This CD was produced,
as I gather several have been in the
past, to coincide with an overseas tour
by Côr Godre’r Aran. Their touring
plans are certainly ambitious; this
particular tour took them to Australia
(for the seventh time!) and New Zealand
(their third visit.) They are conducted
by their Music Director, Eirian Owen
who, at the time of the recording, had
been in post for a remarkable twenty-eight
years.
As will be obvious
from the track-listing this is an eclectic
programme. I ought to say at the outset
that although not all the chosen repertoire
may be to everyone’s taste the standard
of performance is consistently high.
The choir produces a firm, rounded tone,
anchored by a solid bass section and
with some typically sappy Welsh tenors
(what a unique sound that is!) on the
top line. Blend and tuning are excellent;
clearly Mr Owen pays scrupulous attention
to detail in rehearsal. There is also
an impressive dynamic range.
The music is of variable
quality. The opening track, from which
the album takes is name, is an understandable
choice when a choir from one proud rugby-playing
nation is about to visit two more citadels
of the game. The choir sing the piece
well and it’s a sonorous opening to
their programme but I’m afraid I think
this song is a terrible bowdlerisation
of Holst’s fine tune. I disliked it
when Dame Kiri sang it and I don’t like
the choral arrangement any more.
On the other hand,
the chorus from Die Zauberflöte
was written specifically for male voices
and the choir make a splendid collection
of priests (though I wish they’d sung
it in the original German rather than
in Welsh.) Autumn Leaves is also
sung in Welsh and it’s well done, although
some may feel it works better as a solo
song.
There are no notes
about the music itself and that’s especially
unfortunate when it comes to John Brian
Hughes’ Surge Illuminare. I imagine
this setting of Latin words from Isaiah
is a fairly recent piece. It’s a dramatic,
exciting item and makes a strong impression,
especially when it’s as well performed
as is the case here. Hughes makes great
play with propulsive rhythms in both
the choral parts and the piano accompaniment.
I would imagine it’s the most musically
challenging piece on the disc and the
standard of the performance shows the
musicianship of the choir.
I was less happy with
the Gounod Sanctus, a splendid movement
from his St. Cecilia Mass and
well worth hearing as a separate item.
The important tenor solo ideally needs
an Italianate tone which John Ifor,
the soloist here, doesn’t have at his
disposal. Unfortunately the performance
was spoiled for me because the very
end of the piece is not presented as
Gounod actually wrote it. Instead of
a quiet instrumental coda soloist and
chorus conclude the piece. I’m sorry,
but I think such things matter. Surely
Gounod knew what he was doing?
The South African anthem,
Nkosi Sikelel’i Afrika is delivered
with some proud, strong singing. The
choir sing part of the piece in the
original Xhosa and part in Welsh. This
works, I think, as a nice compliment
from Wales to South Africa.
I was impressed with
both the sonorous blend and dynamic
control that are displayed in Y Geni
(‘El nacimento’). The same virtues
are evident on the following track,
Fendigaid Nos (‘O Holy Night’).
The recital concludes with a stirring
setting of the hymn that English readers
may know better as ‘Thou whose almighty
word.’
This is a most accomplished
choir. I suspect that the repertoire
will limit the appeal of this CD to
collectors of male voice choir recordings.
However, such collectors can invest
with confidence.
John Quinn
Information received:
Interesting to read
your review.
Please note that the conductor/director
is Mrs Eirian Owen and not MR OWEN.
This choir commissions a large number
of works and diverse arrangements as
there is a severe restriction on the
availability of works composed specifically
for men's choirs e.g.Brian Hughes' chorus
is part of an exciting and challenging
extended work of 50 minutes for soprano
soloist, men's choir and small orchestra
which was first performed in May 2002
by a group of three choirs and an orchestra
of 16 musicians from the Royal Northern
College.
The choir consists of 39 highly committed
singers - all amateur.
Conductor/Director is an outstanding
musician - conductor, arranger, accompanist,
voice trainer and teacher.
Thought you'd like to know!!!!
John H. James MVO
Côr Godre’r Aran/Eirian Owen 