Once again, Llanddewi Rhydderch welcomes Abergavenny Salvation Army band to the village for this well-loved seasonal celebration, with a rich menu of favourite carols for all to sing. As in 2021, Llanddewi Rhydderch Festival Choir will be singing some carols on their own.

This page sets out the information about the Festival Choir and how to be part of it.

Membership of the choir is open to any interested singers or proto-singers. If you are a proto-singer (someone who would like to take part, but is unsure of your singing abilities, or has been told by someone that you can't sing) there are a couple of projects you can try yourself out on before committing. See below.

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.

However, it is hoped that singers who register for this project will attend as many rehearsals as possible.

It is NOT expected that singers will be able to sight read music. The rehearsal schedule (see below) allows good time for learning notes and, for those who want to use them, downloadable rehearsal tracks will be available.

To be sung in St David's

• Awake Were They;
• Go, Tell it on the Mountain;
• How Far is it to Bethlehem?;
• Little Donkey;
• On Christmas Night;
• When Joseph was an Old Man.

To be sung in the village hall

• Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly;
• It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year;
• Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.

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

And, of course, the choir will be singing with the carols-for-all with the Salvation Army Band.

Rehearsals (with refreshments) will be held on these days at these times. If requested, extra rehearsal time can be made available.

The first three rehearsals will be note-learning sessions. If you don't read music, it is at these rehearsals that the basic notes will be learnt. If you can read music, it's not essential that you come to these rehearsals. (But if you are able to come - your presence will help the note-learning of others.)

1. Sunday 6 Nov: 3.00 - 5.00 pm
2. Sunday 13 Nov: 3.00 - 5.00 pm
3. Sunday 20 Nov: 3.00 - 5.00 pm

During these next two rehearsals, raw notes will be turned into music. If you are able to read music, this would be a good time to come along.

4. FRIDAY 25 Nov: 7.00 - 9.00 pm
5. Sunday 4 Dec: 3.00 - 5.00 pm

At this last full rehearsal we will be going through everything. As far as possible, we need everyone present. Please contact Philip Norman if you are a music reader and able to come to only this one rehearsal and not the previous two (or five).

6. Sunday 11 Dec 3.00 - 5.00 pm

A final top-and-tail session.

7. TUESDAY 13 Dec 6.00 - 6.30pm

The rehearsals are being divided into tiers.

• TIER 1:
  If you like to really know a piece well and sing through it many times, rehearsals 1 - 7.
• TIER 2:
  If you read music and need just a few runs-through, rehearsals 4 - 7.
• TIER 3:
  If you are a good sight reader, 6 - 7.

None of the music is fierce and there are lots great, singable melodies on the programme.

When the music has been chosen and produced, a downloadable copy will be placed on this site for personal perusal (remember: we are producing the books for you).

Similarly, rehearsal tracks will be provided.

It is planned that these downloads will be ready by the end of October.

If you are uncertain whether you can sing, or have been told by someone that you can't, you might want to try this event to help you find your voice:

• Great Welsh Hymns
  Saturday 8 October 2.00 - 6.00 pm
  An afternoon singing great Welsh hymns (in parallel Welsh and English) ending with an informal concert.
  This is a good opportunity to let yourself go on some of the greatest tunes on earth.
  St David's Church.
  LINK

Nothing - it's all free.

There is no actual last date - we can accept new singers right up to 6.00 pm on the day (as long as they know the notes).

However, music has to be collated and printed. To make sure that everything is ready for the first rehearsal (6 Nov), please, if possible, register by

22 October