Here we have a Triple Crown selection of all things Welsh in
the 'Welsh Gold' collection, and a final blockbusting 3 CD 'Spectacular',
which documents the London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs at
the Royal Albert Hall in London. If that's not enough, we have
two goes at ‘Land of My Fathers’, which should swell
the chest cavities of Welsh men and women the length and breadth
of the principality, especially those that don't actually live
there.
The three ‘Gold’ discs are ex-Sain, a good label
that has leased the contents to ABC, the Australian company
that appears to be on something of a Home Countries kick at
the moment, having dished out similar sort of offerings for
England and Scotland, and having Waltzed Matilda on its own
turf as well.
‘Traditions’ is a folk music disc, full of harp
and fiddle, and voice. Jigs and reels and lullabies are properly
here, and those bands with guitars and flutes score nicely.
This is an engaging selection of contemporary folk with some
prominent bands and solo artists of stature. More concentrated
focus comes via ‘Heartstrings’ which is devoted
to the solo harp. There are hornpipes and polkas, folk tune
medleys and ballads. One of my own favourites, Y Deryn Pur
(or The Gentle Dove - or is it, as it used to be in days of
yore, The Faithful Bird?) is infiltrated into a medley played
by Robin Huw Bowen. But it’s invidious to single one harpist;
they’re all terrific, niftily fingered musicians. ‘The
Great Singers’ disc features three singers on the cover;
that splendid forward line of Bryn ‘English is my second
language’ Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, a young woman vocally
seemingly born at 50, and Aled Jones. This is a bit of a misshapen
ruck of a disc, syrupy, souped up and going backwards at the
breakdowns. Despite the nomenclature there are instrumentalists
as well - quite a few - so I think a sin bin is in order for
the compilers. Who can tell what the Moonlight Sonata movement
is doing here, merely because it’s played by a Welshwoman.
Is this parochialism run mad, or am I missing something? No,
this one won’t do at all.
Turn instead to that festival of Welshness, naturally held in
London, that features a collection of Welsh choral voices from
far (Canada, Hong Kong, Australia) and wide (the Primorski Vinko
Vodopivec choir from Ljubljana, though come to think of it,
what are they doing there?). There are three discs, one devoted
to the 2004 event and two to the 2006. The fare is very mixed.
A lot, obviously, of Welsh song but also, should you find too
much of this too much, Lehár, Mozart, arrangements of
Gospels, solo turns from invited singers, and a bit of massed-up
Elvis. Let’s forget the last named out of kindness - three
million Welshmen singing The Wonder of You is not a pretty
sound - but smaller, less pompous arrangements work much better;
the guitar accompanied Pam Fod Eira’n Wyn? for
instance. The guest artists are Rebecca Evans, Jason Howard
(bit of an on/off night) and Dafydd Iwan. Best song? My Little
Welsh Home. The 2004 event only has a single CD, and takes
in some Africana, Americana, hymnal things, a choral arrangement
of Sibelius’s Finlandia - and yes, how we needed that.
Here the guests are Fflur Wyn, Wynne Evans and Huw Llywelyn.
Overall these three discs show two things; one, these concerts
are necessarily very bitty on disc, and two, whatever they might
think to the contrary, Welsh choirs can’t sing Gospel
for toffee.
