The sun is out...

.....and a fine crop of hay is coming in so everyone smiles; it must be Summer again. Soon Lynnette will be sorting out the sleeping bags and heading for her well deserved family holiday; that’s another year nearly gone.

.....It has been a busy year with the usual mixture of weddings, concerts and, sadly, funerals. At weddings it is interesting, sitting in the choir stalls, to watch young couples make their vows. Some arrive and confidently say their piece, others are overcome by the emotions of the occasion and some are so excited they giggle. All of them seem to welcome a well-sung chorus that helps to entertain and unite their families and friends. We were particularly pleased to be at the wedding of our President’s daughter where we impressed her many friends from “Away” with s selection of traditional welsh hymns and songs that brought a tear to many an eye.

.....There was many a tear too at the funeral of one of the stalwarts of the choir. Ken Thomas had been a member for some forty years. A larger than life character who supported and promoted ADMC through his many contacts among the farming fraternity of Wales and who also added spirit and depth to the Bottom Bass section where he loved to suck peppermints and sing his heart out. At a packed funeral service, with choir and congregation in full voice, you could have heard “Morte Christe” from Brecon to Bangor.

.....At a smaller but equally significant funeral we paid tribute to the memory of another stalwart, Alec Blisseset-Martin whose quiet demeanour belied his heroic military experiences. “We will remember them.”

.....A well-attended AGM dealt swiftly with the business of the year, in good spirits. The President complimented the choir on its continuing contribution to the local community and looked forward to the combined choirs concert in the autumn.
.. The Chairman reported on a busy and successful year with only a few disappointments and the sad loss of two of our stalwarts. He looked forward, with enthusiasm, to the trip to Denmark next year and the strong support from choristers and their families to ensure its success.
..Lynnette thanked the choir for their efforts and promised, to loud applause, new pieces to sing next year.
..The Treasurer showed, through an itemised financial report, that we are clearly solvent even after the purchase of a new organ and a new set of uniforms. He hoped the sales of our CD would help raise money for the tour.
..The meeting enthusiastically thanked the Ladies Committee; the Chairman and Officers; Chris our accompanist, Lyn Briers and our Musical Director for their sterling work.
The usual suspects were re-elected to Office, en bloc, nem con.

.....Our Deputy Musical Director, Lyn Briers, is combining her career as a solo soprano with a stint of conducting. We are delighted and thoroughly enjoy her unique interpretation and the occasional solo.

.....Young Chris Langworthy has settled in well. In the last year he has grown in confidence and continues to demonstrate his remarkable musical skills together with a very strong commitment to the Choir. We will miss him badly when he leaves for university next year.

.....In the middle of May we enjoyed a busy, tiring, but very rewarding weekend recording our fourth CD. “ Voices of the Beacons”. With the help of the very professional staff of Sain, the internationally famous recording company, we put together a dozen or so tracks that, we hope, will give pleasure to our supporters and the public in general and perhaps swell the funds a little.
.....At this time the first editing has been done and, even if we say it ourselves, we are very pleased with the final result. Topping and tailing the project should be completed and the final product on sale by the end of the summer. If you would like to know more contact our Secretary.
.....Our Lynnette says that practicing for the CD has already reaped rewards. She feels that, as a choir, we moved up a notch; we seem to understand each other better and she believes that, perhaps, she has not put enough pressure on us, as musicians. So lads - Look out!

.....Preparations are well under way for the Builth Wells; Talgarth, Rhyader and Brecon Choirs to combine to give a Grand Concert at the Royal Welsh Showground on Friday 29th October 2010. The tenor Aled Wyn Davies and the soprano Eirlys Williams are booked and a publicity campaign will begin in early autumn. There will be allocations of tickets direct to each choir to sell and arrangements for a bar are comfortably in hand. It is many years since the four choirs have sung together and we all look forward to a great occasion.

.....We have been invited to DENMARK for a short visit next year, centred on the town of RIBE on the west coast. Our hosts have generously arranged a busy itinerary with a number of concerts at prestigious venues. They have been over to hear us rehearse and our Chairman has been there to prepare the way for us, so all we need now is a big effort to raise the fare and to learn the words.

