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Gwehelog Singing, 17th July 1999 Report from Dave Richardson Just a perfect day.... Thus it was at Gwehelog on Saturday 17th July. Writing this a week later - I went on holiday on the Sunday - the details of the singing have unfortunately become too blurred to provide a commentary but here are some general impressions and highlights that have stayed with me: Imagine a pretty, cared for, white-washed Chapel with a small Churchyard sat atop a hill and surrounded by hedged fields and trees, this is the Gwehelog Methodist Chapel. Further imagine the whole bathed in sunshine and thronged with singers greeting and carrying out their appointed tasks. The expectancy mounted as the Harmonium (for the Sankey sing) was 'test driven', the food gathered, the seating arranged and the water urn switched on.... The opening prayer was delivered by the local Minister and started with a moments silence. As the 'buzz' subsided the deep quietness that ensued came as a shock, we have all but lost this in much of our small busy island. The singing was spirited throughout the day, and was particularly strong after lunch with the arrival of fresh voices. Numbers? 40-50, plus some local singers who moved in and out during the day. The parts were fairly well balanced, we could always do with more front bench tenors, and we were light on occasions on the Alto bench mainly due to a number doubling tea duties! Lacking custom-built concrete food tables for dinner outside in the Churchyard, we had wallpaper pasting tables and fine they were as was the shared food. Along with other aspects of a singing, we in the UK are gradually understanding the reason and benefits of operating in a traditional way. Visitors? Diane Mennella of New York and her two sisters, what charming people. Diane was instrumental in helping us maintain our 'edge' and drive throughout the day as she moved from part to part, though the basses were thankfully spared :) Just before lunch saw the surprise arrival of Barry and Shelly Phillips of Santa Cruz. They were able to come due to the cancellation of an event involving Ravi Shankar and a Greek Island! - at least that's what I think they said. As Ken described at the close - 'We have had visitors from all over, even some from as far as Abergavenny'! (the nearest large town). There were at least two people leading for the first time and the pieces led reflected our becoming gradually more adventurous in searching out the wonderful and inspiring pieces present in the Sacred Harp. So to the Sankey portion of the day. My 'directing the singing' as Ken Baddley grandly described it in his flyer involved little more than providing opening remarks, selecting a couple of pieces by way of illustration and then asking people to name their favourite from the selection which we promptly sang. We were very fortunate to have Chris Gardener accompany us on the Chapel Harmonium / American Reed Organ (manufactured in Battlebro' USA). The instrument is not an easy one on which to play the lively rhythms of many of the Sankey pieces but Chris did a fine job. As the singing started the Chapel filled with local singers, most carrying their own copy of the stubby 'Sacred Songs and Solos 1200' book. The singing as could be expected given where we were, was lovely and the harmonies rolled around the Chapel. We sang 22 of the 26 pieces selected for the booklet and one piece - 'When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder' - we sang twice, once requested and once to finish, and what a finish! It's as well the roof was high and well maintained! For me it was a privilege to share this part of the day with the local singers for whom these Gospel Hymns have been an ever present part of their singing and worship lives. I left after this part of the day so cannot comment on the evening's activities, though as I left there was talk of meeting in a pub to sing some West Gallery music! 'Just a perfect day...', our thanks to Ken for providing the opportunity for us all to be part of it.
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