Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, Yorkshire

Patron :
The Earl of Harewood

The Present

Colne Valley Male Voice Choir certainly has a distinguished history over more than 80 years and the choir is alive and kicking today, its members living a musical life to the full in the 21st century.

First and foremost we are a performing choir, for without performance we would not exist. Yes, we enjoy rehearsing, but those hours of pleasurable hard work are for a purpose.  It is, after all, about sharing the joy of music and singing for an audience and that really gives us the most pleasure.

2008

Saturday 23rd February and this year the Choir had entered only the Male Voice Choir Class at the Mrs Sunderland Musical Festival and repeated the win of the year previous and thus withholding the Brighouse Trophy. This win gave automatic entry to the evening’s competition Choir Prize Winners’ Challenge and Colne Valley came third behind two Ladies’ Choirs.

On 29th March in Huddersfield Town Hall the Choir were guests of Brighouse and Rastrick Band at their subscriber’s concert. The Band was conducted by Alan Morrison and in the absence of Thom Meredith who was on holiday in USA the Choir was conducted by James Morgan. This was a most excellent concert and the audience gave both Band and Choir a superlative reception. In addition to their own individual items Band and Choir joined together in no less than six items.

A week later on Sunday 6th April in the same Hall, Colne Valley joined with the male voice choir forces of Gledholt, Skelmanthorpe, Elland and New Mill, to give a massed choir of more than 200 voices together and the YBS Band. This concert was organised by Colne Valley Lions (Kirklees & Calderdale) for the ‘Forget Me Not Trust’ Charity.

Concerts

On average 10 to 12 concerts are performed each year.  A percentage of these are our own concerts, where we are responsible for arrangements and finances, whilst at others we are invited guests of concert organisers.  These may be repeat invitations to perform at venues previously experienced by the choir or new contacts and venues.  All are equally enjoyable and it is such a pleasure to make new friends in music and to receive heart-felt thanks from our hosts.

We sing a great deal in and around our local West Yorkshire area at concert halls, town halls, especially that of Huddersfield, in churches, chapels and outdoor venues - you name it. We do travel, but mainly in the northern half of the country and prestigious venues include York Minster, Harewood House, Fountains Abbey, Preston Guild Hall.  A little further afield has seen the choir at the Fairfield Hall in Croydon and not forgetting the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Shared Platforms

Very often the concert platform is shared with guest soloists, orchestras and other musical ensembles and in many cases, of course, a band.  As we are based in West Yorkshire, where there is such a strong banding tradition, it is usually a brass band and this can mean from those of local villages to national ones of premier award winning status.

Sometimes we do perform alone, but even then we are fortunate to be able to call on a number of extremely capable vocal and instrumental soloists from within the choir and even a raconteur, all adding variety to an already varied musical programme.

We are particularly excited about working with local youth talent.  Such opportunities are frequent nowadays.  As well as being hugely enjoyable for all concerned, it is a chance for us to encourage youngsters as they embark on their musical careers.

Repertoire

We sing from a wide repertoire and we are always looking to increase it.

It includes-
Traditional and folk song mainly from Great Britain but can also extend to those of other countries and sung sometimes in their original language

Sacred Music - inevitably we draw on this rich vein, many items of which are so suitable for a choir which can draw on such powerful resources.  These are mainly shorter items, but we have tackled longer and full works like Liszt's Mass and Wagner's The Holy Supper of the Apostles

Operatic Choruses and pieces by classical composers from the 15th century to present day

Modern Song - items from musical shows and popular items.  We do try to keep up to date with both serious and popular composers and we have been known to give premieres

There are almost 600 items of music in the choir's library.  On average 60 different pieces of music are sung annually in concert, all without the aid of musical notation.  Music copies are strictly for rehearsal only.  Our computer based records show that in the previous decade alone 200 different songs have been performed by the choir in concert and competition.  Since 1960, when tangible and computer retrievable library records were started, astonishingly 540 different items have been performed, any of which can be related to a particular concert since that time.

Trips abroad

As we say, music is for sharing. It also breaks down barriers. We are fortunate enough to receive invitations from abroad. There have been many memorable tours, notably California USA, France, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) and several exchange visits with German Choirs, the first of which was in 1957/58. A particularly strong bond was made with the members of MGV Solingen Wupperhof, a male choir from the knives and scissors manufacturing town of Solingen. Since the first visit there in 1965, there have been a further three exchange visits with this choir and several friendships made then as twenty and thirty year olds are still retained today.

In a tour to Northern France in 2000 we performed in several major cathedrals, including those of Chartres and Rouen. The Choir's first visit to France in 1975 was to the Musical Festival held in Huddersfield's French twin town of Besançon. The Choir again visited there in the Spring of 2006. performing a memorable concert in the Grand Kursaal in Besançon to a very appreciative French audience and a second concert in L'Eglise de Pins as guests of the Pays de Charmes Choir.

Competitions

Throughout the choir's existence, competition work throughout the country has featured strongly in its activities, none more so than when competing at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen since its inauguration in 1947.  The choir's proud prize record there in 22 appearances over the years in the Male Voice Choir Class shows a tally of six first prizes, five second prizes and two third prizes with consecutive wins in 1960,1961,1962 and 1998,1999.  Further competitive successes over the life of the choir can be viewed under full Choir History - Festival Successes.

TV and Radio

Several broadcasts on radio have been made, as well as appearances on television, including a recent BBC 'Songs of Praise'.

Recordings

Several recordings cover different periods of the Choir's existence from 78's, through vinyl LP, to tape and CD. Recent CD recordings have been "Sacred ColneValley" with Marsden Band featuring many well-loved hymns and sacred songs, and live recordings of the 2004 and the 2005 Christmas concerts at Huddersfield Town Hall with Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band. The latter being released and available shortly. Digital enhanced CD recordings of original vinyl LP records from 1968 and 1970 have recently been produced and these are available on a special value priced double CD.

Social Life

Most members would say that the Choir is a very important part of their lives. We tend to be very dedicated.  They would also probably say that it is where they have many friends and lifetime friendships are common.  Trips and Social Events help bring us together in a common bond and wives and partners are also encouraged to enter into the life of the Choir in full.

So, to the pleasure of singing and performance must be added great camaraderie, surely the best prize asset of the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir.