Blogs
'Christopher D. Lewis is The Welsh Contemporary Harpsichordist, and is currently based in San Francisco, California. Born in Rhiwbina, Wales and moved to North America to study music at McGill University, Montreal Quebec in 2005 under the guidance of harpsichordists Luc Beausejour & Hank Knox....' more here
AmeriCymru: Hi Christopher....many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. I suppose many people will be curious to know what initially attracted you to the harpsichord?
Chris: I remember, so vividly, at maybe 5 or 6 going for my first piano exam at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and sitting in a room filed with pianos. But I was drawn to a funny looking "piano" in the corner of the room, and I recall so vividly the vibrant plucking sound when I pushed some keys. My Mother informed me it was a harpsichord, and the sound always stuck in my head! But I battled on with piano lessons over the years, never really cared for them.
I didn't like the music and I didn't love the sound the piano made. So when the opportunity arose I took lessons when I was 16 with the Early Music teacher at the WCMD after being reminded of the sound when listening to Bach's Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 on the radio one day. (Classic FM I believe!)
AmeriCymru: Can you tell us how you came to be studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music?
Chris: Aged 18 I moved to Canada, and lived there for 5 gloriously happy years. I studied at first at McGill University specializing in modern music on the harpsichord. After 4 very French years in Montreal I lived for a year in Toronto, not my happiest time, but all that changed when I was accepted into the Masters harpsichord program at the Conservatory here in San Francisco. Finally, some sunshine in my life, and no more snow! I'm currently halfway through my first year here and loving the city, the weather and the music scene here in the Bay Area.
AmeriCymru: Care to tell us a little about your repertoire? What are your favorite performance pieces?
Chris: I've always said very clearly that with very few exceptions, almost any music type will work on the harpsichord. From serious baroque/classical works, to pop and rock - it all works. Of course in the 60's and 70's the harpsichord had such a great career in pop music, just take a listen to some of the Beatles (Piggies, All You Need is Love, Because etc), The Rolling Stones to the Beach Boys. They all used harpsichord fantastically! Alas I don't get to play much pop music (Maybe a Jimi Hendrix or two!) at the Conservatory, I tend to play the more serious classical contemporary pieces, but I'm always drawn to the more audience pleasing pieces. If people are going to hear modern harpsichord, I want to make it fun! I always find a tango piece brings the house down......
AmeriCymru: Do you compose for the instrument as well? Any future plans in that direction?.
Chris: No, Would that I could! I'm pretty useless in that department, but what I am very good at is commissioning pieces for harpsichord. I'd much rather get some wonderful composer to write something deeply idiomatic for harpsichord and for me to play it well, than for me to write something shoddy. Its all about keeping the instrument alive with good music!
AmeriCymru: Where can people go to hear/purchase your music online?
Chris: My website, www.christopherlewis.net features all of this information. It also has a pretty fantastic (If I say so myself!) collection of youtube videos, documenting the most successful and my favourite uses of harpsichord in pop music, I think its worth checking out, you would never think that Joplin's "The Entertainer" or something more shocking like "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" would sound so good on the harpsichord! I always welcome new subscribers gladly at www.youtube.com/chriswales19 and one final shoutout for my facebook page which is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-D-Lewis-Contemporary-Harpsichord/123597011032776?v=info
AmeriCymru: What's next for Christopher D. Lewis? Any public appearances/performances lined up?
Chris: This coming year seems like a good year for me, I'll be active in the Bay Area, and currently working on the Philip Glass harpsichord concerto in the Fall, but I'm very excited to be giving a solo modern harpsichord performance on April 16th at Osher Salon in San Francisco. I'd love to see any fellow Welshies at that who are in the area!
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Chris: Delighted to be a part of AmeriCymru, its wonderful to be able to represent Wales on foreign soil, and great connecting with fellow Welsh ex-pats out there. Hope to meet many of you at the Eisteddfod in L.A this coming Autumn, and who knows perhaps you might have a chance to hear me play some popular Welsh tunes on my beloved harpsichord at that event! It goes without saying of course, that I owe all my successes with the instrument to my Welsh blood, to be born Welsh truly is to be born blessed. Pob Iwch. CDL
12 of the finest (unintentional) double-entendres ever aired on British TV and radio
By Ian Price2, 2011-02-18
:
1. Ted Walsh - Horse Racing Commentator - 'This is really a lovely horse. I once rode her mother.'
2. New Zealand Rugby Commentator - 'Andrew Mehrtens loves it when Daryl Gibson comes inside of him.'
3. Pat Glenn, weightlifting commentator - 'And this is Gregoriava from Bulgaria . I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing!'
