Powys choir set for world premiere of song dedicated to them

They hosted a very successful music workshop, called ‘Find your Voice’ and led by their musical conductor, Hilary Cox, on Saturday, September 9, when participants learned about preparing the body to sing, as well as breathing techniques and music notation. They finished their day singing the theme tune to the Vicar of Dibley in three-part harmony.

The choir are now preparing a world premiere of ‘Country Church at Night’, a piece dedicated to Cantorion, who will give the first performance on October 8, joined by some singers from the Beulah Choir.

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It was in March 2022, listening as usual to Radio 3 first thing in the morning, when Hilary was moved to hear Country Church at Night read as the Friday poem. The author, Ruth Bidgood, a resident of Beulah where Hilary lives, had died a short time before.

Unbeknown to her, Nic Shipp, a composer based in Yorkshire, was also listening and texted later (they are friends from a shared musical youth in London) to ask if it was the same Beulah in which she lived.

They had a brief conversation and Nic suggested that it would be well suited to a musical setting. Ruth's son Martin gave the necessary permission and work began.

Meanwhile, in a conversation with local musicians, Hilary learned that the church of the title was almost certainly Eglwys Oen Duw, the village church just on the edge of Beulah, although Martin was never told specifically, and it isn't recorded anywhere.

Nevertheless, a premiere in this lovely little church seems absolutely appropriate.

To learn more about the choir visit www.Cantorion-Llandrindod.org