13th April 2013
Biddulph Male Voice Choir performed for an Open-Day last Saturday afternoon at the Bethesda Methodist Chapel in Hanley to celebrate the extensive restoration programme which began in 2002. Neglected for over twenty years the chapel deteriorated badly until the BBC TV programme Restoration. The programme's attention brought a much needed focus on attempts to save the building and restoration is now well underway following the completion of Phase 2.
The choir performed a delightful programme of three sets firstly opening with a most moving rendition of “Gwahoddiad” followed by “Still as the Night”, “The Lord’s Prayer”, “Roll Jordon Roll”, “Pokarakare Ana” and “Rhythm of Life”.
After a short break the choir performed “Morte Christe”, “Let it be me”,”Bring him Home”,”Speed your journey”, “Ave Maria” and “Amen” .
The final set included some old favourites and further pieces from the choirs forthcoming Anglo Welsh concerts “Mansions of the Lord” and “ Cyfri’r Geifr “ (Counting the Goats).
Musical Direction from the pulpit came from Anthony Marks with accompaniment from the choirs principal accompanist Wendy Brown.
Biddulph Male Voice Choir continue its busy spring season with the next concert which will be at Christ Church in Tunstall on Friday 19th April at 7.30pm.
28th March 2013
It came right out of the blue for most choristers. We had just
finished a very good concert at St. Lawrence, Biddulph, and the usual
acknowledgements were being made, when, almost casually, it was
mentioned that this had been our Music Director Gwenda Jones' last concert.
"Shocked and stunned" would not be an understatement. The lady who had
led the choir for over forty years, taken it from it's deepest
despairs to it's finest triumphs, had suddenly stood down.
No words can convey the debt the choir owes to Mrs. Jones. She
subsequently cited increasing frailty, and a desire to finish at the
top, as contributory reasons for her resignation.
Indeed it is the end of an era, but rest assured that moves are afoot
for a celebration of her career.
Fortunately for the choir, into the breech stepped principal accompanist Wendy
Brown, and chorister Anthony Marks. They have guided the choir through
the successful concerts at Milton Parish Church, and St James' at
Barton-under-Needwood and the quest for the new Musical Director has now begun.
The concert at Christ Church Tunstall fell victim to the weather last Friday. Already being aired are some of the numbers that we will be performing at the Anglo Welsh festivals at Birmingham and Cardiff in June; these now being the major targets on our horizon.
The choir with in excess of 50 choristers will be different from now on, but we intend to maintain the high standards set by Mrs. Jones. If you would like to be part of this adventure you will get a warm welcome, rehearsals usually take place at Biddulph High School on Wednesdays, starting sharply at 7 pm. Hope to see you there.
26th January 2013
The previous nights severe snow falls did not prevent a slightly depleted Biddulph Male Voice choir from taking to the stage once again at Milton Parish Church last Saturday evening.
The choir received a warm welcome and although somewhat lighter in Tenor and Bass sections the choir put on an excellent and balanced performance. The choir was led by Anthony Marks and delightfully accompanied by Wendy Brown.
The high-lights of the evening were many with a good selection of choir favourites including Morte Christe, Gwahoddiad, Rhythm of Life, Llanfair and Bring him Home together with You Raise Me Up featuring first tenor Clive Reynolds.
At the end of the concert the Rev. Brian Statham thanked the choir for a wonderful evening and the choir closed with the most apt ‘May Each Day’ as a finale to their quality performance.
The choirs next performance is at the Barton Music & Art Festival at St.James Parish Church Barton-under-Needwood on the 23rd February at 7.30pm.
31st December 2012
Is it your resolution to join the choir?
I trust that all readers have had a Merry Xmas, and are looking
forward to the new year with, at least, some degree of optimism.