4. Harry Carpenter at the Oxford-Cambridge boat race 1977 - 'Ah, isn't that nice. The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the Cox of the Oxford crew.'
5. US PGA Commentator - 'One of the reasons Arnie (Arnold Palmer) is playing so well is that, before each tee shot, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them. Oh my god !! What have I just said??'
6. Carenza Lewis about finding food in the Middle Ages on 'Time Team Live' said: 'You'd eat beaver if you could get it.'
7. A female news anchor who, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked, 'So Bob, where's that eight inches you promised me last night?' Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too, because they were laughing so hard!
8. Steve Ryder covering the US Masters: 'Ballesteros felt much better today after a 69 yesterday.'
9. Clair Frisby talking about a jumbo hot dog on 'Look North' said: 'There's nothing like a big hot sausage inside you on a cold night like this. '
10 Mike Hallett discussing missed snooker shots on 'Sky Sports': 'Stephen Hendry jumps on Steve Davis's misses every chance he gets.'
11. Michael Buerk on watching Philippa Forrester cuddle up to a male astronomer for warmth during BBC1's UK eclipse coverage remarked: 'They seem cold out there. They're rubbing each other and he's only come in his shorts.'
12... Ken Brown commentating on golfer Nick Faldo and his caddie Fanny Sunneson lining-up shots at the Scottish Open: 'Some weeks Nick likes to use Fanny; other weeks he prefers to do it by himself.'
Have trouble getting books by Welsh authors you want to read?
Chris Keil's Liminal 
Both Ceri and I read this, I liked it a lot and it was a calm and enjoyable read, by which I mean no car chases, explosions, threats to all humanity -- just good characters and the relationships between them and good narrative and dialouge. We sold it at NAFOW, Wordstock and our event this year and it sold really well.
I highly recommend this book for those times you want to sit down by yourself with the phone unplugged and a cold beer or glass of wine and enjoy something to read in peace.
Preparations for a royal visit are underway at Trearddur Bay lifeboat station as Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteer crew, fundraisers and supporters in the Anglesey village get ready to welcome HRH Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton.The royal couple will be guests of honour at the naming ceremony of the RNLI lifeboat stations new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, Hereford Endeavour, on Thursday 24 February.Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/5800-prince-william-and-kate-middleton-to-attend-charity-lifeboat-naming-ceremony#ixzz1EGFjfLpy
Every dollar you donate ( minimum 5 ) entitles you to one chance in the draw for these fabulous prizes:-
Are you an advertiser? If so read on:-
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New Premium Ad Space on AmeriCymru - All Pages Above the Header
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From: Laura McCaffrey
Date: February 16, 2011 6:35:30 AM CST
Subject: WALES: Spend summer 2011 in Wales
To whom it may concern,
Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Laura McCaffrey and I am the Special Programmes Coordinator with the US-UK Fulbright Commision Awards team in London . I am responsible for the promotion and administration of our UK Summer Institutes.
We are in the process of contacting all US-based Welsh American associations about our Fulbright Wales Summer Institute 2011. We hope that you will find it interesting and be able to help promote this fantastic funded study abroad opportunity amongst your members.
The summer programme is open to current undergraduate students (freshman or sophomores only) from any disciplines, who have had little or no travel experience outside of the USA .
It would be greatly appreciated if you could forward the message below amongst your community or if you would like me to draft a small article for a newsletter or your website, I would be happy to do so.
Please do not hesitate to get in contact with me if you require any further information. Your support is extremely valuable to us and we appreciate you taking the time to read this email.
I hope this information will be of interest to your readers.
Best wishes,
Laura
Spend summer 2011 in Wales
The Fulbright Commission Wales Summer Institute is a six-week cultural and academic programme for US undergraduate students held at three internationally renowned Welsh universities; Cardiff University, Bangor University and Aberystwyth University focusing on the theme of: "Contemporary Wales: Economy, Culture, Politics and Change".
Participants in this programme will get the opportunity to:
Experience an exciting academic programme at three high quality Welsh Universities
Explore the geography, culture, heritage and history of Wales , visiting museums, galleries, parks, castles and islands
Develop their learning skills, improving presentation, research and communication skills
Meet people from all over the world, make friends and experience life as a real student in the UK
Become an ambassador for studying in the United Kingdom .
