Twilight talk on the history of the choir

The beautifully restored building of the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute provided the setting for an unusual performance by the choir on Friday 2 November. The Mechanics’ Institute holds a series of talks on Friday evenings, known as the Twilight Talks, on various topics of historical or cultural interest. One of the choir’s Vice Presidents, tenor Drew Hopkins, had been invited to speak at one of these evenings on the topic of Victoria Welsh Choir. Rather than illustrate his talk by playing CD recordings of the choir, Drew asked if any choristers were able to attend the talk and sing. A delighted and enthusiastic ‘yes’ response came from 20 choristers, plus our Musical Director Faleiry Koczkar, and Bendigo accompanist Liz Paton, and they all travelled variously from Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo to participate in the performance.

Drew’s talk covered a brief history of the emergence in the nineteenth century of the Welsh male choral tradition. The talk also provided background on the Welsh language, and the role the chapel and choral singing played in its preservation in the face of the encroachment of English as the dominant language in Wales. A brief history of Victoria Welsh Choir was also included and the whole talk was interspersed with three brackets of songs from the choristers. All the songs were Welsh favourites, including Men of Harlech, Cwm Rhondda, Calon Lân, Myfanwy and Si Hei Lwli ‘Mabi. The audience was thoroughly charmed at the conclusion of the performance when they were surrounded by the choir for the singing, a cappella, of Sunset Poem. The choristers were then rewarded with wine and cheese from a very cheerful audience of Twilight Talk attenders.

Drew Hopkins