IN an age when many male voice choirs are falling by the wayside, it is good to report that the Tumble and Cross Hands area can still boast a strong group of choristers.
Members of Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr held their annual meeting this week and they kindly sent me a copy of their latest report (and this is a good time to remind all choirs – male, female, mixed – to send their latest news to the On Song column).
In his AGM report, chairman Paul Lewis made reference to the choir’s progress following the loss of rehearsals and concerts due to the pandemic.
Thankfully, the choir was ‘back on its feet’ in more ways than one, with a number of new members and the continued commitment of musical director Davinia Davies and deputy Jeff Thomas.
The choir’s conductors are assisted by accompanists Betsan Howell and Bethan Evans.
Long-serving chorister Peter Evans was appointed choir president, succeeding the late D Ken Jones.
During the year, the choir had appointed Ken Thomas, from Pontyberem, as a life vice-president after his 50 years of service as a chorister.
Another faithful servant of the choir, Ellis Davies from Gorslas, was made a life member, having been a member for more than 25 years. Ellis was also re-elected vice chairman. Roger Walters was re-elected secretary. Both will be in post for two years.
The choir paid respect to four members, Lloyd and Meurig Williams, from Tumble, John L Thomas, from Pontyates, and Elfryn Davies, from Penygroes, all of whom had passed away.
The AGM heard the choir had participated in national events such as the massed choir concerts at St Davids Hall, Cardiff and the Royal Albert Hall, London. Locally, the choir had performed at concerts and events at Ysgol Gorslas, a concert by Llannon YFC at Pontyberem Hall, Christmas carol singing in residential homes, as well as a St David’s Day concert at Tumble Hall.
Looking ahead, the choir will be performing at weddings in Meinciau and Pontyberem during the summer and at a birthday party in Parc y Scarlets in September.
The choir’s dinner dance will be held at Tumble Hall in October and, further down the line, all the focus will be on preparations for the 60th Anniversary concert at Pontyberem Hall in October 2025.
There’s plenty on offer for anyone wishing to join the choir, with a weekly rehearsal on Mondays (7pm to 9pm) at Bethesda Chapel Vestry, Tumble. Anyone wishing further information can contact secretary Roger Walters on 01269 844259, or email cormynyddmawr@hotmailcom
There’s a rich history behind Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr.
A male choir – Mynydd Mawr Male Voice Party – started in the Tumble area in 1913, under the baton of Tom Morgan, Gwendraeth View, Tyisha Road, Tumble, although there is an earlier record of a choir of the same name dating back to 1908.
This choir performed at the official opening of the Cross Hands Public Hall in 1911 and, in its formative years, the choir was successful in competitions at Abergwili and Swansea.
Conductor Tom Morgan was succeeded by Peter Edwards, Llechyfedach, Tumble who continued the success of the choir, winning 14 successive first prizes in competitions, most notably with the test piece Protheroe’s ‘Crusaders’.
The conductors that followed – G John Evans and Tom Hughes – were also successful in a number of competitions both locally and further afield.
The choir disbanded in 1948 but the tradition of choral singing was revived in May 1965 when the male section of Bethesda Chapel’s ‘Cymdeithas Ddiwylliadol’ started a choir – ‘Bois y Bryniau’ – under the baton of Lloyd Asa Williams. Joshua Jenkins, Drefach was the deputy conductor and the accompanist was Denzil T Jones, also from Drefach.
The choir took on the name Mynydd Mawr Choir and the first AGM was held in January, 1966, when an invitation was extended to Sydney Evans to join as a Deputy Conductor.
In June, the choir was named ‘Côr Meibion y Mynydd Mawr’, recognising the fact that men other than Bethesda Chapel members were eligible to join. One of the first decisions was to limit the choir’s activities to concerts only, as participation in Eisteddfodau was frowned upon in those days.
The choir appeared in a BBC programme featuring Tumble in November and adopted a formal constitution. An official tie was also designed and purchased. In February 1967, the choir was adopted as the Carmarthenshire Red Cross Choir at a ceremony in Ebenezer Chapel, Tumble and a recording was sent to the Red Cross Society in Canada.
Gloom was cast over the choir in October, 1968, at the passing of its conductor Lloyd Asa Williams. After a suitable interval, Sydney Evans was appointed conductor. The choir made an LP in December 1968 in memory of Lloyd Asa Williams. The recordings took place at the Swansea Studios with conductor Sydney Evans and accompanist Denzil Jones.
At this time, J Rhyddid Williams, was appointed music master at Gwendraeth Grammar School. He was invited to join the choir as its overall choir master.
The first appearance by the choir in an Eisteddfod was in Flint in 1969 when the choristers gained third prize.
The experience paid dividends when, in the following year at Ammanford, the choir clinched the first prize in competition.
The choir continued to compete and won second prize in the National Eisteddfod at Bangor in August 1971.
The choir has made a valuable contribution to numerous charitable organisations throughout Britain, and has been successful on five occasions on the Royal National Eisteddfod platform, as well as at other eisteddfodau.
In November 1993, the choir was honoured when it was invited to represent the Welsh Association of Male Choirs at the Centenary Banquet of the University of Wales in Cardiff, when the Prince of Wales, Mrs Mary Robinson the Irish President and the Aga Khan were present.
The choir’s website is at – https://mynyddmawrchoir.uk
In other news, a summer concert is being held by Côr Glandulais at 7pm on Thursday, June 27, at Capel Hope – Siloh Chapel in Pontarddulais.
The concert will also feature the Meibion Elli choir. The conductor will be Aled Maddock and the compere will be TV presenter and journalist Garry Owen. The organist will be Ian Lewis and the soprano soloist will be Anita Appleton. Tickets are £5.
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