The little village and its choir gained some measure of fame in the UK when Universal Music Group signed them up to release the album Voices of the Valley. This album was released on 20 November 2006, and peaked at #9 on the UK album chart [1].
The choir was formed at that meeting in 1946, to compete in the first Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (International Eisteddfod) that had recently been established in the nearby town of Llangollen, and was planned to be held for the first time in 1947. The choir's first conductor was Lloyd Edwards. The Choristers stayed together after the Eisteddfod with Lloyd Edwards remaining as the conductor until 1970.
The choir has remained closely associated with the Eisteddfod and is a regular competitor in the Male Voice Choir competition. In 1955 the choir hosted the Societa Corale Gioachino Rossini from Modena which was competing at the Eisteddfod and won first place. The choir was conducted by Fernando Pavarotti, and the victory at Llangollen is said to have inspired the choir conductor's son, one Luciano Pavarotti, a member of that choir and a student music teacher at the time, to take up a singing career (reportedly with some success). The Modena Choir were again hosted by the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir during their visit with Pavarotti in 1995.
Mr Edwards' baton was taken up by John Daniel, a local music teacher who conducted the choir for 21 years and is now conductor of the Rhosllanerchrugog Male Voice Choir (Cor Meibion Rhosllanerchrugog) in the nearby village of Rhosllanerchrugog. Mr Daniel led the Choir to success in both the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod notably winning "the double" (first in both Eisteddfodau) in 1977. The choir has had several successful overseas tours, notably representing the United Kingdom at the Expo World Fair in Vancouver Canada in 1986.
From 1991 to 2002 the choir's conductor was Val Jones. Ann Atkinson took over as Musical Director in 2002 and led the choir for seven years during which they secured a record deal with UCJ and recorded four albums. In March 2010 Leigh Mason became only the fifth Musical Director in the choirs 64 year history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froncysyllte_Male_Voice_Choir
shenandoah
Fron Male Voice Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look away, you rollin' river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Look away. We're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Now the Missouri is a mighty river
Look away, you rollin' river.
Look away. We're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Well a white man loved an Indian maiden
Look away, you rollin' river
With notions his canoe was laden
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Look away, you rollin' river
It was for her I'd cross the water.
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
For seven long years I courted Sally
Look away, you rollin' river
Seven more years I longed to have her
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Well, it's fare-thee-well, my dear,
I'm bound to leave you
Look away you rollin' river
Shenandoah, I will not deceive you
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
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Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, you rolling river,
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, I'm bound away,
across the wide Missouri.
Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Away, you rolling river,
It's been seven long years since I saw her…
Shenandoah, I took a notion
Away, you rolling river,
To sail across the stormy ocean…
The missouri she's a mighty river
Away, you rolling river,
When she rolls down her topsails quiver…
Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Away, you rolling river,
Oh shenandoah, I'll not deceive you…
Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, you rolling river,
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you…
The song "Shenandoah" is a classic American folk song and sea shanty, often associated with traditional American values and the pioneering spirit of the country. The lyrics tell the story of a man who yearns to hear the river Shenandoah, while he crosses the wide Missouri river. The song is full of yearning, heartbreak, and love, and has been covered by numerous artists, including the Fron Male Voice Choir. The song is often associated with the American West and the rugged, adventurous lifestyle associated with that region.
The lyrics of "Shenandoah" tell a story of a man who yearns for the river Shenandoah, which represents home and stability in the midst of a dangerous and uncertain journey. The Missouri River represents the daunting journey that the man and his fellow travelers must undertake to reach their destination. The lyrics also reflect the tension between different cultures and races during America's expansion into the West, with the mention of a white man loving an Indian maiden. The song reflects the feelings of longing and homesickness that many pioneers must have experienced during this time period.
Line by Line Meaning
Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
The singer deeply desires to hear the sound of Shenandoah.
Away, you rolling river,
The Missouri River is a strong and powerful force that continues to flow.
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
The singer's desire to hear Shenandoah's sound is repeated.
Away, I'm bound away,
across the wide Missouri.
The artist is setting off on a journey across the Missouri River.
Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
The artist is expressing love and affection for Shenandoah's daughter.
Away, you rolling river,
The Missouri River is still a strong and powerful force.
It's been seven long years since I saw her…
The singer has not seen Shenandoah's daughter in seven years.
Shenandoah, I took a notion
The artist had an idea or a plan involving Shenandoah.
Away, you rolling river,
The Missouri River continues to flow strongly.
To sail across the stormy ocean…
The artist had an idea to sail across a stormy ocean.
The missouri she's a mighty river
The Missouri River is a powerful and formidable force.
Away, you rolling river,
The river is still flowing powerfully.
When she rolls down her topsails quiver…
When the river flows, its waves are strong and can cause vibration.
Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
The singer is leaving Shenandoah and its surroundings.
Away, you rolling river,
The river continues to be a force that the singer is leaving behind.
Oh shenandoah, I'll not deceive you…
The artist assures Shenandoah that they will not betray or mislead them.
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
The artist once again expresses their deep desire to hear Shenandoah's sound.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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