St Mary’s Priory Church, Usk

The annual Choral Festival brought together thirty six different choirs and ran from the evening of Thursday 29th February until the evening of Sunday 3rd March. Choirs sang in various locations throughout Usk. Risca Male choir was invited to sing on Saturday 2nd March at 3:30pm in St Mary’s Church, just off the main square in Usk.

By Friday evening everything had been arranged, Saturday morning was to be spent preening, relaxing and having a bite to eat. Saturday morning dawned wet and cold and by mid-morning the phone had started ringing. Someone who had sung in St Mary’s church the evening before had called to warn our choristers that the church was very cold. It was a now a bitterly cold day and the choir had been going to sing in black trousers and shirts. The decision was made to wear white evening jackets and placed on the Choirmate app for all to see. However, no one really trusted that everyone would actually read the post before leaving for Usk, so there was a mad half hour of phone calls and texts to ensure that no one arrived without their jacket.

Surprisingly, everyone arrived in good time for a practice in the church wearing their white jackets. The church was lovely, as all old churches tend to be, but had a row of huge columns marching down the centre of the nave completely cutting the audience’s view of any performing choir in two. As most conductors tend to stand in the centre of the choir they were almost completely obscured by the last column. I had a great view of a column seemingly sprouting a pair of arms and conducting the relevant choirs. Each of the four choirs present was due to sing four or five items, so we were in for a varied treat.

First up was Barry Ladies’ Choir looking very smart in black, with turquoise accessories. They sang some lovely songs, but the one that stuck with me was Songbird originally written and sung by Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, but later sung by Eva Cassidy. It was hauntingly beautiful and suited our surroundings.

Next was Newport Cathedral Choir which was the only choir that day to have children singing. The youngsters wore red vestments, while the more senior members wore white surplices over the red cassocks. The sound was amazing but beyond my capabilities to name or describe.

Then came Swn y Gân from Cwmbran. This was a mixed choir which started with a very enthusiastic rendering of the Ballad of Sweeny Todd-The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim. The musical director chose not to introduce the numbers or to engage with the audience and so this choir sang more songs in their allotted time.

Last, but by no means least, was our very own Risca Male Choir resplendent in black with white jackets. This gave rise to a few jokes from our own music director Matthew Harrison, about them singing to Save the Penguins. Matthew gave brief introductions to all the songs and engaged easily with the audience.

Andrew Jenkins started the first song Hodie! and immediately captured the audience’s attention. This was followed by the rousing Gonna rise up singing with some lovely piano work by accompanist, Jeslyn Asir.  Hiraeth came next and as always evoked the true meaning of the word. What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor? was the fourth song which was greatly enjoyed by the audience, especially the Barry Ladies Choir who I could observe from where I was seated. The enthusiastic audience had a great time playing ‘guess when the song ends’ and the church erupted in applause and good natured laughter when it did finish.

The whole audience listened in rapt silence to the final song Gwinllan a Roddwyd and I could see a few people not just enjoying the song but becoming quite emotional. The applause was loud and continued for some time after our choristers had finished.

I had never heard of the Usk Choral Festival before RMC was invited to sing there. I sincerely hope that they are invited to attend again next year, but that the weather is a bit warmer.

Maggie Lovett