Lancefield Concert

Choristers and supporters started arriving at the Lancefield Hall late morning to find the truck parked and the setup underway.  The performance space was a traditional 19th century building, imaginatively lit, with the boarded ceiling bathed in green light radiating from above a rail.  To the surprise of at least one chorister, a generous lunch had been provided with party pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches, cakes and a warm cuppa all available.  The choir availed themselves of the meal to maintain their strength for the afternoon’s singing.  Before lunch was finished our accompanist Mary was hard at work, fine tuning the setup of the piano and making sure all was ready for the afternoon.
In the dressing / lunchroom, Ann and Glenys industriously folded programs and Ken Simpson began the task of marshalling the troops into the hall to be ready for the rehearsal. 
Mary led warm-ups and rehearsals and then Rushan arrived to take charge.  He had told us he was going to change clothes in his car.  We don’t know whether he did or not but at any rate he looked very composed when he arrived.  After the rehearsal we retreated to the Green Room to get ready for the performance.

Right on the advertised start time, the choir members took their positions in the hall to sing the Welsh National Anthem and the ever-popular Cwm Rhondda. With encouragement from Rushan, the audience joined in the Songs of praises chorus at the end.  Compère Garry Salisbury then welcomed the audience and made some opening remarks.  He told the audience we were happy to be back in Lancefield and a poignant note was struck when he mentioned that Reverend Tom had performed with us the last time we were there.  Calls were made for new recruits with Rushan stressing the opportunity for the ladies in the audience to be free of their partners for at least a night a week.

The divine praise and Welsh theme then continued with Gwahoddiad and Morte Christe, a particular favourite hymn of Tom’s. The mood and tempo were then upped with an energised rendition of Rachie.  Four more Welsh songs followed by the lullaby Suo Gan led by the mellifluous tones of tenors Michael and Rhys, who had been referred to irreverently as Gooey and Parry in the rehearsal.  This was followed by moving versions of Bendigedig, Hafan Gobaith and Anfonaf Angel.  After some more remarks by Garry, the ever meaningful What would I do without my Music was sung.  The first half finished with a rousing rendition of Battle Hymn of the Republic with the audience eagerly singing the final Glory, glory, hallelujahs and even performing an encore at Rushan’s request.

Jackets were shed at interval, as the temperature and the performance heated up. 

The second half started with three songs on the theme of prayer.  African Prayer, Y Darlun and Prayer of the Children were each sung with the reverence and deep emotion they demand.  The mood then changed and turned to more contemporary music as Always on my Mind and our Beatles Medley were performed.  The choir allowed itself a moment of satisfaction as Rushan started the applause for the Medley using the opportunity to break a solemn promise to Mary by including a surprise.  Thus, the choir and audience happily found themselves combining on an impromptu performance of the chorus of Hey Jude to round out the Beatles theme. 

Next the hybrid arrangement of You’ll never walk alone/Climb every Mountain was performed with the audience appreciating the well-loved songs.   Sunset Poem finished the performance, and both choir and audience moved on to a well-earned and very inviting afternoon tea.

As well as the performances, many others did their jobs quietly and efficiently without any fuss.  The roadies moved the equipment in and out as required, Mary accompanied with her usual musical flair and our ladies sold CDs and collected the feedback forms.  Everyone enjoyed the performance and there were lots of positive comments at the afternoon tea.

Barry Leviny

30 March 2025

Patrons’ comments

Thank you for a wonderful afternoon. Such beautiful voices to cheer up sleepy Lancefield.

Great show, enjoyed.

We are travelling from Tasmania and saw the sign outside the hall. What a wonderful afternoon of beautiful music. Thank you.

Amazing !! I completely loved it. Can you sing some Irish songs like ‘Maggie” by the Turras.

More advertising around town (Kilmore) and time to get a group organised to attend.

Always lovely and able to reduce me to tears!

It gets better every time.

Fantastic, always enjoy.

Very good.

Some fun songs would be great. Thank you.