Watch Derbyshire choir's Valentine's message of lockdown love - featuring their own wedding photos

The airwaves of social media will echo with romantic songs this Valentine's Day as Alfreton Male Voice Choir continue the centuries old celebration of romance by producing songs virtually, including Some Enchanted Evening, Unchained Melody and Let It Be Me.

Two of the songs have been produced by the singers recording in their own homes with a third using the most recent from a choir concert in 2019.

The ‘Let It be Me’ recording includes pictures taken on the wedding day of many of the choir members.

Chairman and baritone singer Mick Mullarkey said: “We have produced a number of song videos, but for Valentine’s Day we wanted something special, so we decided to include pictures from our wedding day.

"We felt this was very romantic and technically very possible for our group of very enthusiastic members but recognising we are mainly non-professional musicians and technicians.”

The choir have grappled with video conference technology since the first lockdown, last year, quickly introducing Zoom software for choir practice each Thursday.

Music Director Terry Clay sets out a repertoire of songs which are practised using either live piano music, provided by accompanist Michael Anthony or recorded piano including highlighted notes for each male choir part (baritone, bass, tenor), again produced by Michael.

Choir members listen to recorded piano music through headphones whilst singing the individual’s choir ‘part’ from song sheets and recording them.

Each recording is then sent by email to choir member Dave Smith who, using free downloaded software, mixes the individual tracks into a single choir piece. The single choir piece is then sent to choir member John Stamp who, again using downloaded free software, adds royalty free images. In the case of the Valentine piece, members' wedding photo albums were dusted off, iPhone pictures taken and sent to John who edited each one and inserted it into the video.

Mick Mullarkey said: “During this dark winter Covid lockdown, we know the choir gives lots of positives to the choir guys, their wives and family but also, we hope to bring positives to our community. Producing the video recordings gives a real sense of pride.”