            It looks like next year will be just as busy and just as much fun. Isn’t that GREAT !

Christmas Is Upon Us

The first snows highlight the Brecon Beacons and Christmas is upon us. Where ever did that year go?
It’s been a busy summer. Our annual tour took us back to our friends at Yarnscombe. What a friendly bunch they are; great support at the concert and very generous hospitality. Thank you one and all.
The concert at Sennybridge went well too. We always have a to do well there, it is the hometown of many of the choir and provides an expertly critical audience. With a full muster and the help of great solos by Lynne Briers and Huw Morgan we seemed to do the trick this time.
Our new accompanist, Chris Langworthy, joined us at the beginning of the year. From a nervous sixteen year old he has matured into a confident young pianist with a real talent and an engaging manner. He even tries to boss the tenors. Welcome Chris.
It has been the season for weddings. Four or five, all very different and all good fun. At one, we were in direct competition with kilted pipers but held our own and helped to cement the Celtic bond. At another we serenaded the wedding party at dinner and joined with the Best Man in a noteworthy rendition of “The Fields of Athenry”.
The next wedding is the social event of the year. We are to sing, at the Cathedral at the wedding of the daughter of our President,
David Jones-Powell. We understand that most of the guests are from beyond Offa’s Dyke and our task is to impress them with the quality of our traditional singing. What a responsibility! – It’s got to be better than “Swing Low Sweet Chario-ott”.
Coincidentally, our new uniforms arrived this week. Very smart and a little redder than the old maroon ones we have worn for years. This and a
brand-new Roland Organ should give us the very best chance of success.
Once again we say a big thank you to the ladies committee,
“The Friends of ADMC”, who have helped us raise the necessary funds. They work very hard on our behalf.
Sadly we have lost one or two of our older choristers but the good news is that three or four new recruits have arrived and are settling in well.
Even more good news is that Lynne Briers has become our Assistant Musical Director and has helped lighten the load on Lyn Thomas who continues to amaze us with her dedication and commitment to the choir.
With a full compliment we look confidently to the future. A quiet spell in the New Year will allow us to learn a modern repertoire before lambing starts and finally produce the CD we have been promising ourselves.  Watch this space !! 
Meanwhile,  Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd da.
Happy Christmas to you and best wishes for a peaceful New Year.

Summer Thoughts

Well that’s the summer over "Three fine days and a Thunder storm" the Met man says. Let’s hope the three fine days was enough for all our farmers to gather in hay, silage, haylage etc. The winter will be a sad time in the bottom basses if the Chairman can't afford a pint or two.

With the first concert on September 6th (Sennybridge Show Concert) followed by another 6 days later [and that being an away fixture] we will have a couple of very busy weeks to brush away the cobwebs and to remember our words.

Before the holidays there was some excitement as a decision was almost made on our new uniforms. Sample blazers were inspected and a new pocket crest designed. All we have to do is get all the Committee to say YES at the same time and then persuade the Treasurer to sign a cheque. Hopefully we should look very smart in time for Christmas.

This lavish spending spree makes fund raising a priority. Time to have a go at another CD perhaps? The new pieces we have been breaking in would make a good start. "Pan Fo'r Nos yn Hir" sounds pretty good, even at this stage.

Our Newsletter Editor has brought some bad news from Scandinavia and just in time too, as we have the prospect of a trip to Denmark under consideration. He reckons that a pint of beer would cost more than £7.00. !!! They did say there was a Global Financial Disaster but he didn't think it was that bad. Perhaps we could arrange visits to the Carlsberg and Heineken breweries to compensate but I don't think they would welcome us twice a day.

We are all looking forward to the coming year. We have a busy schedule and a challenge from our Musical Director to be more like “Only Men Aloud".

What's life without an objective?

