced items, which resulted in calls of 'Bravo' and 'Encore.' Following this set, and in another variance to the format of the evening, Mrs. Audrey Hilling spoke the telling poem 'Indifference.' This was a moving piece, absolutely appropriate to the occasion, as it told the story of Jesus' crucifixion in one millennium, and his metaphoric 'crucifixion' in the apathy and indifference of modern man to his life, death and resurrection. Audrey, well-known for her dramatic recitations, made every word count. Although David had more or less asked people to refrain from breaking the mood by applauding between the poem and the final hymn, 'Morte Christe', there was spontaneous applause for Audrey. The final hymn was richly melodic and sung with great feeling. It provided a fitting end to an Easter Sunday concert. The minister had given her thanks to all who had taken part in the concert, and David had remarked how good it was to see the ex-MD Christine in the audience, before the National Anthems were sung and the audience began, reluctantly, to file out into a lovely moonlit evening. The choir's next event will be to sing at the wedding of a chorister's daughter, and again to sing for Miguel at the Giltar on May 1, but their next public concert will be in aid of Christian Aid at St. Mary's on May 15.
