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Cor Godre'r Aran is based in the village of Llanuwchllyn near Bala in North Wales. They will be appearing at next year's North American Festival of Wales in Portland Oregon. Americymru spoke to Eirian Owen, the choir's Musical Director about the choir and their forthcoming visit. More details about NAFOW 2010 can be found HERE. The Concert is on Saturday 4th September between 7 and 10 pm at the Doubletree Hotel, Lloyd Center, Portland. Tickets have been discounted to $20 and are available in the hotel foyer before the performance from 5 pm onwards. Following the concert the choir will be at the pub night in the bar at the Doubletree.
Americymru: The Choir will be performing at the 2010 North American Festival of Wales in Portland, Oregon. Can you tell us how this came about? Have you ever been to Portland?
Eirian: I believe that the invitation to perform in the 2010 North American Festival of Wales came through a member of our choir who has contact with an official of the Festival. Cr Godrer Aran previously visited Portland in 1971 and in 1974. I was, in 1971, newly married and the choirs tour to USA and Canada was my honeymoon shared with, of course, my husband - and 25 other men! A diary of that trip shows that we stayed overnight at the Royal Inn (is it still there?) , that the concert was held in a chapel and that we arranged an extra concert for the following afternoon because many people were unable to get tickets for the previous night. The chapel was full to capacity on both occasions. My 1974 diary tells that I was very impressed with the shops in the Lloyd Centre and that I decided not to go ice skating with some of our group for fear of breaking an arm and being unable to play the piano. I was at that time the choirs accompanist and would have faced the death penalty or worse had I sabotaged the tour by breaking a finger or arm.
Americymru: When was the choir founded? Can you tell us something about its history?
Eirian: The choir was formed in 1949, primarily to compete at the National Eisteddfod which was, that year, held in Dolgellau. It was at that time a penillion singing/ cerdd dant group of about 20 young men from the village of Llanuwchllyn. The conductor was Tom Jones and the choir soon gained a strong reputation as one of the chief exponents of this traditional Welsh genre. Tom Jones retired in 1975 and I was chosen as the new conductor/ music director. I had recently graduated in music and had taken up a teaching post at a local high school. I continued along the same path that Tom Jones had established but, I soon began to feel that penillion singing lacked the opportunity for musical and vocal development and that the choir had the potential to succeed in other genres. Therefore, a gradual change of direction took place as I included more and more male choir repertoire in our programmes. Nowadays, Cr Godrer Aran concentrates entirely on the male choir repertoire.
Americymru: What is your repertorie? Is there a particular piece that you all enjoy performing more than others? Do you have a signature piece or one that's more often requested by audiences?
Eirian: We sing a varied repertoire, from opera to musicals, part-songs, motets, popular music, hymn tunes. One of the favourites in Wales at the moment is Eric Jones Y Tangnefeddwyr . Audiences in the UK nowadays seem to appreciate a variety of male choir repertoire although, old favourites, such as Myfanwy are probably not performed as often.
Americymru: You have toured all over the world ( Scotland, Ireland , Portugal , Canada / U.S.A., Australia , New Zealand, Tasmania, Hong Kong , Singapore and Patagonia ) What are your most memorable experiences whilst on tour? Is there any one performance that you are particularly proud of?
Eirian: Every tour has its special memories. Singing to the inmates in a prison in New Zealand was an emotionally charged occasion; singing as we marched down a street during a St Patricks day parade in Ireland was fun. Performing in Patagonia felt like singing in rural Wales as there were so many members of the audiences who spoke Welsh and the warmth of their welcome was unforgettable. Australia and New Zealand provided us with our biggest audiences we regularly performed to 2000 people. I remember being overwhelmed by the emotion of one of those concerts and coming off the platform crying! Whilst we were in Portugal, the whole choir was invited to the British Ambassadors residence for drinks and canaps one Sunday; his staff were rushed off their feet carrying food and drink , as the vultures from Wales gobbled everything down as soon as it appeared. We did sing for our food , though......! We have not visited the USA and Canada since the early 70s. We were then totally inexperienced, naive and very wet behind the ears. The food was different, cars were as big as buses and drove on the wrong side of the road, the buildings touched the clouds, rivers were as wide as lakes , we jay-walked without a care and gazed in awe at all those magnificent sights.
Americymru: The choir has won prizes at the National and Llangollen Eisteddfoddau. Care to tell us a little about that?
Eirian: Winning at these Eisteddfodau is always a thrill. Choirs come to Llangollen from all over the world and we never know who the opposition might be until just before the Eisteddfod. There is a feeling of camaraderie between choirs at Llangollen each one is supportive of the other. I believe that competition brings out the best in a choir.
Americymru: The choir won the BBC Radio Cymru competition for Male Voice Choirs. Can you tell us something about the competition and your experience of it?
