Saturday, August 10th, 2024, Pontypridd

For some the journey began in November 2023 with the application process to enter the competition. For newer choristers joining the choir following the Motor Neurone Disease Association charity concert, the pressure was on. Learning three Welsh pieces in under three months their journey started in May 2024. For Music Director Matthew James Harrison decisions regarding repertoire choices began in February 2024, a big consideration to be made by him. What unaccompanied Welsh piece to select?

The Journey for myself as Librarian, alongside singing the pieces, information and background knowledge was asked of me by the officers at the time. This meant my contribution started in April 2024. The officers were concerned with the legality and copyright issues associated in performing Matt’s chosen unaccompanied piece at the Eisteddfod. That piece, well-known by Risca Male Choir and excellently performed on many occasions, was The Word was God by Rosephanye Powell and arranged for men’s voices by her husband, William Powell.

The major concern was that this is an American piece of music and in English. I have previously investigated copyright and legality issues for several pieces for RMC and therefore was asked to give my recommendations on the way forward. Time was of the essence to see whether this would be possible to perform for a television production, a paying audience and to obtain permission to translate the piece into Welsh.

On with my investigative and research hat! My first port of call was the Performing Rights Society (PRS) and Public Performance Licences (PPL) authorities. After several phone calls to them, numerous emails and text messages, it was confirmed that this was possible, but permission would need to be sorted from the composer and copyright holders. Email next to Fredbock publishers, the copyright holders for the song. No response from the first email or second email at the end of April. More drastic measures were required. Several phone calls to America to Fredbock Publishers and finally we had an application process within our grasp to gain a licence/agreement. This application form was however out of my range of expertise asking some very technical questions requiring expert knowledge. Matthew James Harrison HELP! Matt luckily took this on and for me what would have taken a few hours, Matt completed in a few minutes. Further contact to Matt directly was made by Rosephanye Powell herself and she requested  a translation to look over with her team. There were no concerns here and Rosephanye Powell was incredibly happy. She looked forward to us performing it and wished us luck and success. No official licence was required just her confirmation in writing that she had given her permission for the translation. We added it was a wonderful piece of music and arrangement and we thoroughly enjoy performing it. It’s not often that you find a piece that splits into 8 parts rather than the usual 4. What a magnificent and technical arrangement.

It is here that RMC must say a big thank to Carol Kinsey, wife of chorister Peter Kinsey 2nd Tenor,  and chorister Hugh Williams 2nd tenor, for their work on the translation. It is not an easy to job to keep the timing and rhythmic style of this piece whilst maintaining the meaning of the words using the Welsh language.

Translation copies ready for all choristers, recordings  made by Matt on Choirmate, phonetics provided, the learning and absorption of the piece ploughed on through June, July and August taking us to competition day 10th August.

Our coach departed 1.30pm from HQ (arranged by Bus Master and Tour Organiser Alan Davis, Baritone) and one pick up in Taffs Well for Rhondda Cynnon Taf (RCT) local Phil Black, First Tenor. We arrived in plenty of time. There were concerns regarding the departure time as to possible traffic issues and congestion. I must congratulate RCT, Transport for Wales (trains and buses) and for the Park and Ride services provided by Edwards Travel, no congestion no traffic hold ups, parking for the coach provided by the Eisteddfod organisers we arrived an hour early for our rehearsal.

Hospitality from St Catherine’s Church (part of the Pontypridd Ministry Area) allowed us to have a cuppa as we were an hour early for our rehearsal time at 3.00pm in St David’s Uniting Church just across the road from our hospitality location. Thank you to the Pontypridd Ministy Area for the well needed cuppa and relaxation time to calm some people’s nerves. Following a highly successful rehearsal, a short walk over to the Maes to see the Eisteddfod in full swing.  The colours, sounds, the Welsh history, language and culture certainly being celebrated on full display.

Again, a short wait in the back stage performance area of the Pavilion, RMC was lined up and inspected by stage manager, Trevor Baker (Bass), making sure all phones were turned off! We were escorted to the performance back stage area where we could hear Côr Meibion Llangwm on stage. The nerves started to kick in for some choristers, both old and new, but most choristers were relaxed and ready to show what we could do. We had been prepared for this so professionally by MD Matthew Harrison, every resource had been used to give us the knowledge to learn these pieces inside out. The performance style, light and shade, the Risca crescendo and diminuendo all now engrained in our brains. With three competitions in a year, many choristers were used to the competition arena and stage. Ready to proceed onto the stage choristers lined up in their sections and rows all eyes were on Matt. Personal thoughts and feelings in that moment, I remembered what Martin Hodson MBE Music Emeritus said at our last rehearsal prior to the Eisteddfod, “Don’t think about winning, coming first, we are there to sing”

