Merthyr Tydfil may have experienced more prolonged wet weather in the first 10 days of August but the first two days in Lorient saw Dowlais Choir literally singing in the rain! The Sunday night was so bad that a naval pipe band refused to perform, while Dowlais choristers, protected only by plastic ponchos purchased on the day, and alongside the Pitlochry Pipe Band from Scotland performed Suo Gan in torrential rain and driving wind. Many of the performers, particularly the dancers, could not go out in the stadium because of the atrocious conditions.
Singing in the rain was something of a highlight, with accompanist Darya Brill Williams having to play with cold, wet fingers and attempting to read sodden music copies firmly held down by musical assistant Janet Morgan, to prevent the wind scattering them to the four corners of the stadium. Musical Director David Last displayed his usual high standard of professionalism, carrying out the great responsibility he was given to conduct the pipe bands, their drummers, and the choir, especially in such attrocious weather. The Directors of the festival were so grateful that the Choir was not fazed by these conditions that they invited David Last, to a special meeting the following day to express their thanks to the Choir for their dedication and professionalism, with an added bonus of ‘free drinks’ tickets to the choir members. Their appreciation was also expressed in the local press reports.
The tour was a great success with the choir working on no fewer than 16 occasions over 8 days, including sound checks, appearances to full houses and a live radio broadcast in the open air.
The Festival started with the traditional Grand Parade featuring 72 organisations from nine countries, including an Irish Pipe Band from Queensland, Australia who shared the same dormitory accommodation as Dowlais Choir. The sound of bagpipes in the morning overcame the need for alarm clocks!
Over the week more than 3,500 people took part, with ages ranging from 5 to 89. It was a pleasure to see so many young people proudly performing music and dance in their magnificent traditional costumes. The Choir appeared in the parade headed by flag bearers Grahame Clark, Howard Evans and carrying the Dowlais banner Dai Blackmore and Dai “North” Williams. The banner, a familiar sight wherever the Choir performs, was designed by Chairman David Blackmore and made by Joyce Edwards, the wife of the choir’s web master Mike Edwards.
The parade, which lasted almost 3 hours was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd lining the city streets, ten-deep in many places, and rumoured to number around 100,000, ended in the huge football stadium Le Stad du Moustior, also filled with an enthusiastic capacity audience. The whole event was televised nationwide, and while there were performances in several locations each day, the highlight of each evening was the Nuit Magique, held in the same stadium, holding about 17,000 people, which commenced at 10.30pm and concluded after 2am with a spectacular firework display.
The finale each evening saw Musical Director David Last, assisted by accompanist Darya Brill Williams, conduct the massed pipe bands and the choir, finishing with the traditional piece Amazing Grace , much loved by the audience, played by Pipe Major Andy Gibb, a good friend of the choir, resplendent in full Scottish attire topped by a magnificent Busby.
Overall, the dedication, professionalism and musical ability of the Choir and the Musical Team proved a great success with organisers and audience alike and did the Nation proud.
On the Thursday an excursion was arranged to visit the fishing town of Concarneau, a medieval walled town and a popular holiday resort. Despite the souvenir shops and bars, the town still gives a feeling of entering a time warp.
The town was alive morning, afternoon, and night with Celtic music being performed not only in the ‘Stad du Moustoir’ but at smaller venues where performers were as diverse as they were are gifted in traditional, classical, folk, rock and jazz. Singers, dancers, painters, sculptors, writers, filmmakers and lecturers took part. Those who attended the festival soaked up the atmosphere spontaneously participating whenever they could. Music stretched late into the night at the festival's Interceltic pub, a designated venue for sampling Breton food, master classes in Celtic embroidery, storytelling, Celtic languages and so much more. Scheduled events ranged from the International Pipe Band Championship and National Breton Bagpipe Championship to fiddle and harp master classes and Celtic dance competitions. A special highlight was the traditional Breton Fest Noz - a night of music and dance - the local equivalent of the Scottish Ceilidh.
The festival organisers allocated each member of the party with a transportation pass enabling the Choir to travel freely in and out of the town either by boat or bus.
The choir gave their own concert at the beautiful Eglise St Louis, the applause indicting that the Choir had achieved their goal of sharing with the audience a taste of the Welsh culture and the versatility of their repertoire.
The Festival is much more than just a musical extravaganza. It displays everything good about Celtic art, culture and tradition; with painters, sculptors, writers, filmmakers, dancers, costumiers, and chefs preparing Celtic food. It has something for everyone, a festival that could perhaps be organised and held in Wales, which would raise the profile of the Country and bring the financial and cultural benefits that are associated with it.
 | |
  | |
  | |
Back to Tours