The choir has had a busy Xmas period with concerts from Sandbach to
Stafford, and venues ranging from banqueting halls to school halls,
churches and church halls of all sorts. But, perhaps, the most
satisfying was a small afternoon concert in a nursing home. To see the
residents' eyes light up, and join in the singing was truely
heartening.
A few members of the choir augmented an ad hoc choir at Biddulph
Methodist Church. They performed the "Hallelujah Chorus" in a one-off
performance, which was the climax of the carol concert. It was a novel
experience, for some, to be singing in a mixed choir.
So it was with a contented feeling of a job well done that the choir
went to it's Xmas dinner at Kidsgrove Masonic Hall. Of course, the
evening finished with an eclectic sing-song, led by the two Daves,
Tildesley and McCaddon and accompanied by Anthony Marks.
It is with great regret that we have received the resignation of
accompanist Lynne Bradburn, for personal reasons. Lynne had a
professional attitude and played with great accuracy, sensitivity and
sympathy. She will be sorely missed, but we wish her well.
We have two concerts in January; at St Lawrence, Biddulph, and Milton
Parish Church. But rehearsals will now be dominated by the songs that
we will be singing at the Anglo-Welsh Festival of Male Voice Choirs,
at both Birmingham City Hall and St. David's Hall, Cardiff. Rehearsals
usually take place at Biddulph High School on Wednesdays at 7 pm. I
hope that your new year resolution is to come along and join in the
experience. RH
24th November 2012
It might have been a wet and windy night outside last Saturday but it hadn’t stopped the audience from filling the concert hall in Sandbach High School. They were there to hear two renowned local choirs, namely Biddulph Male Voice Choir and Sandbach Ladies Choir who thrilled with a beautifully arranged evening of music.
Valetta Cranmer introduced the concert which was in aid of St.Lukes Hospice and the North West Air Ambulance. It was the Biddulph Male Voice Choir under the direction of Gwenda Jones and accompanied by Lynne Bradburn who took to the stage first opening with the appropriate “With a voice of Singing”. Then with a hint of their forthcoming Christmas repertoire they sang “When a child is born”. It was now soloist Cyril Martlew who stepped forward to feature on “Another Day” supported by the choir and they ended their first set with every choirs favourite “Morte Christe”.
It was now the Sandbach Ladies choir under the direction of Valetta Cranmer and accompanied by John Axon. Their set consisting of “Where the Gentle Avon Flows”, “The Dashing White Sergeant”, “Love Changes Everything” and their own foot tapping arrangement of “Rock my Soul”.
The Biddulph Male Voice then returned to perform “Portrait of my Love”, “Bring him Home” and everyones favourite “American Trilogy”
The second half of the concert had everything with Sandbach Ladies performing “All around the world”, “Yellow Bird” and Leonard Cohens “Hallelujah” and with Biddulph Male Voice Choir performing a number of pieces from their extensive repertoire which included “Llanfair”, the most touching “Still as the Night”, “Rhythm of Life” and “Nessun Dorma”, “Take me Home”, “My Way” and the one that always catches the audience out “When the Saints”.
A great charity concert ended with both choirs and audience singing a rousing “Jerusalem”.
The Biddulph Male Voice Choirs busy autumn/winter schedule continues this Saturday 1st December when they perform at Endon Methodist church with all proceeds going to the Romanian Orphanage & Crisis Centre Appeal.
27th October 2012
The choir performed a delightful programme of three sets firstly opening with a most moving rendition of “Gwahoddiad” followed by “Still as the Night”, “The Lord’s Prayer”, “Roll Jordon Roll”, “Pokarakare Ana” and “Rhythm of Life”.
After a short break the choir performed “Morte Christe”, “Let it be me”,”Bring him Home”,”Speed your journey”, “Ave Maria” and “Amen” .
The final set included some old favourites and further pieces from the choirs forthcoming Anglo Welsh concerts “Mansions of the Lord” and “ Cyfri’r Geifr “ (Counting the Goats).
