Photograph courtesy of Marge Fraser
The Risca Male Choir, on tour from Wales, performs at the Presbyterian Church of Sunnyvale Oct. 26.
By CRISTY SHAUCK
From the bowels of coal mines and the infernos of steel factories that spread across Wales during its heavy industrial era, passersby could hear workers singing together as they labored.
At the same time, a strong Christian influence encouraged everyone to attend church or chapel and sing in the congregation. From these facets of Welsh culture evolved the traditional male choir.
On Sat., Oct. 26, at 7 p.m., Risca Male Choir--which ventures beyond traditional Welsh music to perform sacred, classical, folk and popular music--will perform at the Presbyterian Church of Sunnyvale on West Fremont Avenue. This will be their fourth of six performances on a tour from Wales.
Risca Male Choir started with a group of men who began singing together in 1968. The choir, which began touring in 1977, was broadcast live on radio, appeared on television and recorded its unique sound on CD and tape, winning competitions and praise along the way.
When the choir arrives, its 58 members will stay with members of the Presbyterian Church of Sunnyvale and the Welsh Society of Northern California and other families in the community. The last time the choir came to town, in May 1990, Marge Fraser's family hosted two choir members and their wives.
"In the morning, they put on swimsuits and jumped into our pool, which must have been 50 degrees at the time," Fraser said. She enjoyed talking to her guests and took them sightseeing.
Fraser fell in love with the choir's music. "Risca sings with spirit," she said. "They sing like one voice. It goes to your innermost heart."
Dick and Diana Aldrich also hosted choristers during their last American tour. After the performance, "everyone met at a pub, and they sang whatever they felt like," Diana said. On another day, "We also had a potluck and reminisced."
Diana eagerly anticipates the choir's next performance. To her, listening to the choir conveys "a sense of home. I get hungry for the sound of their voices."
"There were at one time hundreds of male choirs," said choir secretary John Coleman. "But with the demise of the coal and steel industries came the demise of the male choirs."
Today's members are police officers, council workers, teachers, motor engineers and even a few steel workers. They range in age from 27 to 76.
Coleman himself joined the choir after hearing them perform at a rugby club 23 years ago. "I have benefited immensely by singing with many famous singers and orchestras and have enjoyed tours to Germany, Czech Republic, Malta and now the third time to the U.S.A."
"The Californian tours are always our favorite and the people of Sunnyvale are really something," Coleman added. "Their hospitality is second to none. We have so many friends there, and we just cannot wait to be with them all once again."
For information about the Risca Male Choir performance, call 366-1798. To order tickets, send $10 per ticket and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Risca Male Choir, 1454 Enderby Way, Sunnyvale, 94087. For information about the Welsh Society of Northern California, call 415/751-0798.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 16, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.