On song with
IT’S a start. Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir have performed their first concert since March 2020!
Fingers crossed, it will be just the first in a line of events as we start to ease our way out of coronavirus restrictions.
The regulations, at the moment, mean that chorister numbers have to be limited and that performances have to take place outdoors, with social distancing rules in place.
“It’s difficult and a challenge, but it’s definitely a start on the road back,” said Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Alex Esney.
“Our first concert back was a wonderful afternoon performing outside Y Plas Nursing Home in Felinfoel, Llanelli.
The residents were safely indoors and the event was held to help Y Plas mark their 40th anniversary.
“I did the musical accompaniment and deputy musical director Stephen Hopkins did the conducting.
“The boys did a great job and the residents and staff appreciated the visit and the singing.”
At present, Côr Meibion Llanelli are only rehearsing on a Monday evening at 7pm in Furnace Community Hall.
Alex added: “Côr Meibion Llanelli have had three new members – and, of course, we are looking for more. Anybody who would like to try male voice singing can turn up at Furnace to find out what it is all about.”
Alex is also musical director of Côr Curiad ladies choir in Llanelli.
They are rehearsing in Tabernacle, Burry Port, every Thursday.
Alex added: “Côr Curiad have had five new members after lockdown. Again, that’s great news. We think people are keen to try new activities after being in lockdown for so long!
“Being part of a choir is a great experience and I’d encourage everyone to try it.
“Both choirs are very welcoming and we have great fun – the camaraderie is brilliant and, of course, it is proven that singing is great for your health and wellbeing.”
Both choirs are scheduled to be appearing in the Llanelli Pride Festival 2021 on the weekend on Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17.
Coronavirus restrictions allowing, Llanelli Pride is scheduled to take place outside at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli.
The pre-publicity says it all starts with “a Pride Proms event on the evening of July 16, featuring classical performers, choirs and more.
“Saturday the 17th sees thousands attend our parade through the town to our massive multi-staged event with funfair, hundreds of stalls, a food village, dedicated kids’ area and recycled teens’ pavilion for the older Pride attendees.
“A huge celebration in the evening rounds up our 2021 event. Celebrating equality, diversity and community spirit, Llanelli Pride aims to bring the whole town together and provide a fun-filled day for everyone, with a plethora of acts and live music, alongside plenty of stalls, food and drink and a funfair.
“Llanelli Pride have lots of exciting things planned for the day, starting with a parade. It’s set to be a day to remember. Come along a share in our special day!
“We will also be running a bestdressed competition for each category. It’s free to attend!”
In other news, there were plenty of smiles among the choral singing fraternity this week at the latest announcements from the Welsh Government on coronavirus safety.
Welsh Government has apologised “unreservedly” after mistakenly publishing guidance that said tenors, rather than altos or sopranos, were more likely to spread coronavirus.
On Friday, Welsh Government revised its guidance and republished on its website a document about reopening places of worship.
The 31-page document detailed things like what counts as a religious service, what events can happen but also “singing, chanting and the use of musical instruments”.
It explained how there are “significant risks associated with playing wind instruments and with singing or chanting at louder volumes” because that can lead to an increased spread of droplets or aerosol which rise alongside volume.”
The document said: “Over the course of the pandemic a number of ‘super-spreading’ events have been associated with gatherings where a ‘vocal’ element plays a role in transmission.
These include choir practices and recitals, concerts, weddings and worship. The risks of singing, chanting and playing of instruments are then significant. However, scientific advice has concluded these risks are manageable where the community transmission rate is low.”
The updated guidance said that singing and playing of instruments can take place where risk assessments and mitigation measures have been put in place and that congregations will have to wear masks when singing, for example.
However, it then goes on to list “other factors identified as affecting risk of transmission”.
It says that a longer duration of singing creates a higher risk, as does more singers but also “type of singer, e.g. tenors are more likely to emit more virus than altos and sopranos”.
The line caused disbelief amongst singers and by Saturday the guidance document was promptly pulled.
As of Monday lunchtime, the guidance was not available to see online.
Instead, the website said “this guidance is currently being updated and a revised version will be uploaded as soon as possible”.
Declan Costello, consultant ENT surgeon specialising in voice disorders, took part in UK Government research about whether singing and playing of wind instruments was a higher risk.
The research showed that singing does not produce substantially more respiratory particles compared to speaking at a similar volume.
That study, with its first results published in August 2020, was seen as vital in terms of getting live music back.
But Mr Costello said that the Welsh Government guidance was not backed up by his research – nor any he was aware of.
He said: “As a member of the research group that undertook the PERFORM study, I have been following the science on this very closely. I am not aware of any studies that point to a person’s voice part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) having an impact on the amount of aerosol produced. On the contrary, our research showed that this did not make a difference – but that volume of vocalisation (whether singing, speaking or shouting) was the biggest factor in determining aerosol generation.”
My colleagues asked Welsh Government who drew up the guidance in the document, specifically, the line that tenors are more likely to emit the virus and whether it was as a result of Sage/medical officer advice and what research there was to back it up. There was no answer at the time of going to press.
During the coronavirus crisis, this column is putting the spotlight on west Wales singers and choirs and many online internet recordings. Please email if you are already planning an event post-lockdown in 2021. Get in touch if your choir has resumed rehearsals. Email robert. lloyd01@ walesonline. co.uk