Blogs

Beams of Light

Please click on the above link to hear 'Beams of Light'

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A Short Interview With John Good

AmeriCymru: 'Bridges' ( from which 'Beams of Light' is taken ) is a work in progress. When can we expect to hear more? Will there be a CD?

John: I'm hoping to add another installment before Nadolig/Christmas. but I'm trying to keep the energy up without rushing. I'm looking at adding "moving" graphics for a YouTube kind of job, possibly ending up as a multimedia CD.

AmeriCymru: I know many of our members will be keen to hear this work performed at the WCE. Will it be in your repertoire?

John: Some parts but other similar and dissimilar things (got to keep you and me on our toes). Anyway, Welsh culture of the more traditional kind is extremely broad-based and routinely neglected. I try to adjust that wherever I go. Everything is on the table.

AmeriCymru: How would you describe Beams of Light/Bridges? Is it perhaps a song cycle or a series of connected poems set to music? Does it have an overall theme?

John: I think it's a first installment of a 20 year scrapbook of song, verse, instrumental with story and legend to be added in future linked episodes ... sort of an alphabet 'cawl' with musical croutons. The theme is a loose narrative created by longtime travelling, learning, laughing, forgetting, regretting and loving.

AmeriCymru: Is it possible to detect many influences at work in 'Beams of Light'. Has the writing been influenced by any one particular poet/songwriter would you say?

John: Many: Viv Stanshall, both Dylans, rock salmon and 6, Gareth Edwards, Strongbow, Owain Glyndwr, choc ices, Port Talbot steel works ...

AmeriCymru: Any final message for our readers?

John: Y mae Cymru ar fin o adennill ei hunan hyder. Byddwch yn falch.

Wales is on the point of regaining her self confidence. Be proud.

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A message from member Sian Ifan :-

"Roeddwn wedi ymchwilio i mewn ir posibilrwydd yma llynedd ond wedi ei osod i un ochr oherwydd prysurdeb ond, mae na nifer go lew eto eleni wedi ymholi am faneri Glyndr mawr iawn 5 X 8. Gallaf archebu'r rhain ond, maen rhaid archebu o leiaf 200 ohonynt - a chyn y byddaf yn barod i wneud hynny, mae na ofyn i fi gael archebion pendant oddi wrth unrhyw un sydd am gael un or baneri. 15 yr un fydd y pris a 1 am gludiant.

Lle a phryd gellir defnyddior faner enfawr yma:

Ar ddyddiau pwysig yn ymwneud ag Owain Glyndr sef:

Mai 28: Dydd Pen-blwydd Owain Glyndr

Mehefin 21: Dydd Coroni Owain Glyndr a Dydd y Senedd.

Medi 16: Dydd Glyndr - Dydd Annibyniaeth.

Ar eich cartrefi neu ar bolyn yn yr ardd. Ar bolyn tu allan i siopau, gwestai, tafarndai, adeiladau dinesig, ysgolion, cestyll, Gwyliau o bo math, meysydd carafannau a bob math o fusnesau eraill

Yn ogystal, gellir ei chwifio drwyr haf fel modd o addurno Cymru mewn lliwiau addas a lliwgar a gellir ei chwifio mewn gemau pel droed a rygbi ac mewn pob math o chwaraeon eraill.

Hefyd, wrth gwrs, gellir ei chwifio mewn protestiadau - ac mae llu o rheini i ddod dros y blynyddoedd nesaf yng Nghymru wrth i ni geisio a gwarchod ein hadnoddau rhag cyfalafwyr fyd eang rheibus.

A heb swnior rhy morbid, mae sawl un wedi nodi eu bod am gael y faner enfawr i orchuddio eu heirch.

Felly, os ydych am gael un neu fwy or baneri - ac am fy nghynorthwyo fi (ar yr un pryd) i gael 200 o archebion, bydd rhaid cadarnhau eich archeb gyda fi erbyn diwedd yr wythnos er, bydd dim rhaid gyrru arian nes byddain gallu cadarnhaun bendant fy mod wedi cael digon o archebion i garion mlaen ar archeb. Gellir cynnig telerau mwy ffarfiol am archeb o 20 baner neu fwy. Cysylltwch I drafod.

Os ydych yn gynghorydd yn unrhyw le yng Nghymru, beth am sicrhau bod eich Cyngor chin archebu cyflenwad or baneri. Mae trefi fel Penrhyndeudraeth, Pwllheli, Conwy, Corwen a nifer o drefydd eraill yn chwifio baneri Glyndr yn flynyddol erbyn hyn. Ystyriwch pa mor drawiadol bydda'r rhai mawr iawn yma ar hyd y prif strydoedd! Ffordd hwylus I foddir holl glytiau undebol!

