Eisteddfod: Can we sing in the heat?

So, it was a heat wave. How many of our choir members would turn up and be able to sing? How big would our audience be and would they have the energy to clap and cheer us? I didn’t need to worry. Yes, the choir was a bit smaller than expected. But led as ever by our excellent Director Rose Hodgson we sang our hearts out. Well, it was the Eisteddfod after all!

The Eisteddfod was a bit less busy than usual but the singing and dancing from choirs and musicians from all over the world was as magic as ever. Our rehearsal under a big tree near to the participants welcome spot, drew its own appreciate audience. Our first actual performance was in the town centre, in an open space, where we were able to stand in the shade. Traffic passed us by, including a couple of noisy motorbikes. People came and went but enough stayed to enjoy our set. I found myself singing with an open heart – well not literally!

And our final set on the Eisteddfod site, again under shelter, drew its own appreciative audience. We sang some of our familiar enjoyable songs, many of which spoke to the spirit of the Eisteddfod – to bring diverse people together, who share a love of music and singing in a peaceful spirit.

We sang Chanson – which invites us to think about who in the world is singing? Then Let the river run, an extraordinary Carl Simon song which demands that we ‘let the dreamers wake the nation’!  When love had no road, based on a poem composed for a queer wedding, highlighting the (ongoing) struggle involved. Shto me e milo, a curious Macedonian/ Bulgarian song about people gathering around a well. You’re the voice, a heartfelt voice about a desire for peace and finally Let the light come shining through which encourages us to have a deep connection with Nature to enhance our wellbeing.

So we had a good time - cael amser da.

William West