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Brief History
of The Australian Welsh Male Choir |
"Praise
the Lord, we are a musical Nation"
(Dylan
Thomas - "Under Milk Wood")
This
is what Dylan Thomas said of Wales and although many countries have
all-male choirs, it is probably the Welsh who have become synonymous
with the traditional Male Voice Choir. The valleys of Wales have
since time immemorial resonated with the sound of Welsh men and
boys singing in their traditional four-part harmony - first tenors,
second tenors, baritone and bass. They would sing down the mine,
in church, in pubs, in buses and trains - in fact anywhere they
felt like singing. That is not to say that the women of Wales did
not enjoy singing - the roofs of the dominant Welsh Nonconformist
chapels would be lifted by the the sheer volume of singing of both
men, women and children - if not by the minister's moving sermon.
This was how the ancient
Welsh language (yr hen iaith) survived the repression of
the centuries.
What better 'hwyl'
(fervour) than to hear the massed voices of the Welsh at
Cardiff Arms Park singing 'Cwm Rhondda', 'Calon Lan', "Men
of Harlech" and 'Mae
Hen Wlad fy Nhadau' (Land
of my Fathers - the Welsh National Anthem).
Ex-patriot
Welshmen will always feel the 'hiraeth' and the 'hwyl' (longing
and fervour) for what they call "home" and the singing
of 'We'll Keep a Welcome' will bring many a tear to the eyes.
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The coal mines
of South Wales and the slate quarries of North Wales were fertile ground
for recruits to the local choir. Every valley, if not every town could boast
its own male voice choir, many of them becoming world renowned. These
choirs would often have friendly competitions at a local singing festival
(cymanfa ganu), then at the National
Eisteddfod.
With the demise of these industries, many choirs now struggle to get new
young members, but the tradition still lives on; both inside Wales and wherever
ex-pats have settled.. |
A typical
pithead workings
of a South Wales coal mine |
The internationally
recognised Australian Welsh Male Choir is based in Frankston, Victoria
and this year, 2003, celebrates its 30th year. |
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The
beginnings of the Choir can be traced back to Christmas 1973
when a group of predominantly Welsh expatriates, who loved singing, gathered
together at the Frankston Pines Soccer Club. They formed a Choir known
as the “Cambrian Singers”. They later became known as the
Frankston Welsh Male Choir.The first performance of this choir
was on the 20th October 1974 at the dedication service for the Chapel
at the Victoria Police Academy, Glen Waverley. This occasion also marked
the first live outside broadcast in colour by ABC television who were
covering the service. On the 24th June 1980 the name
was changed to The Victoria Welsh Male Choir and new colours were presented
to the Choir by Patron Mr. Sidney Baillieu Myer. In April 1985,
the name was finally changed to the Australian Welsh Male Choir. |
AWMC performance
at the
Melbourne Town Hall
1983
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In 1984, the Choir toured the
United Kingdom and became the first Choir from outside Wales to sing
at the 1000 Voice Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in
London. During the tour, members of the Association of Welsh Male Choirs
were so impressed by the Choir’s singing of traditional songs
in the Welsh language, that the Choir was invited to become a member
of their Association. In doing so, it became the first Choir from outside
Wales to be offered such membership.
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In 1988, the Australian Welsh
Male Choir was again invited to represent Australia in the 1000 Voice
Festival. At this event, in celebration of the Australian Bicentenary,
they gave a solo performance of Peter Allen’s “I Still Call
Australia Home”. To date, no other Choir has performed solo at
this festival. A highly successful tour of Wales followed, during which
the Choir was given a number of civic receptions and won many accolades
in the Welsh media.
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| ©
2003 Australian Welsh Male Choir |
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