Felly, dim oedi ar hyn, os am gael y baneri yma erbyn Dydd Glyndr eleni! Diolch."

Owain Glyndwr Flag / Baneri Glyndwr

A message from member Sian Ifan :-

"I had looked into this last year following a few enquiries by people but, again, this was left on the back burner due to an ever growing work load but, demand for these extra large flags have grown this year and Ive faithfully promised to get it sorted. However, I will need to order a batch of at least 200 to get them and before Im prepared to order, I will need to have definite orders from anyone that would like to have one or more, of these extra large Owain Glyndr flags. Price each is 15 + pxp. But, I can offer a better price for orders of 20 or more, contact me to discuss.

Where and when can this extra large flag be used:

May 28: Owain Glyndrs Birthday

June 21: Owain Glyndwrs Coronation and Parliament Day.

Sept 16: Owain Glyndr Day

On your homes, on poles in your gardens. On poles outside shops, hotels, pubs, civic buildings, schools, castles, festivals of all sorts, and on poles outside caravan parks and other businesses.

Also, it can be flown throughout the summer as a means of decorating Cymru in suitable and colourful colours and it can be flown at football and rugby and all sorts of other sport events.

Also, of course, it can be flown at protests - and we are going to have plenty of those taking place in Cymru over the coming years as we try to protect our land and its resources from further exploitation by global capitalists.

And, although I dont want to step into the morbid, a number have expressed that, when the time comes, they wish their coffins to be draped in the Glyndr flag.

So, if you wish to have one or more of the extra large flags and wish, at the same time, to assist me to reach the 200 orders required to enable me to go through with the order, please state your interest by the end of this week although payment does not need to be sent until I am certain that Ive got the full quota and then I will contact each one that has stated an interest so that they then can then send their payment.

If you are a councillor anywhere in Cymru, why not ensure that your council orders a quantity of these extra large flags. Towns such as Penrhyndeudraeth, Pwllheli, Conwy, Bala, Corwen and many other places already decorate their main shopping areas with Glyndr flags throughout the summer months, just imagine the impact these extra large flags would have if our towns were draped in them. Good way to drown the Union Rag!

So, no dragging the feet on this one - if these flags are to be in your hands by Dydd Glyndr.

Diolch

Sin"

DATE: July 2 nd 2012 15.00 pm 18. 30 pm

FREE CONCERT

LOCATION: Westminster Hall , Houses of Parliament, London

A Commonwealth Carnival of Music will be a spectacular multi-cultural musical celebration, bringing the best of Llangollen International Eisteddfod to Westminster. Hosted by the broadcaster Huw Edwards, Baroness Floella Benjamin and founder of the Bite the Ballot political youth movement, Mike Sani, the Carnival is being staged in association with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (UK) as a central part of this years Diamond Jubilee Celebrations .

Choirs and dancers representing all corners of the Commonwealth on their way to the International Eisteddfod on July 3 rd will perform in front of a specially invited audience of musically talented young people, unsung heroes, community groups, Members of Parliament, Peers, VIPs and representatives of the Commonwealth High Commissions.

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod attracts some of the best choirs, dancers and performers from all over the world. A selection of 2012s best Commonwealth performers have been invited to perform in A Commonwealth Carnival of Music at Westminster, including choirs from Canada , South Africa and Australia and a dance troupe from India . In addition, the line-up includes The Commonwealth Youth Orchestra , a Maori Choir who will bring the Haka to Westminster, a male Welsh Voice Super- choir and The Watoto Childrens Choir (an award winning and inspirational choir from a charity which looks after orphans in Uganda .) There will also be a rare opportunity to see The Parliament Choir whose members include Lords, MPs and other members of Westminster Staff.

Carnival Producer, Janet McBride said, This is a unique event taking place in the heart of the Palace of Westminster. It combines the spirit of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod with the Commonwealth Connecting Cultures theme for 2012 and is a fitting tribute to The Queens 60 years as head of the Commonwealth.

The President of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Terry Wait e acknowledged the Eisteddfods influence by saying that, Today, the festival is known right across the globe and often better known overseas than it is in the United Kingdom! Young people from different religious, ethnic, racial and social backgrounds gather together in Wales to share and express themselves through the language of music. Music has the capacity to breathe a certain harmony into the soul and those who experience harmony and peace within are better able to work for peace throughout the world.

