Port Talbot Cymric Male Voice Choir, Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir - Speed Your Journey (Verdi)

https://porttalbotcymricchoir.co.uk/
"The Cymric as it is affectionately known is one of the oldest choirs in Wales having been established in 1911 by Mr John Bowen Davies.

During the 1920’s and 30’s it competed regularly in local Eisteddfodau and during this period it sang at some unusual and interesting venues. In 1927 it fulfilled a week’s booking at The Palace Theatre Blackpool for the princely fee of £75.00, and in 1935 was invited by Randolph Hearst the newspaper magnate to sing at St Donat’s Castle in South Wales for celebrities of the film and newspaper world.

The choir has had the privilege of appearing at The Royal Albert Hall in London in the presence of the Queen and HRH Prince Phillip and is extremely proud of the fact that during a concert tour of Deeside Aberdeenshire in 1990 the choir was invited to sing at Crathie Church Balmoral when both the Queen and HRH Prince Edward were in attendance. The Queen expressed her delight at the choirs singing and subsequently invited Choristers to Balmoral Castle.

In May 1991 Rita Macneil made a concert tour of the UK and during her appearance at St David’s Hall Cardiff she invited the Cymric on stage where she expressed her delight at the ‘Cymric’s rendition of her song ‘The Working Man’ and subsequently graciously allowed the choir to perform additional items.

Since its inception the choir has had Six Musical Directors, On the death of John Bowen Davies in 1957 , the baton was handed over to Mrs Iris Evans Thomas who had been the Choir’s Accompanist since 1927.

She remained the Musical Director until her death in 1973 when Roger Chicott who directed the Choir up until his regrettable passing in 2001 succeeded her.

Mr Gareth Sims held the position until 2005, when he was succeeded Mrs Mair Jones who retired from the Choir in 2015.
Matthew Lewis was appointed as the Choir’s Musical Director in October 2015"

Lyrics:
Speed your journey, my thoughts and my longings.
Speed your journey through mountains and valleys
Where the sweet scented air breathes a fragrance
O’er the homes that we knew long ago.
To the waters of Jordan bear greeting
To the downfallen temples of Zion
Oh, my country so fair and so wretched
Oh, remembrance of joy and of woe!
Golden harps of the prophets, Oh tell me,
Why so silent ye hang from the willows?
Once again sing the songs of our homeland
Sing again of the days that are past.
We have drunk from the cup of affliction
And have shed bitter tears of repentance.
Oh, inspire us, Jehovah with courage
So that we may endure to the last
So that we may endure to the last
So that we may endure to the last
May endure to the last.