1 novembre ore 20.45
Chiesa Collegiata
San Giovanni in Persiceto
Coro gallese ‘Ar Ôl Tri’

Programma

1st half – Sacred music

1. Llanfair

Music: Robert Williams (1781 – 1821), arranged for men’s voices Mansel Thomas (1909-1986)
Words: William Williams, Pantycelyn (1716-1791)
This is a well-known hymn tune and words, by the most famous of Welsh hymn-writers, Pantycelyn. The last verse is an assertion of faith: ‘This is a strong foundation for my whole life…’
leading to the powerful ‘Amen’.

2. Cyn Cau Llygaid (Close thine Eyes)

Music: Ieuan Rees-Davies (1894-1967)
Words: Attributed to King Charles I; translation by Wil Ifan
This is a paternoster, written for men’s voices and sung in Welsh.
‘Sleep well, thy soul is secure…’ are the opening words.

3. Gwahoddiad

Music: Lewis Hartsough (1828 -1919), arranged for mens’ voices by John Tudor Davies
Words: Ieuan Gwyllt (1822 – 1877)
This is probably the most famous hymn-tune sung by men’s choirs. Ar ôl Tri recorded an adapted version of this with tenor, Trystan Llŷr, which is available on Youtube (Trystan Llŷr, Gwahoddiad).
The lyrics open with the words ‘I hear a gentle voice, calling unto me to come to cleanse my faults in the river of Calvary…’

4. SOLO – Gwynedd Parry. [tbc]

5. De Animals a-Comin’

Music and words: traditional
Arranged by Marshall Bartholomew (1885-1978)
This spiritual tells the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark, in a lively arrangement of the spiritual sung in English. ‘The animals are comin, one by one…’.

6. Arglwydd, dyma fore (My Lord, what a morning)

Music: Traditional, arranged by R.Lee Gilliam, 1902 – 1984)
Words: Emyr Davies
A famous spiritual – My Lord What a Morning – translated into Welsh. The quiet opening is the refrain: ‘My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall.’

7. Gwyn fy Myd (It is Well with my soul)

Music: Philip P Bliss (1838-1876)
Words: Horatio G Spafford (1828-1888)
Arranged by: David Harrington
This is a modern arrangement of a powerful hymn: It Is well with my soul (sung in Welsh, translation by Emyr Davies). The opening lyrics are: ‘When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say: it is well, it is well with my soul.’

2nd half – sacred and secular

8. Y Red Cow

Music: Theobald Kerner (1817-1907)
Words: Ceri Wyn Jones
This is a lively adaptation of a German drinking song ‘Aus die Traube in die Tonne’. The Welsh words by a member of the choir, Ceri Wyn Jones, tell of a small choir in West Wales who would enjoy going to the Red Cow, a local pub, after rehearsals.

9. Loch Lomond

Music: traditional, arranged by Michael Hanawalt
Words: traditional, Welsh translation by Emyr Davies
A well-known song in a beautiful arrangement by Michael Hanawalt.

10. SOLO. Gwyn Morris [tbc]

11. Eli Jenkins’ Prayer

Music: A.H.D Troyte (1811-1857), arranged by Alwyn Humphreys
Words: Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) and T James Jones (1934 -)
The words come from Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, and are a prayer or blessing for the narrator’s home village. It will be sung in English and Welsh, and the Welsh version is by another famous poet T James Jones. Ar ôl Tri recorded this song with the famous Welsh singer, Bryn Terfel for a television series in 2017. We will be singing with our own Bryn Terfel, i.e. Gwyn Morris.
Here is the opening verse: ‘Ev’ry morning, when I wake, dear Lord a little prayer I make: O please to keep thy loving eye on all poor creatures born to die.’

12. Myfanwy

Music: Joseph Parry (1841 – 1903)
Words: Mynyddog (1833 – 1877)
This is perhaps the most famous song for Welsh men’s choirs: a love song to Myfanwy.

13. Mala Moja

Music: Traditional Serbo-Croat folk-song, arranged by Graham Subbs
Words: Ceri Wyn Jones
An adaptation of a lively folk-song, which tells of lost love.

14. Salm 23

Music: Eric Jones (1948 – )
Words: Psalm 23, sung in Welsh
This is a modern arrangement of the familiar psalm, by one of Wales’
most prolific living composers. He has written many pieces for mixed choirs and men’s voices.

15. Anthem