Silence in the Pavilion arena you could hear a pin drop, the audience waiting in anticipation for what RMC could produce. The introduction to Hiraeth (Alwyn Humphreys), the delicate and beautiful sound from the grand piano played magnificently by Mackenzie Paget (accompanist for the day) was our queue to relax, take those 4 bars as time to prepare, relax and enjoy. The opening note, WOW! Hearing every section in tune, quiet, exposed we couldn’t have done better. Thunderous applause filled the Pavilion and smiles from choristers on stage (that’s a first), everyone realised how good that felt. Onto piece number two, Y Gair Oedd Duw (The Word was God, Rosephanye Powell arr William Powell), the required unaccompanied item. This is likely to be an unfamiliar song for many people and choirs in the UK. Let’s show them the potential and rhythmical sound from the piece and do Rosephanye Powell proud. A fantastic performance RMC. I think many Male Choirs might be adding this piece to their repertoire. Final item Gwinllan a Roddwyd by Caradog Williams. A well performed piece by RMC, a competition favourite, but a piece that is being updated and changed for the RMC sound on a monthly basis, getting the best out of the music and the meaning of the Welsh words. RMC takes the song into their hearts (even the non-Welsh born and bred choristers have adapted their allegiance for this song). I think we did well after the end of that amazing choral composition by Caradog Williams for male voices. Shouts, screams and booming applause from the whole pavilion, especially two people in the front row. We would like to adopt them as RMC mascots and bring them to every concert, their shouts of “Risca Wow” could be heard over everyone else. If only we knew who they were.

Walking off stage my personal feelings, I thought it was awesome. We couldn’t have done better on the day. Thinking about how well we did, could we come in the top three? We had to wait until 7.00pm to find out. I have never seen Matt in tears after a performance before, was this nervous emotion being released? Was this him being overwhelmed at his first Eisteddfod? Was this him being impressed by our performance and happy tears? Or were these tears of disappointment, had we done something wrong, messed up on something, not followed his direction somewhere? I hoped it was one of or all three of the first thoughts not the last.

Time to indulge in a pint (well two) of some of Wales’s alcoholic beverages that were on offer. Then back to the pavilion for the results. Sat close enough to Jen Rowlands (wife of David Rowlands 2nd Tenor and Treasurer) she sacrificed her audio translation headset to me (very thoughtful, thanks Jen much appreciated). Lyn Davies adjudicator for the competition took to the stage and began announcing the results. Third place Côr Meibion Llangwm. Disappointment on my face, didn’t we place, were my thoughts, did we come fourth or even fifth? Second place Côr Tadau Trisant. I couldn’t wait to listen to the performances of these unknown (to me) choirs on S4C Clic or BBC I player. First place my attention was drawn to Lyn Davies strong Wesh accent. Could it be RMC or our Côr Cymru competitors Bechgyn Bro Taf, Côr Meibion Machynlleth or perhaps a stalwart of Welsh Male Choirs, celebrating 100 years this year, Côr Meibion Pendyrus. Lyn Davies announced (in Welsh of course) and the winner is with all credit to them, Côr Meibion Rhisga.

What a reaction from the audience and the top right section of the pavilion (where RMC and supporters had collected to hear the results), shouts of acclamation filled the arena (voices were certainly strained in that moment). Matt was  handed the Cwpan Cymdeithas Corau Meibion Cymru, held it with pride for a moment, a beaming smile on his face and then raised it towards RMC thrusting it in RMC’s direction (anybody would have thought it was the FA Cup he’d just won). In all seriousness what an achievement for RMC and for Matt himself, his extra time at extra rehearsals, hours at the practice room recording audio individual parts, time and energy outside of the practice room putting every puzzle piece in place in order that we could give the performance we did. In that respect it was truly fitting that Matt won the Ivor E Sims Memorial Medal for director of the winning choir, definitely deserved. We also need to thank the whole music team for their contributions to our rehearsals without them this wouldn’t have been possible, Jeslyn Asir, Mille Tran and Martín Hodson MBE, Music Director Emeritus.

RMC are onwards and upwards, and still on a high from this Eisteddfod success last achieved in 1988. RMC once again on the map in the world of Male Choral Singing, with performance requests already in the diary and still being received. The result of success, I suppose.     

Congratulations Risca Male Choir National Eisteddfod Champions 2024!

Tim Stone: 1st tenor

Vice Chairman, PR and Recruitment Team Lead and Librarian