    The Annual Outing

...Phew! what a scorcher? The hottest day of the year and we're off on tour. Super start, everybody on time [including the Chairman], lovely first phase, over the Bridge to that other place. [By the way, did you know that the Welsh name for England is "Lloegr"; yes its an old welsh word for "The Lost Lands", referring to the lands lost to the invading hoards of Anglo-Saxons and the rest in the days before the Bridge was built.]
    A long stop for lunch and we're all on board again and then - nothing. Pregnant pause while bewildered driver turns the key yet again and still nothing. Long conference with other experts, including four coach drivers, three farmers and a second tenor. Still nothing.
    "Thank goodness for the mobile phone!" I say. Soon we've got action and in only two hours we're on our way - in a new coach and a little short of cash; hot but happy and all knowing a lot more about the common-or-garden names for plants and for engines that won't work.
    Everything's OK at the hotel and we are just enjoying an after dinner rehearsal in the Bar [where else? did I hear you ask?] when our new Hon Sec, ever keen to make a name for himself, brokers his first booking. The groom at a wedding reception invites us to entertain the guests. After a quick "Wise Men Say only fools rush in" and the warning that "......life has killed the dream I dreamed" we exited to a full blown "Rachie" to tumultuous applause. Well they seemed very pleased except that half way through "Rachie" the Bride did look as if she had her mind on other things.
    With the sun still shining and a short sleep behind us we took our annual trip to the sea-side and enjoyed the harbour at Ilfracombe before a quick change and a tortuous journey through the glorious Devon countryside to arrive as the sun was setting at what must be the most friendly village in the county.
    Yarnscombe sits in the middle of almost nowhere, a bit like Crai, surrounded by acres and acres of gently rolling pasture land where cut hay lay in the fields, just to remind some of us that there was still work to get back to on Monday. The village is tiny but boasts a fine Village Hall complete with bar, skittle alley and concert hall where some 200 enthusiastic locals had come to listen.
    The choir and the three tenors were in good voice and the concert went well, according to the ladies of our support team. The audience seemed to enjoy the performance and the innovations too with Lynette taking the solo part in that beautiful arrangement of " Ai Am Fod Haul Yn Machlud"  and the Rev. Michael acting as our MC for the first time.
    The Rev. Michael has recently joined as part of the elite second bass team and had volunteered to MC the evening because he comes from Barnstaple and says he has a better grasp of the language than most. He did very well, much to the delight of Hywel who has been trying to give up the job for years. In the hand over, Hywel confessed that, as MC, he had never told a joke. He reckons it better to kid the audience along when things don't go well than suffer that awful silence when they don't get the joke at all. Well it worked for him anyway.
    We did well in the raffle as usual. John B did best, winning a daring corseted figure, in puce with white lace and made with a twisted wire rack to hold his jewellery. He was over the moon.
    The afterglow was a little muted, we had had a long day and on return to the hotel all but the youngest made for their beds only to miss another wedding. Stories differ on the circumstances but somehow a hard core were tempted by offers of free drink to entertain once more. That they did it well and to the credit of Cor Meibion Aberhonddu is not in doubt.
    The final sun-filled morning saw us off to Street and the temptations of a retail park. Many, excited by the prospect of a good dose of retail therapy, grabbed a VISA card and disappeared into a maze of factory outlets to return later with elegantly designed carrier bags containing who knows what. The rest found a shadowed room and took to discussing the troubles of the World, over a quiet pint, or two, as one does.
    A trouble free run home and a welcome friendly bed brought the weekend to a climax.
 Where next? 
"Denmark" says the Chairman.
Start saving boys that really would be different.

Annual Outing

We are all looking forward to a long weekend in Barnstaple at the end of May. It is an honour to be invited back to give a concert in the impressive Yarnscombe Village Hall and also enjoy a relaxing stay at the Durrant House Hotel. We had such a warm reception there last time and made so many friends that it doesn't seem anything like four years ago.

It should be less stressful this time without the BBC cameras following us everywhere as they filmed the life of our Chairman for a series of TV programmes.
With a cast like us we were a little disappointed that the film failed to get an OSCA.
May-be next time !!

The AGM

 Another AGM has come and gone and all the usual suspects back in place [Thank goodness] except for the post of Hon Sec. After many years service Wyn Lewis felt that the pressures of work and family made it necessary for him to relinquish the post he had enjoyed for so long. His worthy successor is Mike Weaver and our new Marshall will be David Evans. Good luck both!! 

The meeting was well attended and held in the best of spirits with plaudits going to all those that deserved them. In particular to Edwin, our Chairman and Lynnette, our Musical Director, the Committee and young Chris our teenage accompanist who improves by the minute.