Jonathan Woolf
Details
The Welsh Gold Collection - The Great Singers
Benedictus - Robert Arwyn arr. Chris Hazell [3:33] BRYN TERFEL
and RHYS MEIRION
Adiemus from Songs of Sancuary Karl Jenkins [3:41] CÔR
SEIRIOL
Pie Jesu from Requiem - Andrew Lloyd Webber [3:44] KATHERINE
JENKINS and STEFFAN RHYS HUGHES
Bugeilio’r gwenith gwyn (Watching the White Wheat) - John
Thomas [3:54] CATRIN FINCH
Ave Maria - Franz Schubert [4:05] ALED JONES
Myfanwy - Joseph Parry [3:13] MORRISTON ORPHEUS CHOIR
Suo gân (Lullaby) - Traditional arr. Brian Hughes [3:13]
RHYS MEIRION
Moonlight Sonata (First movement) - Ludwig van Beethoven [6:04]
ANNETTE BRYN PARRI
My Little Welsh Home - W.S. Gwynn Williams [2:58] DAVID KEMPSTER
Iesu Annwyl (Pie Jesu) from Requiem - John Rutter [4:24] CÔRDYDD
and ELIN MANAHAN THOMAS
Elen Fwyn (Fair Elen) - R.S Hughes [4:59] GWYN HUGHES JONES
Benedictus from The Armed Man - Mass for Peace - Karl Jenkins
[4:02] SERENDIPITY
I’ll Walk Beside You - Alan Murray [2:42] DENNIS O’NEILL
Lisa Lân (Fair Lisa) Traditional arr. John Quirk and Shân
Cothi [3:43] SHÂN COTHI & ONLY MEN ALOUD
Ora pro nobis (Pray for us) - Meirion Williams [3:55] BRYN TERFEL
Nant y mynydd (The Mountain Stream) -W. Davies [3:40] GWAWR
EDWARDS
Byd o heddwch (World in Union) - Gustav Holst [4:25] CÔR
GODRE’R ARAN
Der Schiffer (The Boatman) - Franz Schubert [2:00] PAUL CAREY
JONES & LL?R WILLIAMS
Where Eagles Sing - Paul Lovatt-Cooper [3:49] CORY BAND
O fortuna from Carmina burana - Carl Orff [1:41] YSGOL GLANAETHWY
The Welsh Gold Collection - Heartstrings
Pibddawns y mwnci (The Monkey’s Hornpipe) / Y dyrnwr (The
Thresher) [3:24] CRASDANT
Myfanwy [4:52] DYLAN CERNYW
Polcas Llewelyn Alaw (Llewelyn Alaw’s Polkas) [3:28] GWENAN
GIBBARD
Cadwyn o alawon gwerin (Folk Tune Medley) [5:26] DAFYDD HUW
Cogau Meirion (The Meirionnydd Cuckoos) [6:33] ROBIN HUW BOWEN
Y Maerdy / Pibddawns Merthyr (Merthyr Hornpipe) [2:55] DELYTH
JENKINS
Ar lan y môr (Beside the Sea) [2:18] MEINIR HEULYN
Syr Harri Ddu (Black Sir Harry) [2:52] ELINOR BENNETT
Merch Megan (Megan’s Fair Daughter) [3:39] RHES GANOL
Ar hyd y nos (All Through the Night) [1:25] NIA JENKINS
Helfa’r draenog (The Hedgehog Hunt) [2:57] ROBIN HUW BOWEN
Nant y mynydd (The Mountain Stream) / Bwlch Llanberis (Llanberis
Pass) [4:03] GWENAN GIBBARD
Llydaw [2:50] AR LOG
Cader Idris [1:35] ELINOR BENNETT & MEINIR HEULYN
Bugeilio’r gwenith gwyn (Watching the White Wheat) [3:54]
CATRIN FINCH
Llongau Caernarfon (Ships of Caernarfon) [2:30] MEINIR HEULYN
Conset Dafydd ap Gwilym (Dafydd ap Gwilym’s Conceit) /
Symlen ben bys (The Beckoning Fair One) / Erddigan tro’r
tant (Awake, Harmonious Strings) [5:35] TELYNAU BRO YSTWYTH
The Welsh Gold Collection - Traditions
Y jigiau (Jigs) [3:58] CALAN
Mympwy Llwyd (Lloyd’s Whim) / Y fasged wyau (The Egg Basket)
[5:30] CRASDANT
Dod dy law (Place Your Hand) [2:28] GWENAN GIBBARD
Y march glas (The Grey Stallion) / Nos Fercher (Wednesday Night)
[3:22] AR LOG
Ei di’r deryn du? (Blackbird, Will You Go?) [3:03] SIÂN
