Joint concert: Risca Male Choir & Pendyrus Male Choir
St German’s Church, Cardiff. Saturday 22nd March, 2025
Risca Male Choir had been invited to sing with Pendyrus Male Choir on Saturday 22nd March in St German’s Church, Splott, Cardiff. The choristers were going by bus so Olga (Tutton) very kindly arranged a minibus for eight of the wives who wanted to attend. It transpired that we very lucky that she did, as at least two of the wives thought the church was elsewhere in Cardiff!
The church was nestled amongst the tightly knit terraced houses that make up Splott. There are many wonderful old churches across Cardiff and this one was no exception. Built in the 1880s, we were greeted with a soaring vaulted ceiling and beautiful stained-glass windows. You just knew that the choir would sound amazing in such a building built for worship and song.
Pendyrus Male Choir from the heart of the Rhondda Valley, conducted by Ieaun Jones, started the evening with a rousing rendition of Men of Harlech followed by a haunting version of The Lord’s Prayer which was enhanced by the spiritual surrounding. The ever lovely Bring Him Home from Les Misérables came next, and the choir completed this section with the hymn Jesus, Lover of my Soul to the tune Aberystwyth.
The compere was difficult to hear without a microphone, but we were introduced to the soprano, Jennifer Walker. She opened with Shepherd Boy from Tosca (Puccini) which she had played opposite Sir Bryn Terfel in Abu Dhabi. Two more beautifully sung numbers followed, one being the Welsh folk song Lisa Lân, a song of unrequited love.
Then it was the turn of Risca Male Choir under the baton of Matthew Harrison. The choir opened with Let All Men Sing with its driving rhythm and exciting choral harmonies. Hiraeth changed the mood completely and we were all enveloped in a deep longing for home and nostalgia for things lost. Dave Tutton embodied the spirit of Dylan Thomas as the narrator to the Sunset Poem which was sung with much Welsh charm by the choir. (The Pendyrus piano accompanist told a member of the choir that it was the best version of the Sunset Poem she had ever heard, being a wall of sound under Matthew’s complete control). The closing number of this section World in Union (arranged by our esteemed Music Director Emeritus Martin Hodson) reminded us of how sport can bring nations together (I won’t mention Welsh rugby at this point).
The two choirs then joined together, conducted by Ieuan Jones to sing the hymn Llef (O Iesu Mawr). This is a personal favourite of mine from school assembly days. Llef translates as a Cry and it felt like a cry from the soul, both deep and intense.
After the interval the two choirs swapped places and Risca started with Drunken Sailor. Always a crowd pleaser it got feet tapping and was executed faultlessly. Next was Coldplay’s poignant Fix You! which was incredibly moving and sung with such feeling and delicacy that I was not the only one dabbing at tears. Y Gair Oedd Duw (The Word was God) was next and built layer upon layer. With no accompaniment this really showcases the choir’s ability to follow Matthew’s every movement. The choir finished with Harriet Tubman. I would encourage anyone to read about this amazing abolitionist who rescued enslaved people using the Underground Railroad of antislavery activists and safe houses. The song had a bold rhythmic pulse which echoed the sound of a train and it really showcased the choir’s ability to create an atmosphere.
Jennifer Walker then sang the whimsical A Word on my Ear by Flanders and Swann, better known as the I’m tone-deaf! song. How such an accomplished singer managed to sing so out of tune at times showcased what an incredible soprano she was. She also sang Summertime by George Gershwin and evoked the long hot lazy days of summer.
Pendyrus Choir followed with the traditional When The Saints go Marching In. We were then told about the recent sudden death of a longstanding member of the Pendyrus choir and the audience stood in a minute’s silence followed by an unscheduled rendition of You’ll never Walk Alone by Pendyrus Choir in memory of their friend.
Y Tangnefeddwyr (The Peacemakers) was next on the programme. As this song was a setting of a poem (Wald Williams) that was a plea for peace, it seemed very appropriate for the world at the moment. Memory from the Cats musical followed, and then a vigorous version of Nessun Dorma concluded the set.
The choirs again joined together with the soloist to sing one of the greatest Welsh hymns, Gwahoddiad (Invitation). Conducted by Matthew Harrison it was controlled and beautiful. The audience was then invited to join in with the singing of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau which filled the church and could probably have been heard in Risca.
During the whole programme the piano accompanists Meryn Williams for Pendyrus Male Choir, and Rhiannon Williams guest accompanist for Risca Male Choir were faultless. The church organ was used to great effect to add richness and depth in places, but I couldn’t see who was playing.
It was a lovely concert and it is always interesting to hear how other choirs sing some of the numbers that we are used to hearing Risca Choir sing. Matthew Harrison was also suitably embarrassed to be sung Happy Birthday by all those present and we hope he had a great birthday.
A piece of interesting information from Olga Tutton who was raised and married in Splott. The name Splott is a truncated version of the original name God’s Plot for the area of fertile ground near the city centre of Cardiff.
Risca Male Choir, seated like a conclave of cardinals, waiting their turn to sing
Maggie Lovett (Wife of Kevin Lovett, 2nd Bass)
