About 50 choristers, partners and friends of the choir had a most enjoyable time last weekend, as they travelled to Cheltenham to compete at the Cheltenham Festival.
Leaving town at 4.45 pm on Friday and picking up groups all the way to Narberth, the coach arrived at the Hilton hotel, Swindon, by 8.45 pm. The rooms were excellent, as was the availability of a three- course dinner or bar meal, as required that evening. After relaxing in the lounge and bar area, for a few hours, everyone headed off for a comfortable night's sleep to recharge their batteries for the competition day.
The Silcox coach driver, Gareth, was most obliging throughout the weekend, allowing the ladies in the party to have time shopping in Cheltenham whilst the choristers were rehearsing their pieces.
The choir were entered for two events; one which involved the singing of 'sacred' pieces - at least one of which had to be sung unaccompanied and the other in the category for male voice choirs.
The festival had been running all week, and many different groups had been performing throughout the week, including children's choirs.
Included in the group singing sacred music was a girls' choir from Bristol and the adjudicator decided that their young voices scored more points than any other. They certainly sang beautifully.
The adjudicator, in commenting upon Tenby choir's performance, commended their 'beautiful sound' and their 'clear words' in 'Thanks be to God', but talked of their need to 'widen their dynamic range.' He praised their singing of 'Arglwydd mae y nosi as 'a lovely blend' of sounds which 'flowed well.' Their rendering of the beautiful 'Lords Prayer' showed 'great expression', he said, but again he commented on the dynamics and the need for the 'crescendo to lead to the first beat of the next bar.' He said that 'Amen' was 'neat rhythmically' but needed 'more brightness.'
In the second area of competition, there were only four male choirs, as one had dropped out at the last minute. Three of these were Welsh, and one was Cornish.
Tenby Male Choir sang beautifully, but again, they did not win the section. The judge's comments included compliments for the 'lovely tone and blend' of 'Gwahoddiad,' but of the need for 'wider dynamics.' He talked of the 'excellent feeling for the text' in 'Troyt's chant' and the 'excellent rhythms and vitality' of 'The Gospel Train.' Once again he commended the 'very clear words,' but wanted the choir to 'make sure of the crescendo.' For their final piece, Tenby chose the poignant and dramatic 'Nirvana,' which the judge pronounced as 'assured' and had 'excellent dynamic colouration,' but he argued that the excitement of the piece needed to be seen in the faces of the choristers! This particular competition was won by Bridgend and District Male Voice Choir from Glamorgan, which had already won an earlier 'folk' music section, and were eventually adjudged as overall choir winners, receiving the Gold Cup as prize. The 70-strong choir was clearly overjoyed. They had also beaten Morriston Rugby Club Choir, who were almost 70-strong, and the Cornish choir who were a similar size.
Indeed, on the very large stage in the Cheltenham town hall, Tenby choir looked quite small in comparison, being only 29 in number on that occasion.
However, they did sing beautifully, and as the MD commented on the coach later, any judgement is subjective.
Two of the party on the coach celebrated birthdays over the weekend, but no-one is saying how old Keith and Peggy are!
On Sunday morning, after a hearty breakfast following a rather late night (for some), the group returned via Cardiff Bay, where Gareth dropped us outside the Assembly, right in the heart of the Bay, for three hours of wandering in the sunshine, visiting the Senedd, riding the water-bus, shopping, lunching and having Cadwallader ice- creams whilst watching the boats bobbing in the bay.
It was a lovely visit to the Capital city, especially for those who hadn't been to the Bay for many years. As we began to near home, the chairman, Tom Pearce, thanked all those who had contributed so much to making the weekend such a happy, successful visit; Peter Spacey and Gavin Wright for the hotel and coach organisation, Gareth for his excellent service as coach driver, Christine and Jill for all their work in preparing the choir and the wives and supporters for coming along. He also thanked the choir for all their efforts.
Winning competitions is not the be-all and end-all. This choir has more important priorities.
Having sung on Wednesday this week for Christian Aid in St. Mary's, Tenby Male Choir's next concert is in aid of Pembrokeshire WI, again at St. Mary's, on Wednesday, May 24, at 8 pm.
M.N.