The big question of Uniform was again discussed. Should we go for a dinner jacket or retain our well loved maroon blazers or perhaps both? What ever is decided we need to get on and produce a new CD so that our funds will stand the strain.

Fortunately our accounts showed that we are in a good position with "The Friends of ADMC" contribution for the year exceeding £5,000. What would we do without them? Thank you Ladies!

An Apology

We have had to apologise to the Top Tenors for a scurrilous rumour that is circulating and are happy to confirm that the pain in Lynnette's left ear was easily cured by a small adjustment to her new glasses.

Good News

Prof Takeshi Tanigawa of Ehime University School of Medicine claims that Singing is good for you. He says that Singers use deep breathing, which is good for the nervous system and after singing they usually receive applause. This is a good kind of social support and helps in the face of adverse occasions or stressful events.  He also says that it keeps you looking young as you're gently exercising the muscles of the face. [ If this is so some of us must be well over 100 years old !!]
Finally he recommends "Responsible drinking with good friends"; because it "...makes you feel happy and healthy" [They know a thing or two these Japanese so we must try that sometime!!!!!.] If you would like to try it, keep healthy and look younger, why not join us on a Friday night and see if it works for you. You would be very welcome.

What we like to Sing

 A recent poll of members showed that top of our ten favourites is "American Trilogy" an arrangement of “Mine eyes have seen the coming of the Lord, with its huge finish.
 A close second was "Ysbryd Y Nos" a modern song that we sang, for the first time, at the Royal Albert Hall this year; it gives the Top Tenors a chance to show off.
And our best loved Welsh Hymn was "Gwahoddiad".
   
 Llynette is anxious that we push on with some new stuff so "Watch this space"

Man of the Month

 Every now and again our Newsletter prints a short interview with a choir member and this Quarter it was the turn of our new Hon. Sec., Mike Weaver. A Top Tenor with a long experience of Army life and a few years “Whistling” as our Marshall. He says the Army was easier.
Mike thinks the TTs get the best lines to sing and they deserve it. The rest of us are not so certain.  He enjoys his Jazz and reckons ROCK is a group of guys playing three chords, listened to by 3000 people but JAZZ is 3 people listening to one guy playing 3000 chords. The debate is about to start.!!

A Day to Remember

Picture the scene. A crowded rehearsal, a new piece to attempt and the opening lines to be sung, pianissimo, by the basses. Young Chris plays the intro with great sympathy and after quiet intake of breath; the words softly permeate the silence. 
 "Pan fyddo'r nos yn hir, a phell y wawr .........

Surprisingly we are stopped and with a certain misapprehension we await the verdict.

Imagine our consternation as "That Smile"; the one that has comforted many a grieving child, and one or two aging second tenors too, flickers across the face of our MD and she utters those never-to be-forgotten words "THAT WAS WONDERFUL"

It was May 8th 2009.
Write it in your diary and remember the day that the basses
GOT IT RIGHT FIRST TIME.

[Enjoy the moment while you can it may not happen again for some time - Lynnette]

2008  The Year in Retrospect

            The DVD of the London Welsh Festival Concert at the Albert Hall has just arrived and has become the sole topic of conversation after rehearsals. There is an air of modest satisfaction as we wonder at the power of the music and take pride in our participation in such a life enhancing experience.
It is no surprise, therefore, that the following extracts from our occasional Newsletter should reflect how members feel about the “1000 Voices” and the other major event of lasts year’s calendar, our trip to Britanny to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Twinning Agreement between Brecon and Gouesnou.

The Chairman said

……….. after the long hard build up, with (to be fair) some big WELSH words and with no summer break, we all deserve a pat on the back
…………. our special thanks to Lyn for putting in weeks of hard and, in some cases, daunting rehearsal and, of course, our thanks to our musical team, Lyn B and all our accompanists for helping out.                        

    Edwin

Our President said:-

………….I am sure that the dome over the auditorium moved slightly during the final rendering of Mae hen wlad fy nhadau to release the noise and enthusiasm of the capacity audience.
…………..It sounds as if you spread your traditional and unconditional goodwill to the hotel staff and passers-by, which I hope they will not forget.  It’s not just the Rugby you know!
……………It is good to know that in a rather mercenary age there are people who are prepared to give their time and skills in the service of the community.  Without a tangible sense of community one place seems much like any other and has no distinctiveness. That cannot yet be said of Brecon and District but the voluntary spirit needs all the voluntary support it can get.