Eirian: This competition ran over several months . There were several rounds , each recorded before hand and one choir would be eliminated every week. Three choirs reached the final round which was a live performance before an audience.
Americymru: The choir is based in Llanuwchlyn near Bala. Can you tell a little about the area?
Eirian: Llanuwchllyn is a village of about 700 inhabitants , almost all of them Welsh speakers. Many of the families have lived in the area for generations. There are, amongst the members of Cr Godrer Aran, sets of brothers, fathers and sons, cousins, uncles and nephews. The son, grandson and great-grandson of the founder, Tom Jones, are present members of the choir. Llanuwchllyn and the surrounding area (Penllyn) is rich in heritage and culture and is a stronghold of the Welsh language. The area is rural and is favoured by tourists who come to enjoy the beauty of Bala Lake and the peace of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Americymru: How does someone join the choir, what is your selection process? What kind of commitment do your choir members make, what's expected of them?
Eirian: Membership is by invitation and all prospective members go through a very informal audition . Quality of voice is the only criteria the ability to read music is a bonus, not a necessity. Members are then expected to attend weekly rehearsals and concerts regularly. There is an average of 2 concerts a month. There is, generally, no problem with commitment , although I occasionally have to remind individuals of their obligation to the choir!
Americymru: Where can people purchase your music?
Eirian: Our CDs are available online through Sain. Our latest CD, Cofio is available through the choirs website www.corgodreraran.og.uk
Americymru: Do you have any final comments for the readers and members of Americymru?
Eirian: We look forward to meeting you all. Our members range in age from 26-70 ; were all young at heart and love going places and meeting people.
Interview by: Ceri Shaw
Email: americymru@gmail.com
Stone Soup Theatre Seattle Presents 'A Child's Christmas In Wales' - Dylan Thomas
By Ceri Shaw, 2009-11-13
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A Childs Christmas in Wales 2009 Adapted from the story by Dylan Thomas & Directed by Kalon Thibodeaux Dec. 4-24 Fri & Sat at 7:30 pm; Sun Matinee at 2:00pm Pay-What-You-Will Preview, Thurs, Dec. 3 Special Matinee Performances at 2:00pm on Dec. 23 and 24
~Tickets are selling like hotcakes be sure to phone in to reserve yours~ Call 206.633.1883 to make your reservation today!
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| Pancreatic cancer charities across the UK will be launching their first Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week, taking place from the 16 th to 22 nd November 2009, with one common campaign to Change the Numbers. Backing the campaign will be Wales one and only pancreatic cancer charity Amser Justin Time, founded by Welsh opera star and TV personality Shan Cothi in memory of her husband, Tigertailz glam-rock star, Justin Smith (aka Pepsi Tate).
One of Amser Justin Times dedicated supporters, and a close friend of Shan Cothi, is actor Steffan Rhodri , aka Dave Coaches from hit TV series Gavin & Stacey. Having recently landed the role of Reg Cattermole in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , Steffan Rhodri remains committed to the charity Im very grateful for such opportunities as Con Passionate, Gavin and Stacey and now Harry Potter, but my passion is my work with amserjustintime.org . Sadly Im only too familiar with the tragic affect that this killer disease has had on my close friends and my family, and I urge everyone to support our campaign in order to help others just in time.
The Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week and its Change the Numbers campaign have been designed to increase knowledge and understanding about pancreatic cancer, a ruthless and silent killer (its symptoms are often hard to detect). Despite being the 5 th largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK few have heard about it. This silent nature has meant that research into diagnosis, treatment and service provision and patient support has gone under-funded for many years.
Only around 1% of cancer funding goes towards pancreatic cancer. As a result, there has been very little improvement in the overall survival rate for the last 40 years with 5 year survival just a dismal 3%.
UK pancreatic cancer charities believe that the time has come for these numbers to change. They are now urging people to spread the word about the importance of further research into pancreatic cancer as part of the November awareness week.
During Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week , supporters will be doing their bit regionally by holding events to both raise money and increase awareness. It is hoped that this will help to promote the vital messages surrounding pancreatic cancer and give a bigger voice to the campaign against this silent killer.
In conjunction with the awareness week, The Silent Cancer , a feature documentary investigating pancreatic cancer in the UK, will be shown on the Community Channel : Sky 539, Virgin TV 233, Freeview 87 on the 16 th , 18 th , 20 th and 22 nd November at 21:00 and 3.00am. The Silent Cancer is Directed by Alastair Clayton, Written and Produced by Stuart Laws. A trailer of the documentary is available to watch at www.pancreaticcancerawareness. org
Amser Justin Time continue to work tirelessly to raise awareness of this cruel disease. Alongside the charitys founder and close friend Shan Cothi, Steffan Rhodri took part in Amser Justin Time s first fundraising challenge - an epic horse-ride from North to South Wales in August and September 2008. Since then the charity has gone from strength to strength raising over 60,000 in its first year of operation. In July this year, the charity made the ground-breaking announcement in a special launch with Only Men Aloud at the University Hospital of Wales, that they had raised sufficient funds to employ a Specialist Pancreatic Nurse for one day a week for two years.
