Do You Hear the People Sing? - The Male Voice Choirs of Wales

There is nothing more evocative of the sound of Wales than its male voice choirs. Closely identified with their communities, they have also moved audiences the world over with their stirring harmonies. However, their reputation for excellence was often forged by their fierce rivalries on the stage of the National Eisteddfod where they would compete in front of crowds of up to 20,000. In this vivid account, Gareth Williams traces the origins and growth of male voice choral singing in Wales from the 19th century to the present day, using the Eisteddfod as a lens through which to view its development. Uniquely, it records the winners of every male choral competition at the ‘National’ in an unbroken sequence since 1881, along with the stern and sometimes caustic remarks of adjudicators. This is the biography of a famous tradition, a story about Wales, its people and its culture.