Sound Fellow – The story of the York Philharmonic male voice choir takes readers from early days to “rehearsals to piano for tunes that lack the keys” throughout the 100 years from “National admiration and TV fame.”
The media met with the author of the book and members of the choir Colin Hockridge.
I recommend reading:
The chairman of Phil, who speaks to expand the choir's legacy.
York Choir Phil on 2025's 100th Anniversary Plan
He said he was “shocked by the steady stream of substances that are receiving memory, including recent offers of old programs from New Zealand.”
Colin said: “This book is family history – it must be.
“If you're given the opportunity to list 'Phill' memories, you have to do so.
“Then we've always worked with other choirs, so we have a long family history.”
He said that the old monasteries in York, the Mongate Methodists and the choir of the male voices of York all serve as the history and feature of the book.
He said: “I had so many press excerpts. I put a lot of bits together as miscellaneous and social history, and these areas needed a section of their own.”
“The Phil” also has an international tradition of performances, with the pages packed with images and memories of mutual tours of the Munster, Niemigen and Rochem choirs.
Like the historical side, Colin said “Phill” is “a truly lively organization now” and pays tribute to his colleagues to put together their online performance during the 2020 lockdown.
The 20 QR codes in the book take readers to a performance where Colin said he demonstrated the group's dynamism.
“It evolves with generations and remains constantly fresh.
“If you want to die a choir, you don't do anything.
“They die from a lack of inspiration from their people.
“Everyone involved here has the common sense to change something if it's not working.”
A personal highlight from Colin comes from a performance in 1971, when the book “The Phil” embraced the challenge from a visiting choir from the Netherlands.
He said: “We learned a Dutch patriotic song called “de Zilverenvloot.” Finally, the conductor ran down the guildhall in front of a packed audience, bringing joy to embrace then-director Brian Lister.
“We relearn the songs in 2009 during a concert at Nijmegen.
“It was clear to everyone on 'Phill' how important this song was to his Dutch friends. ”
To celebrate the 100th anniversary, the York Philharmonic's male voice choir, inviting the contingency of friends from the international choirs of Munster and Rochem, booking the Barbican for performances from the five-person choir.
Sound Fellow – The story of the York Philharmonic male voice choir is available at the choir website www.yorkphilchoir.org.uk/centenary.