This month has already seen charity supporter, presenter and actress, Sara Hunter raise money for Amser Justin Time by completing the New York marathon on 1 st November. Sara completed the race in 4 hours 4 minutes and raised over 1700 and said: It was an unforgettable experience and thinking of Justin and Shan kept me going the whole way. Im going to continue to run half marathons in the New Year with the aim of reaching my target of 3000 for amserjustintime.org . Other supporters continue to fundraise through various sponsored walks and horse rides.
Amser Justin Time have also held various other fundraising events including two acclaimed Cyngerdd Cothi concerts at Pontrhydfendigaid including performances from Shan Cothi, Only Men Aloud, Caryl Parry Jones and John Owen Jones . Given Shns status as a singer, actress and TV personality the charitys fundraising events have had the support of some of Wales biggest celebrities including Bryn Terfel , who joined Shn to record the downloadable track I Believe .
For more information on the charity, please visit www.amserjustintime.org
For donations, please visit www.justgiving.com/amser
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Chris Needs I want to leave Wales because people here have been really cruel to me After writing about being sexually abused in the best-selling Like It Is, the most shocking revelation in And Theres More, the second volume of autobiography from Chris Needs published this week, is the amount of vitriol he has received from his fellow countrymen (and women) regarding his sexuality. The legendary entertainer, charity fundraiser and BBC Radio Wales presenter has had abuse shouted at him in the streets, received hate mail in which some have questioned whether he should be allowed to have a godson, and even death threats.
Some people here in Wales have been really cruel to me, he says. I still get a lot of insults about my sexuality and this makes it much harder to hang on to the job. I love what I do in the radio studio, i.e. talking to people and, of course, the music. But is it worth it? Needs dreams of a new life in his beloved Spain with partner Gabe Cameron and no expensive petrol, no income tax, no chavs and no moaning old gits calling me a queer and, oh, no rain! I will probably retire to Spain. But I keep clutching straws that Wales will have its day, with cheaper prices, better weather, more liberal people I can live in hope. As well as his feelings towards his country, Needs speaks about bittersweet memories of his much-missed mother, why her will caused immeasurable trouble and damage to his family, his desperate desire to have children, and living with diabetes. On a lighter note, he also tells of starting out in show business and working with the stars, some nightmarish trips abroad, receiving a Lifetime Achievement award from the Variety Club, meeting The X-Factors Rhydian, and how Gabe and godson Sam help to make his life more bearable. The stories are funny, honest and warm-hearted much like the man himself. And Theres More (9.95) is published by Y Lolfa and includes extracts from Living with Chris Needs by Gabe Cameron. Chris Needs will be touring Welsh bookshops in December. Confirmed dates: Fri, 4th Dec (1.00-3.00) Borders Fforestfach Tues, 8th Dec (11.30-12.30) WH Smith Neath Wed, 16th Dec (11.30-1.30) Waterstones Carmarthen (more dates to be revealed on his radio show) |
| Caroline: The Welsh Choir of Southern California ( Cor Cymraeg De Califfornia), was founded in the Fall of 1997 by Michael J. Lewis, who was its first music conductor and director. The mission of the Welsh Choir of Southern California (Cor Cymraeg De Califfornia) is to bring the glories of Welsh music and culture to audiences worldwide through performance and recordings. Americymru: How many members do you have and how often do you all get together for rehearsals? Caroline: Currently there are about 30 members in the mixed-voice choir. We generally rehearse weekly on Sunday afternoons in West Los Angeles near LAX. Americymru: What is your typical repertoire? Do you perform in both Welsh and English? Caroline: We sing in both Welsh and English and our typical repertoire includes new music featuring contemporary Welsh poets and composers, as well as traditional hymns and folk songs. Our performances often include the contributions of of distinguished local musicians as well as guest artists from Wales. Americymru: What are the minimum qualifications for persons wishing to join the choir? Caroline: The minimum qualification for any person wishing to sing with the Welsh Choir of Southern California (Cor Cymraeg De Califfornia) is that they must love to sing.Loving Welsh music is also a plus. Knowing Welsh is not a requirement as language coaching is provided.
Americymru: Would you say that the choral singing tradition is alive and vibrant in the U.S.A. today?
Caroline: Yes the choral singing tradition is not only alive and well it is growing. As evidenced by the development of choirs and festivals and competitions.
