With deep cuts continuing to be made in the provision of peripatetic music services in South Wales, politicians of all persuasions would have done well to have bought a ticket for the annual concert of one of the most remarkable community organisations in the country.

Bacon

Former Labour Party Welsh Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan, his wife, Julie Morgan (a current AM) and Lib Dem AM Eluned Parrot no doubt enjoyed the excellent entertainment provided, but they will have left knowing that the Welsh Assembly Government cannot continue to rely on the commitment of the likes of City of Cardiff (and the equally outstanding Heol y March Choir) to plug the chasm that has arisen in local authority funded musical tuition: They are currently saving their short sighted bacon.

Over 150 youngsters enjoy making music together in the quartet of Melingriffith brass band set ups - from the senior top flight M1 Band, all the way through to M4 - which starts off the admirable long term investment in youth.

There is also a community band, which caters for adult learners and players who just wish to enjoy regular non contesting music making together.

Quantity and quality

Good teaching practice led by MD Gareth Ritter and excellent organisation means quantity is combined with quality - with the M1 Band showing off their strengths with boldly played repertoire that started with the march ‘National Emblem’ and ended in patriotic fashion with Mathew Hall’s celtic showstopper ‘Calon y Ddraig’. 

The M2 Band’s impressive credentials were displayed with a well chosen movie music set, whilst the combined forced of M3 & M4 simply had a ball with a programme that took in Neil Sedaka, The Proclaimers and a cracking Blues Brother’s close. 

Impresive

Amid the fun came some impressive serious content too - with the choir’s controlled and beautifully balanced lyricism leaving a lasting impression on the musical mind, whilst the combined forces of choir and M1 joined together for Owain Llwyd’s ‘Senghennyd’ - an evocative performance inspired by a century old mining tragedy that still has remarkable modern day relevance.

The final band items had just about everyone crammed onto the Dora Stoutzker Hall stage for a finale that literally shook the foundations. 

It fully deserved the lasting applause of a thoroughly entertained audience and left the politicians with plenty of food for thought.

Iwan Fox