JAMES
Cainc y datgeiniad (The Singer’s Tune) / Y delyn newydd
(The New Harp) [3:43] GWENAN GIBBARD
Aberhonddu (Brecon) [4:52] CARREG LAFAR
Hoff jigiau (Favourite Jigs) [3:12] ROBIN HUW BOWEN
Tros yr Aber (Across the Estuary) / Llapydwndwr (The Drink of
the Great Noise) [3:16] CRASDANT
Merch ei mam (Her Mother’s Daughter) [1:44] SIÂN
JAMES
Mympwyon (Whims) [3:51] ROBIN HUW BOWEN
Seren y bore (Morning Star) [5:17] CARREG LAFAR
Y deryn du a’i blufyn sidan (Blackbird with his Silken
Feathers) [1:59] PLETHYN
Cwrw melyn (Yellow Beer) / Y dyn meddw (The Drunken Man) [4:15]
AR LOG
Si hei lwli (Lullaby) [3:08] DAFYDD IWAN
Set y golomen (The Pigeon Set) [4:23] CALAN
A Welsh Choral Spectacular
CD1
Roman War Song from Rienzi [3:12]
Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly [2:43]
Sailors’ Chorus from The Flying Dutchman [3:05]
On My Lips Every Kiss is Like Wine from Giuditta (Judith) [4:32]
Voi, che sapete from The Marriage of Figaro [2:50]
Chiquitita la Novia [3:20]
The Wonder of You [2:34]
Beautiful Dreamer [2:58]
Cenarth [2:57]
Aros Mae’r Mynyddau Mawr [3:20]
Si può? Si può? from Pagliacci [4:47]
Love, Could I Only Tell Thee [3:25]
Yma o Hyd [3:20]
Pam Fod Eira’n Wyn? [4:37]
Working Man [4:12]
Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn [4:46]
When the Saints Go Marching In [4:32]
CD2
Organ Symphony (Symphony No. 3): Finale [7:59]
Pantyfedwen [4:03]
Casatschok [3:12]
Cymru Fach [2:37]
Ô vin, dissipe la tristesse from Hamlet [3:11]
Because [3:04]
Y Dymestl [6:04]
Deus Salutis (Llef) [2:36]
I’m Gonna Walk [2:07]
Some Day My Heart Will Awake from King’s Rhapsody [2:56]
My Little Welsh Home [2:30]
Hei-Ho! [2:38]
Là ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni [3:53]
I’se Weary of Waitin’ [4:06]
Mansions of the Lord [2:59]
Rachie [2:56]
Morte Criste [4:28]
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers) - Welsh National Anthem
[2:29]
Rebecca Evans (soprano) and Jason Howard (baritone); Dafydd
Iwan (guest artist)
Jeffrey Howard (piano); Timothy Morgan (organ)
The London Welsh Male Voice Choir and various choirs
The Band of the Welsh Guards/Haydn James
rec. 21 October 2006, Royal Albert Hall, London
CD3
Llanfair [3:48]
O Isis und Osiris from The Magic Flute [3:09]
Divine Brahma from The Pearl Fishers [2:56]
Granada [3:25]
Yfory [3:33]
Calm is the Sea [2:26]
African Trilogy: Siyahamba (Zulu) - Shosholoza (Shona) - Sikelele
Africa (South African national anthem) [3:52]
Heaven is My Home [5:35]
By Babylon’s Wave [7:48]
An American Trilogy: Dixie - Battle Hymn of the Republic - All
My Trials [5:09]
My Lord, What a Mornin’ [4:11]
Mi glywaf dyner lais (Sarah) [3:10]
Je veux vivre from Romeo and Juliet [3:40]
I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables [3:34]
Diolch i’r Iôr [4:04]
A Cycle of Welsh Hymn Tunes [7:59]
Finlandia ‘Rho i mi’r hedd’ [5:02]
Sanctus ‘Glân geriwbiaid a seraffiaid’ [2:42]
Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers) - Welsh National Anthem
[2:50]
rec. 1993-2008 
