Listen & tracks
16 works · 55:36
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1 American Trilogy Mickey Newbury 5:32
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2 Men of Harlech 3:17
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3 Gwahoddiad J. Hartsough [harp] 2:59
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4 Morte Criste Isaac Watts 3:59
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5 Matt Monro Medley 5:01
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6 Amazing Grace 3:00
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7 Deep Harmony 2:26
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8 Welsh Lullaby [harp solo] 3:23
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9 Tydi A Roddaist Arwel Hughes 2:51
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10 Li’l Liza Jane 2:08
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11 Myfanwy Joseph Parry 4:36
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12 My Lord What a Morning 4:32
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13 Rhythm of Life Dorothy Fields 3:12
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14 Goin’ Home Antonín Dvořák 3:14
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15 Gwahoddiad J. Hartsough [piano] 3:18
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16 Eli Jenkins’ Prayer A.H.D. Troyte 2:08
Victoria’s 19th-century architectural heritage is explored in song. The programme presents the superb acoustics of Victoria’s finest colonial-era buildings: Como, Rippon Lea, the Old Melbourne Gaol, and the Welsh churches at Melbourne and Maldon, all classified by the National Trust.
Recorded over six months at five National Trust properties, it mixes Welsh hymns and traditional airs with spirituals and lighter repertoire. The sound of each venue is left unaltered. Favourites include Amazing Grace, Welsh Lullaby, Men of Harlech, Li’l Liza Jane and Rhythm of Life.
In the artist’s words
Musicians are often heard to remark that they would like to perform in a particular building because of its acoustics. It matters not that these buildings were never conceived or built as performance venues; they nevertheless possess that sometimes indefinable quality of tone and resonance that makes singing or playing a musical instrument such a pleasure. It seems to be also true that these buildings are invariably old. Modern buildings, more often than not, seldom have this quality.
The Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir has performed at many venues throughout the State of Victoria, and this recording was borne out of discussions among members of the choir concerning the acoustic properties of the various buildings we had sung in. “What if,” said one, “we went around these old buildings and made a recording. Emphasis would be on the acoustic properties of each venue.” The choir approached the National Trust, Victoria, for its support, which was readily given.
What we hear in this recording is the result of visits over a six-month period, to five properties in Victoria, all classified by the National Trust. They are: the Welsh Church in Latrobe St., Melbourne; the Congregational Welsh Church in Maldon, Central Victoria; Como, in South Yarra; the Old Melbourne Gaol in Russell St., Melbourne; and Rippon Lea, in Elsternwick.
The completed recording has not been altered electronically in any way, although some performances at separate venues have been edited together. Where this has occurred there has been no attempt to equalise the sound.
Some old, some new but all very special, Heritage is symbolic of the choir’s past and its future. The old repertoire performed in a new way at historic venues. All the members have been supportive and professional; the project has taken some time and has been achieved with the efforts and sweat of all. I thank them and you, our audience, and hope that the enjoyment you receive while listening to Heritage is equal to the joy that we have had in producing it for you.
Artists
Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir
choir
The Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir was formed in 1984 by mainly Welsh migrants who wished to bring the male-voice tradition of their homeland to Victoria. It has kept that heritage while shaping a distinctive Australian sound and a wide concert repertoire.
Phillip Smith
conductor
Phillip Smith is a featured performer on Move recordings with the Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir, in programmes of Welsh traditional song, hymns, spirituals and lighter repertoire.
Antonín Dvořák
composer
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) was a Czech composer whose music fused the folk rhythms and melodies of Bohemia and Moravia with the Romantic symphonic tradition, earning lasting international renown.
Cy Coleman
composer
Cy Coleman (1929–2004) was an American composer, songwriter and jazz pianist. His Broadway and popular songs include Rhythm of Life from the musical Sweet Charity.
Dorothy Fields
composer
Dorothy Fields (1904–1974) was an American lyricist and librettist who wrote more than four hundred songs for Broadway musicals and films. Her standards remain among the most recorded of the twentieth century.
William Arms Fisher
composer
J. Hartsough
composer
Arwel Hughes
composer
E. Jones
composer
Mickey Newbury
composer
Joseph Parry
composer
Joseph Parry (1841–1903) was a Welsh composer and musician, best known for the song Myfanwy and the hymn tune Aberystwyth.
Stanford Robinson
composer
Dylan Thomas
composer
A.H.D. Troyte
composer
Isaac Watts
composer
Isaac Watts (1674–1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer and theologian. Credited with some 750 hymns, he is widely recognised as a founding figure of English hymnody.
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir · choir · all except track 8
- Phillip Smith · conductor
- Kevin Lee · harp · tracks 3, 8, 9, 11 and 14
- Loretto Perkins · piano
- Adeline Han · piano
- Alan Stevenson · piano
Technical credits
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Producer
Cyril Jones
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Recording Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
Details
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 55 minutes 36 seconds
- Release date
- 1996
- Categories
- Choral, Classical, Vocal
- Genres
- Choral & Sacred, Vocal & Opera
- Musical work copyright
- © 1996 Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir Inc
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 1996 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MCD 070
- EAN
- 9314574007022
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