JANUARY 2019 Meeting Report

NOSON LAWEN

The Black Sheep Choir

The room was full to overflowing for the annual January Noson Lawen of Chelmsford and District Welsh Society. The scene was set by an hilarious play written by the Society playwright, Brian Farmer. The varied entertainment which followed included David Brown’s Indifferent Strings (John Diamond, mandolin; Hillary Camp, guitar; Clive Williams, guitar and David, electro/acoustic bass) who played a mixture of German, Hebrew and Irish numbers. They were joined by the ukulele duo Gwenno Pope and Brian for some audience participation numbers, including The Fields of Athenry. A Noson Lawen would not be complete without traditional Welsh airs played on a harp. These were played beautifully by Buddug Rowland Frank, who concluded with a nostalgic Llwyn On (Ash Grove). Southwold UKs duo, Mother and daughter Clare Hart and Christine Thompson who had travelled all the way from Southwold, for this their first “gig” played several tunes on their ukuleles. Kim Brown read a lovely poem about penguins, which she had composed, and followed by singing a folk song. The other soloists were Peter Freeman and Arthur Williams, who were also members of the Black Sheep Choir, formed several years ago by Derrick Thomas especially to perform at the Noson Lawen. Peter, who has a rich bass voice, sang All Thro’ the Night and the spiritual Ride the Chariot, which have been sung by Paul Robeson, who was a great supporter of Welsh unemployed miners during the great depression. Arthur sang Anfon y Nico i Landwr. It is a beautiful song, and the words were composed by the poet (and later Archdruid) Cynan whilst serving in Macedonia during the first world war. Before he sang Arthur recited the words and a moving English translation, which is true to Cynan’s Welsh original, which he had discovered. Arthur was accompanied by Meinir Davies, a Blue Riband pianist at The National Eisteddfod of Wales. The Black Sheep ( Stuart Anderson,David Almond, Peter Freeman, Brian Farmer Gareth Williams Jim Armishaw and Derrick Thomas) sang at the end of each half: Calon Lan (A Pure Hart) to the tune of The Rose; Precious Lord, Take My Hand, a favourite of Martin Luther King; the spiritual Down By the Riverside; and finally My Grandfather’s Clock with the audience joining in the chorus. The programme was arranged by Ivy Price, the President and MC, and the thanks at the conclusion were given by the Vice-president, Liz Armishaw.

WELSH LEARNERS singing and the Welsh play

INDIFFERENT STRINGS

ARTHUR WILLIAMS  with accompanist MEINIR WYN DAVIS

PETER FREEMAN with

accompanist LIZ ARMISHAW

KIM BROWN