Voices of the Valley
Artist(s):
The Fron Male Voice Choir
Label: Universal Classics
Publisher(s):
Universal Classics
Studio: Universal Classics
Manufacturer: Universal Classics
Binding: Audio CD
List Price: £5.99
Our Price: £3.98
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Similar Items:
Voices Of The Valley Encore
Voices Of The Valley: Home
Serenade
Favourite Welsh Choirs
Rejoice
Land of My Fathers: the Best of Welsh Male Voice Choirs
Spirit Of The Glen
Blake
All Angels
Only Men Aloud (Last Choir Standing)
Track Listing
1.
Sailing
2.
Abide With Me
3.
Jerusalem
4.
Land of My Fathers
5.
Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)
6.
Unchained Melody
7.
You Raise Me Up (Dyrchefir fi)
8.
Shenandoah
9.
You'll Never Walk Alone
10.
All Through The Night (Ar Hyd Y Nos)
11.
The Last Rose of Summer
12.
The Rose
13.
World In Union
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's a tale fit for a Hollywood blockbuster: a 60-strong Welsh male choir, originally formed in 1947, plucked from obscurity and transformed into the most unlikely boyband in the world (or at least oldest - the average age is 60, the combined age 3974). In fact, their rise from the fringes to fame is already being primed for a major movie next year (produced by Zygi Kamasa of Bend It Like Beckham and Good Night and Good Luck fame) - but that's another story. First we have Voices Of The Valley, an album that shows us precisely why Universal signed a group originally created to sing goodwill songs to the Welsh communities during the harsh post-war years. Comprised of rousing, traditional songs like "Jerusalem", "Danny Boy" and "Abide With Me", and interpretations of popular tunes such as the opener "Sailing", "Unchained Melody" and "You Raise Me Up", it doesn't take long for the logic of the enterprise to strike: the beautiful, graceful sound of 60 men booming joyously through your speakers and the combination of stirring vocal prowess and orchestral embellishments - is truly overwhelming. --Danny McKenna
Customer Reviews
Disappointing.
Excellent voices overpowered by incongruous orchestral accompaniment.The richness of the voices was spoiled for one who wants a male voice choir to be just that.This cd does more than it says on the tin,unfortunately.
Harmonious but lacking Spirit
I was disappointed with this CD. It felt all very studio-managed. Yes, the songs are nicely sung; but there seemed to be no great emotion or force to the singing. I also I agree with one of the other reviewers that the accompaniment was too pronounced. For a male voice choir you want some power and energy. This might have set the hairs rising on the back of a small dog, but not me. Maybe in the 21st century it has to be sufficiently bland to appeal to a wide audience in different countries.
The Art of "Sailing"
The combination of this arrangement along with the strong, rich male voices makes "Sailing" one the world's great choral masterpieces in my opinion. Most music only reaches our ears; this pieces reaches our hearts.
This is art. Although it seems magical it almost transcends explanation and lifts the spirit of mankind out of itself for just a moment in time.
"Sailing" reaches us most deeply at the very point when the arrangement modulates and allows the full harmony of these voices to soar. When this takes place in the CD it makes the hair stand out on the back of your neck. My eyes teared up and I knew that my deepest self had been touched.
Wonderful music but . . .
I have always appreciated Welsh male choirs. Some of the great songs stir my soul . . . when I can understand the lyrics. Singing in Welsh may be patriotic, but I can't sing along. I was disappointed by the tracks sung in Welsh. Couldn't English and Welsh versions have been included? Surely that wouldn't have set back the sectarian fragmentation of the British Isles by too much.
Mae hen Wlad fy nhadau yn annwyli i mi (The old land of my fathers is dear to me)
WHEN LAND OF MY FATHERS IS ON THE HIGHEST VOLUME ON THE HI-FI, THE HAIRS STAND AND THE GOOSE FLESH APPEARS AND THE HAND GOES TO MY HEART. ITS A VERY PATRIOTIC SONG FOR MYSELF AND WELSH MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE. As soon as "Sailing" starts to play i have images of the Falklands War (I wasnt born then, i was here in 87, but my mum always said "ooh, it reminds me of when our lads went to the Falklands, they played this song many times")so as a fellow PARA i feel very proud of our lads in all services of the forces. The whole album is a beauty and should be heard by everyone. and i mean everyone. Phenominal heart wrentching beauty. BLOODY BRILLIANT MUN!
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT SOME OF THE CONTENT THAT WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH THIS APPLICATION COMES FROM AMAZON WEB SERVICES. ALL SUCH CONTENT IS PROVIDED TO YOU "AS IS." THIS CONTENT AND YOUR USE OF IT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND/OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Powered by PNAmazon © 2003-2007 ttgapers.com
