Voices of the Valley

Product Details

Artist : The Fron Male Voice Choir
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0028947657200
Label : Universal Classics
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 2006-11-20
Running Time : 45minutes
UPC : 028947657200

ASIN : B000GWBR68

Track Listings for

Disc-1
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

Customers who bought this goods also bought.

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

Harmonious but lacking Spirit (2008-02-08)

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" (2007-11-11)

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 . . . (2007-01-02)

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) (2006-12-24)

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!

Simplly wonderful (2006-12-23)

They prove that human voice is the best instrument given to us. Nothing fancy here, just voices with passion. They sing what it means to them. My tears just came out for no reason as I was just listening to the samples the very first time. It really touched the deepest part of my heart.

Look for similar items by category

• Classical > Opera & Vocal > Choral
• Classical

Related Link