Musical Direction from the pulpit came from Anthony Marks with accompaniment from the choirs principal accompanist Wendy Brown.
Biddulph Male Voice Choir continue its busy spring season with the next concert which will be at Christ Church in Tunstall on Friday 19th April at 7.30pm.
finished a very good concert at St. Lawrence, Biddulph, and the usual
acknowledgements were being made, when, almost casually, it was
mentioned that this had been our Music Director Gwenda Jones' last concert.
"Shocked and stunned" would not be an understatement. The lady who had
led the choir for over forty years, taken it from it's deepest
despairs to it's finest triumphs, had suddenly stood down.
No words can convey the debt the choir owes to Mrs. Jones. She
subsequently cited increasing frailty, and a desire to finish at the
top, as contributory reasons for her resignation.
Indeed it is the end of an era, but rest assured that moves are afoot
for a celebration of her career.
Fortunately for the choir, into the breech stepped principal accompanist Wendy
Brown, and chorister Anthony Marks. They have guided the choir through
the successful concerts at Milton Parish Church, and St James' at
Barton-under-Needwood and the quest for the new Musical Director has now begun.
The concert at Christ Church Tunstall fell victim to the weather last Friday. Already being aired are some of the numbers that we will be performing at the Anglo Welsh festivals at Birmingham and Cardiff in June; these now being the major targets on our horizon.
The choir with in excess of 50 choristers will be different from now on, but we intend to maintain the high standards set by Mrs. Jones. If you would like to be part of this adventure you will get a warm welcome, rehearsals usually take place at Biddulph High School on Wednesdays, starting sharply at 7 pm. Hope to see you there.
The choir received a warm welcome and although somewhat lighter in Tenor and Bass sections the choir put on an excellent and balanced performance. The choir was led by Anthony Marks and delightfully accompanied by Wendy Brown.
The high-lights of the evening were many with a good selection of choir favourites including Morte Christe, Gwahoddiad, Rhythm of Life, Llanfair and Bring him Home together with You Raise Me Up featuring first tenor Clive Reynolds.
At the end of the concert the Rev. Brian Statham thanked the choir for a wonderful evening and the choir closed with the most apt ‘May Each Day’ as a finale to their quality performance.
The choirs next performance is at the Barton Music & Art Festival at St.James Parish Church Barton-under-Needwood on the 23rd February at 7.30pm.
I trust that all readers have had a Merry Xmas, and are looking
forward to the new year with, at least, some degree of optimism.
The choir has had a busy Xmas period with concerts from Sandbach to
Stafford, and venues ranging from banqueting halls to school halls,
churches and church halls of all sorts. But, perhaps, the most
satisfying was a small afternoon concert in a nursing home. To see the
residents' eyes light up, and join in the singing was truely
heartening.
A few members of the choir augmented an ad hoc choir at Biddulph
Methodist Church. They performed the "Hallelujah Chorus" in a one-off
performance, which was the climax of the carol concert. It was a novel
experience, for some, to be singing in a mixed choir.
So it was with a contented feeling of a job well done that the choir
went to it's Xmas dinner at Kidsgrove Masonic Hall. Of course, the
evening finished with an eclectic sing-song, led by the two Daves,
Tildesley and McCaddon and accompanied by Anthony Marks.
It is with great regret that we have received the resignation of
accompanist Lynne Bradburn, for personal reasons. Lynne had a
professional attitude and played with great accuracy, sensitivity and
sympathy. She will be sorely missed, but we wish her well.
We have two concerts in January; at St Lawrence, Biddulph, and Milton
Parish Church. But rehearsals will now be dominated by the songs that
we will be singing at the Anglo-Welsh Festival of Male Voice Choirs,
at both Birmingham City Hall and St. David's Hall, Cardiff. Rehearsals
usually take place at Biddulph High School on Wednesdays at 7 pm. I
hope that your new year resolution is to come along and join in the
experience. RH
24th November 2012