David J-P

First impressions by our new Assistant Conductor

………..however, I didn’t think that working with men was going to be so similar to working with a ladies choir. I had thought that I had escaped the “what are we wearing?” question that is asked before each concert. But, oh no!  At my first rehearsal, out it came!  Thankfully, male choirs do not have as many dress options as ladies choirs and so the debate didn’t last long.

Reflections of a Second Tenor.     

“Novices Abroad”

………… when I joined the choir a year ago I never imagined that we would do trips to exotic places like Brittany. The first impressions of France were “Gosh, they do like speeches!” however the unfailing kindness and generous welcome our hosts will stick in my memory for a very long time.
…………...both of our concerts were given to full houses although the local custom of arriving at the very last minute gave rise to some anxious moments as we sat waiting in half empty churches. Any anxiety was quickly dispelled by their warm reception and the enthusiasm with which we sang together the Welsh and Breton national anthems which, fortunately, share the same tune.      

carrying a string of onions. Alert immigration officials at Plymouth soon detected his false moustache, identified him as a vagrant Second Tenor, and sportingly joined in the fun unlike HM Customs who proceeded to take our coach apart [including the toilet] and delayed our departure somewhat.
…………….. all in all a wonderful trip, great company; great food; great concerts and above all “ dim problem” !!! I just hope the trip to London will be as good.
First Bass

First Impressions of a Second Bass

………….. over 60 years ago my solo singing debut was as a compulsory soprano, every Sunday evening, at the Leamington Spa Railway Mission with my mother’s harmonium accompaniment. I’m sure it was excruciating, it was definitely terrifying and a modern example of a young lion being thrown to the Christians.

…………….by contrast, the Albert Hall Concert was easy and a great pleasure. I was surrounded by a huge choir, most of whom, like me, found the Welsh words difficult.
It was my great fortune, however, to be flanked by a couple of Welsh farmers, who have no Italian, to whom English is an occasional second language but whose pronunciation of the Welsh words was perfect. Diolch yn fawr, Hywel and Edwin.
GH

First Time Reflections of a First Bass.

……………the Conductor, Haydn James, put everyone at his ease and brought out the best in us. 
……………there was a hint of rugby’s fraternal spirit during the rehearsal as generous applause supported a sick chorister being helped off stage; even more so when, on his return, he was greeted with a near standing ovation.

…………….then there were the soloists.  We already knew that Annabel Thwaite was a corker as well as a supreme accompanist, but nothing had prepared us for the impossibly slim Gwawr Edwards and her heavenly soprano voice. The Cory band added a thrilling extra dimension                                            
…………….We’ve achieved a tremendous amount this year with the ’08 Festival and all. We’ve all worked so hard and we should be very proud of your achievements in London.

JC

Postcard from Gouesnou

Dear all,
Hope all’s well at home as this leaves me here.
We had a good trip over although they shut all the bars on the ship and we had to sleep in cabins, which were quite small and noisy. Well ours was as we were next to some tenors who were practising something about “ a thousand trumpets” all night long. Unfortunately, in the middle of the ocean, there is nowhere else to go so it seemed to be a very long night!
This place “Gwenno” is great. The people are very friendly but I can’t understand what they’re saying. You can’t read the menu either so you never know what you’re eating so even when you’ve eaten it you don’t know what it was.
Sometimes we have picnics with crusty bread rolls called “cross aunts” and “bag- etts” which crumble and go all over the place and make a proper mess. The pubs though serve a nice drink called “press-on” which is very healing and makes the pain go away.

The Director has split us into two parties – those who have their wives with them and are pretending to be well behaved and those of us who are on our own and likely to be a nuisance. We have been put in B&B miles away so as not to cause trouble.              
Anyway I am going to have to go now because we’re off to a wine tasting. The boys say the Chairman has gone off somewhere else so we might all get to have a sample.                      
See you soon, 
Yours,  
Bari Tone