From the coal pits nestled within the green valleys of South Wales to the slate-built villages and mines of Eryri, the proud tradition of the Welsh Male Voice Choir has spread into international renown. Our brand-new opera, Blaze of Glory! is based in one of these mining areas, as a small town comes together to re-form their choir in the face of terrible tragedy and adversity. But where does this wonderfully Welsh tradition come from, and why does it still hold such sway over us now?
In the 19th century, Wales was becoming a predominantly non-conformist religious society, and as Methodism spread across the country it led to an increase in harmonized congregational singing at Sunday services. At this time roughly 80% of people in Wales attended a chapel, and as the Industrial Revolution swept across Wales, the black gold buried within the valleys became a rich commodity. Working men from rural Wales would travel to the rolling hills and terrace houses of the South Welsh valleys in search of work.
As young men moved to the growing mining towns across South Wales and worked shoulder to shoulder in perilous conditions both above and below ground during the day, they would congregate in public houses and village halls in the evenings. Choirs sprung up throughout the towns, often connected to the local chapel, and as one the working men came together to sing, committed to the emotionally charged hymns and arias that they performed together.
While each individual Male Voice Choir shared similarities with their counterparts from the other villages across Wales, there are certain defining factors for each group that is theorised to stem from their work: The coal dust of South Wales produced the purest tenors, the grey slate gave its weight to the tremendous basses of North Wales, as the furnaces surrounding Swansea poured out molten tin and copper, which dripped mellow tones into the voices of the choristers of Morriston.
The choirs formed by the working men were not only prevalent during times of industrial boom – during periods of mass unemployment in the 1920s and 1930s the choirs saw an increase in membership as the town residents used their increased free time to come together in rehearsals. In fact, the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1938 featured five competitive entries in the unemployed category for choirs.
Male Voice Choirs have been as synonymous with Wales as daffodils, red dragons and Welsh cakes, and their singing before rugby matches in the Principality Stadium and historical significance has solidified their presence within the Welsh identity.
It is no surprise that Welsh voices are heard around the world today, helped by the popularity of Only Men Aloud who re-introduced much of Britain to Male Voice Choirs by winning BBC Last Choir Standing in 2008. They have since started Only Boys Aloud to increase interest and participation in the tradition of all-male choirs within younger communities. The group regularly tours across the world, spreading Wales’s reputation as The Land of Song far and wide.
If you’d like to hear Male Voice Choirs and traditional Welsh hymns meld with the classical world of opera in a story of resilience, courage and the power of music to heal and unite a community, then book now to come and witness our new opera, Blaze of Glory!, on tour this Spring in Cardiff, Llandudno, Milton Keynes, Bristol, Birmingham and Southampton.