BBC TV “Songs of Praise”: Bangor Cathedral 1988 (Andrew Goodwin)

An edition of the long-running BBC TV series “Songs of Praise”, broadcast on 10 January 1988 and featuring the choir of Bangor Cathedral, directed by Andrew Goodwin and accompanied by Andrew Evans (organ). This is one of only two known recordings of the choir.

[@KeithRowley418]

Heartwarming. I was in that choir until around 72 - a rich and wonderful experience in my formative years.

[@classicalbanksy4908]

You were just a handful of years before our "gang" - that included Philip Lloyd Evans, who went on to enjoy a career in opera, as did yours truly. Philipe Duggan's just got in touch with me via Facebook, my father David Roberts sang alongside Harold Barton (who had that marvellous model steam train in his garden, I don't know if anyone remembers that?) Ian Hughes was Head Chorister, with a gorgeous voice, plus Tim Hornung, Christopher Ross (who I can't seem to find a reference for anywhere, they moved away when he was about 13), James and his father Michael Outram, Arfon Edwards (who I'm still in touch with), and there was this young Probationer, Aled something... Whatever happened to him..? :-) I sang under Goodwin until about 13, decided to stop just before my voice broke, and as luck would have it, it broke into a pleasant natural tenor. I went to the RAM in London, and studied under Ken Bowen. Enjoyed a 20 year opera career, ending up being managed by Pavarotti's agency and living In Bologna. Alas, ill health forced an early retirement from the Opera Stage. I was PA to Gian-Carlo Menotti, before having to return to the Uk to undergo chemo and further treatment. Was an Artists' Agent for a while, before deciding to start writing. And - in fact have just sent young Aled a demo song written for him and Libera, which he seems to like a great deal - so watch this space!

[@angelacooper2661]

Didn't Aled Jones begin his musical career at Bangor? I remember him when I was in my teens and discovered that he would have been born in December 1970, so six months after me in June. His voice broke late, at sixteen!

[@christopherwrees]

Ivor Rees a few months after this became assistant Bishop of St Davids, and when Archbishop George nooks retired due to ill health in 1991 Bishop Ivor succeeded him as Bishop of St Davids.

[@classicalbanksy4908]

I used to go and play the piano at the Deanery. Mrs (Beverly) Rees would let me mess around on it, while I was waiting to be picked up after choir-practice. I went back and sang for Goodwin my first Xmas as an Undergraduate. But fond as I was of both Andrew and the Choir, time had moved on, and I didn't get the same enjoyment I'd felt before. I saw the Choir one more time when they came down to sing Evensong at St Paul's Cathedral. I think - if there are parents out there who sense their sons might be musically gifted, I cannot recommend joining an RSCM Choir highly enough, especially if they go on to a career as a professional musician.