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Brief History of The Australian Welsh Male Choir
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"Praise the Lord, we are a musical Nation"
(Dylan Thomas - "Under Milk Wood")
This is what Dylan Thomas said of Wales and although many countries have all-male choirs, it is probably the Welsh who have become synonymous with the traditional Male Voice Choir. The valleys of Wales have since time immemorial resonated with the sound of Welsh men and boys singing in their traditional four-part harmony - first tenors, second tenors, baritone and bass. They would sing down the mine, in church, in pubs, in buses and trains - in fact anywhere they felt like singing. That is not to say that the women of Wales did not enjoy singing - the roofs of the dominant Welsh Nonconformist chapels would be lifted by the the sheer volume of singing of both men, women and children - if not by the minister's moving sermon.
This was how the ancient Welsh language (yr hen iaith) survived the repression of the centuries.
What better 'hwyl' (fervour) than to hear the massed voices of the Welsh at Cardiff Arms Park singing 'Cwm Rhondda', 'Calon Lan', "Men of Harlech" and 'Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau' (Land of my Fathers - the Welsh National Anthem).
Ex-patriot Welshmen will always feel the 'hiraeth' and the 'hwyl' (longing and fervour) for what they call "home" and the singing of 'We'll Keep a Welcome' will bring many a tear to the eyes.
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The coal mines of South Wales and the slate quarries of North Wales were fertile ground for recruits to the local choir. Every valley, if not every town could boast its own male voice choir, many of them becoming world renowned. These choirs would often have friendly competitions at a local singing festival (cymanfa ganu), then at the National Eisteddfod.
With the demise of these industries, many choirs now struggle to get new young members, but the tradition still lives on; both inside Wales and wherever ex-pats have settled.. |
 A typical pithead workings
of a South Wales coal mine
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The internationally recognised Australian Welsh Male Choir is based in Frankston, Victoria and this year, 2003, celebrates its 30th year.
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The beginnings of the Choir can be traced back to Christmas 1973 when a group of predominantly Welsh expatriates, who loved singing, gathered together at the Frankston Pines Soccer Club. They formed a Choir known as the “Cambrian Singers”. They later became known as the Frankston Welsh Male Choir.The first performance of this choir was on the 20th October 1974 at the dedication service for the Chapel at the Victoria Police Academy, Glen Waverley. This occasion also marked the first live outside broadcast in colour by ABC television who were covering the service. On the 24th June 1980 the name was changed to The Victoria Welsh Male Choir and new colours were presented to the Choir by Patron Mr. Sidney Baillieu Myer. In April 1985, the name was finally changed to the Australian Welsh Male Choir. |
AWMC performance at the
Melbourne Town Hall
1983
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In 1984, the Choir toured the United Kingdom and became the first Choir from outside Wales to sing at the 1000 Voice Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in London. During the tour, members of the Association of Welsh Male Choirs were so impressed by the Choir’s singing of traditional songs in the Welsh language, that the Choir was invited to become a member of their Association. In doing so, it became the first Choir from outside Wales to be offered such membership.
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In 1988, the Australian Welsh Male Choir was again invited to represent Australia in the 1000 Voice Festival. At this event, in celebration of the Australian Bicentenary, they gave a solo performance of Peter Allen’s “I Still Call Australia Home”. To date, no other Choir has performed solo at this festival. A highly successful tour of Wales followed, during which the Choir was given a number of civic receptions and won many accolades in the Welsh media.
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| © 2003 Australian Welsh Male Choir |
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