World Wide Search for 40 Choirs to compete for Pavarotti Trophy, potentially the largest financial prize package for Festival Choir Competition

Brand New Childrens Choir of The World Competition

Exciting new changes being introduced to Llangollen International Eisteddfod Competitions in 2013 will be announced online at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 09.00am. The International event has begun the search for 40 Choirs to compete for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy in the world renowned Choir of the World Competition in 2013 enticing World Wide competitors with potentially the largest financial prize package of 5,000 for a festival choir.

Eilir Owen Griffiths, the Musical Director explained, Only eight choirs from the Mixed, Youth, Chamber, Male and Female categories will be selected and they will all be in the running for the Choir of the World title from the outset. Another exciting development is the introduction of a special award for Childrens Choirs. We are introducing a Childrens Choir of the World Trophy with a prize fund of 500 for the highest scoring childrens choir along with a brand new Childrens Folk Choir competition for under 18s. We want to maximise the number of choirs that can compete and also further ensure that Llangollen Eisteddfod has the best choral competitions in the World

Llangollen Eisteddfod 2013 also begins the search for the Voice of the Future . The prize of 2,000 will go towards furthering the solo career of a young singer under the age of 35 and also comes with an invitation to perform in one of the major future Eisteddfod concerts.

Other changes will include a new Musical Director Award, which will be awarded by the Eisteddfods Musical Director for the best performance of a work by a living Composer. In addition a Conductors Prize Trophy and fund of 250 will be awarded to the most inspiring Conductor. Another competition for 2013 is an Authentic Vocal Folk Ensemble for no more than 10 performers to present a programme of authentic music representative of their local or regional tradition.

An application fee of 80 will be introduced in 2013 for all groups entering the Eisteddfod Competitions. Solo entry remains free. There is also a new opportunity for non-competitive groups to come and perform at the Eisteddfod. Their application fee is 50.

Musical Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths added, We have put together a new set of competitions that will appeal to a wider range of potential applicants. All the changes will go live Saturday June 16th at 09.00am and can be seen on the Llangollen International Eisteddfod website www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk .

Llanrhidian Park Wedding Venues

Llanrhidian Park - The Perfect Wedding Venue is set in the heart of the Gower Peninsula, Swansea, Wales surrounded by the most beautiful coast lines in the UK. Refurbished in 2005, Llanrhidian Park is the perfect venue for Weddings, Conferences, Christmas Parties, Anniversaries, Birthday Parties, Celebrations or for those just looking to eat and drink in the Gower. With 3 bars, a bistro, terrace, play area, smokers area (with sofas and fire) and conference suite, there is a little something for everyone.

wedding venue
Firstly, let us congratulate the both of you on your engagement and thank you for considering Llanrhidian Park as your wedding venue. We can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Llanrhidian Parks Abbey Room is the ideal venue for your perfect wedding. With a spectacular draped ceiling and three antique chandeliers. The room is able to cater for 110 guests during the wedding breakfast and 200 during the evening party.

The Ceremony
Llanrhidians beautiful Abbey Room is now licensed to host Civil Ceremonies. Click Here to visit Swansea Councils Civil Ceremonies webpage for more details.

Wedding Coordinators
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Entertainment
Llanrhidian Park strongly believes that for a wedding to be successful and memorable, choosing the right entertainment is essential. Our team has a wealth of knowledge and will help you arrange the right entertainment for you. Whether you are looking for a Close up Magician to break the ice during the wedding breakfast or a Chimney Sweep to give you the Kiss of Luck, our team is here to help.

Evening Party
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The Shift

He says a plethora of planets

will soon morph many into grief:

they'll become beautiful women

laughing at desperate men in bars

unruly children spitting

in the faces of babysitters

cranky landlords

handing out eviction notices.

He says we'll want the old alignments back,

war with ourselves about what can be done

but the clock will be frozen,

and buried deep.

Release 2012

She says she can feel Mayan fingers

on the shadows of the year come calling.

Proceeds to tell me of the vivid dreams

that have been drifting through themagnolias

and stinging her in antebellum rooms.

As incense burns the hours,

I watch her sit cross-legged

with piles of books she deems prophetic,

try to decipher symbols

on her cloudy calendar.

She claims I will soon wake to the rattle

of history down my spine,

chant the song of my own release.

dreams swirl

in a snow globe on the desk...

for a while

I am a child again

and you are shoveling the drive