In anticipation of the formal institution for the North Monmouthshire Ministry Area in January 2023, an Advent carol service is being organised in St James the Elder, Llanvetherine, with a choir drawn from parishes of the forthcoming ministry area, on Sunday 27 November during the afternoon**.

This page sets out information about this Advent Choir and how to be part of it.

Read more about the NMMA and its music HERE

**During the time of this project, sunset will be about 4.10 pm, with darkness settling in somewhere about 4.30 - 4.45. This means that the rehearsals and service will end and people will be able to get home during daylight hours.

Membership of the choir is open to all interested singers.

Singing with the choir carries no implication of further committment. This is a self contained project and once done and dusted, that's it. You will be kept informed of other similar projects, but not with an expectation that you will participate.

It is NOT expected that singers will be able to sight read music. The pieces chosen will allow for a range of musical abilities and, for those who want to use them, downloadable rehearsal tracks will be available.

This choral project will be led by Philip Norman

• For the choir:You can preview the choral pieces in the Downloads section
• For the choir and congregation: a selection of Advent hymns and carols.

These are the seven hymns. We are going to sing these in unison (melody only) but, if you know any of the other parts, feel free to sing them. I suggest that you DON'T do so in first verse, so that you can check that the harmony you know is the same as that being sung, and also not in the last verse.

Hark! a Herald Voice is Calling

Hark the Glad Sound

Hills of the North, Rejoice

On Jordan's Bank

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Long Ago, Prophets Knew

Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending

It won't be necessary for singers to download and print the music themselves. Books will be provided.

Please remember, via the Downloads section (just below) rehearsal tracks will be available from the beginning of November so, if you wish, you can practise the music in your own time at home.

• For singers who want to feel really secure with the notes:
  A pre-rehearsals rehearsal, Friday 18 November 7.30 - 8.30 pm, Zenith, Church Lane, Llanddewi Rhydderch NP7 9TS. (Just opposite the church.) MAP
• For singers who like to go through the music several times before performing it:
  Saturday 19 November, 2.00 - 4.00 pm, St James' church.
• For all singers:
  Saturday 26 November, 2.00 - 4.00 pm, St James' church.
• For all singers:
  Sunday 27 November, 1.30 - 2.30 pm, St James' church.

You can preview the music HERE.

ALERT!!!!!! This section was updated on Monday 14 November. There are changes. Please read.

The registrations received so far will not produce a balanced choir in the set-up originally envisaged. So, to make sure that no one part is over stretched, the music has been re-arranged into two parts. This has been a complete rearrangement so that, although only in two parts, the harmony is complete. These two parts are designated upper (sopranos and tenors singing in their own octave) and altos and basses (also singing in their own octave.

These new arrangements also give additional flexibility for singers who are new to choral singing. If such singers would prefer to learn and perfect the melodies only, rather than having to learn other notes as well, this is an option open to them.

Below are voice-diffentiated rehearsal tracks for the choral pieces. They are in MP3 format, which means that you can download them on to the device of your choice and listen to them at any time.

They are electonically generated, so they are far from musical in effect, but they do accurately show the contours of each part.

• Cherry Tree Carol
  Complete, with all repeats
  General, Upper, Lower.
• Creator of the Stars of Night
  Verses 1, 2, 4, and Amen
  General, Upper, Lower.
• Haste, My Soul
  One verse only
  General, Upper, Lower.
• Saviour of the Nations, Come
  Complete
  General, Upper, Lower.
• Wake, O Wake! With Tidings Thrilling
  One verse only
  General, Upper, Lower.

Nothing - it's all free. HOWEVER!!! For our rehearsals, churches are going to be lit and heated - so at the end of the 26 November rehearsal a collection will be taken to cover these costs.

There is no actual last date - we can accept new singers right up to 2.00 pm on Saturday 26 November.

However, music has to be collated and printed. To make sure that everything is ready for the first rehearsal (19 Nov), please, if possible, register

as soon as possible.

Click HERE to register.