Leighmoor Uniting Church

It was good to be back at Leighmoor after a few years, thanks to one of our basses Geoff Serpell, who had worshipped here for many years. The local publicity had obviously worked a treat as extra chairs had to be brought in and thereby filling the church to capacity.

The congregation stood for the Welsh National Anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers) and then sat for the next Welsh tune the famous Cwm Rhondda (Rhondda Valley). The assembly was all too eager to join in with the singing of the Songs of Praises chorus and this was reprised with great enthusiasm.

Compère Tony Davies stepped forward and introduced our new accompanist Dr Janice Noh and our new Musical Director Rushan Hewawasam. The first bracket comprised of Morte Christe/ When I survey the Wondrous Cross, followed by Rhys/Grant me the peace and the temperance song Rachie.

Geoff Serpell moved to the mic along with our latest recruit Joonjin Lee who. Incidentally, is the husband of Leighmoor’s minister Rev. Heeyoung Lim, as Tony gave the background to the song which these two basses had chosen to sing. This was the very popular gospel song In the Garden, written in 1912 and recorded by many great singers such as Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald. Accompanied by Rushan, Geoff and Joonjin combined to great effect which was heartily appreciated by the sustained applause.

Tony then announced the next bracket opening with the 2008 Robat Arwyn favourite Anfonaf Angel (I will send an Angel) and he dedicated this, on behalf of the choir, to baritone David Moore who is recovering from pneumonia and to John White, founding member of the Ballarat branch, who has now started three times a week kidney dialysis. This was followed by Hafan Gobaith (Haven of Hope) made famous by Bryn Terfel, raising money for a children’s hospice. Next was Benedictus from the Catholic Mass,  thus paying our respects to the recently deceased Pope Francis. This bracket concluded with the classic hymn How Great Thou Art with Rushan beautifully singing the solo part.  The choir next launched into a favourite song, the rhetorical What Would I do Without My Music. To finish off the first half, the choir presented the 1861 Battle Hymn of the Republic which, in the last five years, has had nearly 160,000 views on YouTube. Rushan ordered more audience participation on this number with the final chorus being sung more than once to everyone’s satisfaction.

After interval the prayer bracket started with the 1897 Enoch Sontonga song African Prayer, incorporating four South African languages.

Tony jokingly apologised for the chorister’s red ties but declared that VicWelsh was definitely anti-tariffs and pro diversity. After all, the audience was at this world first event where a Welsh choir not only had a Sri Lankan musical director but another Sri Lankan, Dev Nallathamby, as its oldest-serving member; the accompanist was from South Korea and we were singing in a splendid church whose minister was also South Korean – multiculturalism at its best.

The bracket continued with Y Darlun (The picture) with its theme, the image of Durer’s hands. Tony also mentioned the background to Kurt Bestor’s 1994 Prayer of the Children, about the civil war in Yugoslavia and the effect on children particularly. This prayer always has a profound impact emotionally on choristers and patrons. After a brief period of introspection, the next bracket was a big change of mood, starting with Always on my Mind, made famous by Willie Nelson, with choristers’ hearts openly visible on their sleeves, enhanced by a beautifully sensitive accompaniment by Janice. Then we were into a Beatles medley comprising  I Wanna Hold your Hand, the iconic Yesterday, Let it Be (led by first tenor Geoff Roberts) and the linguistically challenging O Bla Di, O Bla Da. Rushan sensed the audience hadn’t had enough Beatles so he jumped onto the piano, encouraging everybody to join in on the anthemic Hey Jude which had to be sung three or four times before everyone was Beatled out.

But the assembled company wasn’t off the hook yet – Rushan explained that they had more work to do at the end of the next song When the Saints Go Marching In so a double rehearsal was put in place before the choir sung this 1930 song made famous by Louis Armstrong.

Finally, the choir performed Rushan’s special arrangement combining You’ll Never Walk Alone (from the 1945 musical Carousel) and Climb Every Mountain (from the 1959 Sound of Music). It was clear that many patrons knew the words to both of these popular songs and it was a fitting finale to see them singing along with the choir. At its conclusion Tony asked the assembly to thank all the soloists, Janice the talented accompanist and the mastermind of it all – Rushan.

Organiser Jenny Longmuir also came forward to add her thanks to the choir and her team and to everybody for filling up the church for a wonderful afternoon’s concert.

Rushan then moved to the back of the church while the choristers surrounded the audience before melodiously chanting the highly evocative Sunset Poem from Dylan Thomas’ radio play Under Milkwood. The silence that follows the conclusion is always a moving moment when choristers and patrons are closer than ever, united by the power of a wonderfully shared musical afternoon.

Comments from the audience

Enjoyed very much. Looking forward to the next one. Thank you.

Thank you all, a wonderfully uplifting afternoon.

Superb, a very polished performance.

What better way to spend an afternoon with such inspirational music. Thank you!!!

Fantastic repertoire – wonderful pianist.

Keep on singing – PLEASE!

I would enjoy reading the words as you sing.

Outstanding performance.

Fantastic concert. We look forward to attending many more.                Ruth & James

Always a very enjoyable concert!! I enjoy the audience participation.

Magnificent performance, beautiful harmonies.