This years institute will take place from 25 June 5 August 2011.
Participants will learn about Wales its culture, history, its geographical differences and the role that industry has taken in shaping the historical, political and cultural landscape of Wales . Participants will also learn about the role of Wales within the United Kingdom and the wider world and Welsh influences internationally.
The majority of the participant costs will be covered. This includes:
round-trip airfare from the US to the UK ;
tuition and fees at the three Universities;
accommodation and social programme;
subsistence e.g. food and drink
Participants are expected to pay for their own travel, health and accident insurance.
Minimum Eligibility requirements; applicants must:
be a US citizen (resident anywhere except the UK ) and possess a US passport;
be at least 18 years old by the start of the programme;
be able to participate in the programme in its entirety;
have a high level of academic achievement with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (confirmed by academic marks, awards and references);
have completed no more than two years of university study, i.e. applicants should currently be a Freshman or Sophomore in college/university;
be mature, responsible, independent, and open-minded;
be willing and able to fully participate in an academically intensive programme that includes attending all sessions, completing all assignments, contributing to classroom discussions and supporting student ambassador style work as required;
have had little or no study or travel experience in the UK or elsewhere outside of the US and;
expect to return to the US and continue their education.
Note: The programme is open to students in all courses of study
Individuals from a broad range of ethnic, religious, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Full application details are available from http://www.fulbright.co.uk/fulbright-awards/for-us-citizens/summer-institutes/wales-summer-institute
If you have any questions about the programmes, please read the FAQs before contacting the Fulbright Awards Office:
http://www.fulbright.co.uk/media/application-forms/specialprogapps/FAQs_for_UKSI_2011.pdf
The deadline for applications is Friday 15 April 2011 by 5pm ( UK Time).
For further information, please contact Special Programmes Coordinator, Laura McCaffrey (laura@fulbright.co.uk, +44 (0)207 498 4017).
______________________________________________
Laura McCaffrey
Special Programmes Coordinator
The US-UK Fulbright Commission
Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling Street , London SW8 5BN
T +44 (0)20 7498 4017
F +44 (0)20 7498 4023
E laura@fulbright.co.uk
www.fulbright.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter:@FulbrightAwards
UK Fulbright Awards for 2012-13 are now open.
Want to spend your summer in the USA? Apply for the 2011 US Summer Institutes
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned and checked for the presence of viruses on behalf of Fulbright by http://www.SITOC.com
Hello everyone, I am a Welshman living in England but wanted to join this site to inform you all about a charity event going on and I didnt want you to miss out.
I am in the RAF and about 2 years ago while doing a different charity event with the Ospreys rugby team I came up with the idea which I am reliably informed has not been done before. So I spent about 18 months or so travelling around the UK to meet with current and ex Welsh rugby internationals who have played at 9 and 10 for Wales. The original idea was to go back to 1970 but I ended up meeting players from the 60s and 70s. To that end I now have two Wales rugby shirts autographed 9s on one and 10s on the other which is being raffled online with the money going to two charities in the UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and Help for Heroes. So if you know of any Welsh people in the states that would be interested in buying some raffle tickets for these shirts they can get them online at www.rogavi.com under the 'Sport' banner.There are 3 prizes at the moment, the two shirts and a limited edition book donated by the great Cliff Morgan. It is a book about rugby legends from around the world and has 75 original signatures. The winners of the shirts will get a photo album of the players signing the shirts as proof of authenticity. The players who have signed are:
9s: Onllwyn Brace, Lloyd Williams, Clive Rowlands, Gareth Edwards, Terry Holmes, Brynmore Williams, Andy Moore, Rupert Moon, Chris Bridges, Rob Howley, Robert Jones, Gerald Williams, Dwayne Peel, Gareth Cooper,Mike Phillips, Martyn Roberts and Richie Rees.
10s:Cliff Morgan, David Watkins, Barry John, Phil Bennet, Gareth Davies, Paul Turner, Bleddyn Bowen, Jonathan Davies, Neil Jenkins, Arwel Thomas, Stephen Jones, Lee Jarvis, James Hook, Nicky Robinson and Dan Biggar
If you are interested or know someone who would be have a look at the web page and buy some tickets. If you win, we can sort out postage for getting the prize to you.
Also let me know what you think.
Andrew