Americymru: Is there anywhere online where people can go to hear the choir? Do you have any CDs available or planned?
Caroline: Im not certain if there are places on-line where you can currently hear us sing. It is my understanding that a couple of our performances have been put on YouTube but I havent checked recently. Also the performance at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C was archived but I dont know if it is still accessible. We have one CD that we released in 2002: Hearts Afire * Calonnau ar Dan We are currently working on a second CD. Grants for funding will be greatly appreciated.
Americymru: What would you say was your most notable performance or experience with the choir?
Caroline: It is very difficult to say which would be our most notable performance.I suspect every person in the choir would choose different ones for different reasons: Singing at the National Cathedral, May 2007 for California Day (we were chosen from over 60 choirs in the state who were considered).
Singing at Saint James Episcopal Church, March 2004 where the lines were so long we were almost an hour late starting and people had to be seated in the chapel; or,
Singing at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, Wales, July 3rd, 2003 for a packed crowded including rows of dignitaries and church officials.
Americymru: Do you have any plans to perform outside California in the near future?
Caroline: Yes we hope to return to Wales to tour possibly in 2011.In the summer of 2008 we sang in Vancouver and Victoria and have been invited to return. All possibilities.
Americymru: Can you tell us anything about your recent concert with Julia Bentham?
Caroline: Unfortunately Julia Bentham was not able to sing with us.She became ill the day before our concert and spent the week in a hotel room in Santa Monica. It was a great disappointment but we were gratified that she was able to return to London with her daughter and is now doing well.
Americymru: Any other message for the members and readers of AmerCymru?
Caroline: We would like to encourage you to experience the joys of Welsh music whether you participate by singing, playing or listening. Once you do you will never again know depression without hope, darkness without light, and you will understand why Welsh music is and has been the hallmark of Wales for 100s of years.
Pob Bendith.
Cariad Caroline, Chorister and Publicist |
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" A Sense of Place" - A Photographic Competition
We are immensely proud and pleased to announce that for the second year running internationally renowned photographer Glyn Davies will be judging the Left Coast Eisteddfod Visual Image Competition . For more information about Glyn follow this LINK . For a selection of breathtaking images which Glyn recently uploaded to Americymru check out the slideshow below.
In defining the theme for this years competition our judge , Glyn Davies made the following comments regarding content and submissions:- "What is it about our environment, whether landscape or people, that makes it so particular to us, the artists? We could all photograph a tree on a hillside, a wave crashing over a rock or even a pretty person in the street, but what identifies them with YOUR locality ? As the judge, based in Wales, I am interested in seeing photographs which give me a better idea about the characteristics and atmosphere of the artists homeland. This does NOT mean that images have to be ordinary, they can be moody, dramatic and immaculately composed but I want them to show me that we are all living in amazing and DIFFERENT places. I want the artists to celebrate what is special about their own location and culture. This way, not only do we get to see amazing images, but we can all learn more about each other in the process." . Please take the time to read the rules carefully before entering . Any queries shoud be directed to americymru@gmail.com . There is a first prize of $150 for both categories the Visual Image Competition. The categories are outlined below:-
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our contestants the very best of luck in the Visual Image Competition. Winners will be announced at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in October 2010.
Subscribe to the Left Coast Eisteddfod 2010 Visual Image Competition RSS HERE.
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| One Way Ticket is the third album to be released from Welsh songstress Lowri Evans and it follows on seamlessly from Kick the Sand and Clyw Sibrydion. Her first album Clyw Sibrydion (Hear Whispers) was recorded in the Welsh language whilst for Kick the Sand Lowri decided to record mainly in English. However two of the most popular tracks on Clyw Sibrydion turned out to be the bilingual version of U2s With Or Without You and one of her own compositions Merch Y Myny sung in the Welsh language. It was during 2006 when Lowri was performing some Welsh language television shows that she first realised that she was missing out on performing to a significant section of her own people and culture. It was then that Lowri decided to translate her own compositions into Welsh and start singing in both the English and Welsh language. What makes Lowri Evans unique is her beautiful Welsh voice, distinctive and powerful delivering a highly original blend of blues, contemporary folk and pop. She has this wonderful ability to blend the two languages in both her live and recorded performances. Lowri Evans (Loow-ree) was born in the Welsh market town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire. These days she lives in Newport also situated in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. Although Ms Evans is well known in her homeland through concerts, television and radio appearances Lowri and her musical partner Lee Evans have now started to attract attention outside of Wales via endorsements from radio, TV and visiting artists. One of the recent highlights of Lowris career was to appear as support to Richie Havens at the Queens Hall in Narberth where she received a standing ovation. And the man himself was very gracious and humble and gave an amazing performance. Richie is one of the many visiting music legends to choose Lowri as their support act when performing in Wales.
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