THEMES & DREAMS OF WALES
Wales has produced many beautiful and poignant ballads (or Airs) over the centuries and a selection of the most famous are included here together with some 20th century pieces. It is remarkable to think that many of these ancient melodies were passed down orally from generation to generation each adding their own interpretation. On this compilation, two of the finest exponents of this wonderful folk tradition are Llinos Daniel and the Richard Williams Singers who create the 10th Volume in this Black Mountain series.
HARP & VOICE: LLINOS DANIEL
This excellent compilation of Welsh Airs is led by soloist and harpist, Llinos Daniel. It is rather fitting that ‘Llinos’ is the Welsh word for ‘song-bird’.
Born in Ammanford, South Wales, she was brought up amongst a background of Eisteddfods – Music Competitions. Llinos trained at Royal Holloway University of London where she received several scholarships and her B.A. Hons Degree in Music and Drama. She further studied at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Llinos has toured extensively in the U.S., Hong Kong and Brittany with the Black Mountain Male Chorus (the youngest touring Male Choir in Wales). She enjoyed promoting her Celtic Heritage to new audiences, combining both the harp and her vocal ability with the 30 members of the Chorus. Being the only female in the group, she was aptly described as the ‘Daffodil’ amongst the thorns!
PIANO & VOICES: THE RICHARD WILLIAMS SINGERS
Musical Director: The Late Richard Williams MBE LRAM
Accompanist: Jonathan Griffiths
The Richard Williams Singers are probably one of the outstanding young Choirs in Europe. The versatility of their vocal technique and repertoire has meant that they have been in demand from the former Soviet Union to California and from Ontario, Canada to the Czech Republic.
Based in Tonyrefail, their leader was regarded as a choral institution in his own right in Wales. This is one of three Choirs he possessed and had directed them, until his death in December 2007, for over 60 years! To say that choral singing was his life, is a slight understatement – he even had a Rehearsal/Concert Room under the same roof at his home!
It is this devotion to the art that has gained the Choir many friends and admirers across the world. They have shared the stage with artists as diverse as Shirley Bassey, Max Boyce, Stuart Burrows, Rolf Harris, Dennis Waterman and Rick Wakeman. Their individual sound adds another dimension to this compilation and confirms their Welsh roots.
1. CARON*
(Caron) Ll. Daniel
2. HARDDACH WYT*
(You’re as pretty as a White Rose) Trad./Adlais
3. LISA LÂN / AR LAN Y MÔR***
(Lisa Lân / Down by the Sea)
Trad. Arr. R. Williams
4. CYNGHANSAIL CYMRY*
(Welsh Ground) Trad. / Gwynn
5. SUO GÂN*
(Lullaby) Arr. Ll. Daniel
6. BUGEILIO’R GWENITH GWYN***
(Watching the White Wheat)
Trad. Arr. B Williams/Roberton
7. MYFANWY (Prelude)*
(Myfanwy) J. Parry Arr. Ll. Daniel
8. Y DREF WEN*
(The White Town) T. Ifan / Y Lolfa
9. CHI MAI*
(Themes from the TV Series – David Lloyd George)
E. Morricone / E.M.I Publ. Arr. R. Williams
10. CODIAD YR EHEDYDD*
(The Rising of the Lark) Trad. /Adlais
11. BETH YW’R HAF I MI?*
(What does the Summer mean to me?)
Trad.
12. DADL DAU***
(Two in a Debate)
Arr. B. Williams / Roberton
13. GELLIWIG*
(Gelliwig) G. Griffiths / Y Lolfa
14. MYFANWY***
(Myfanwy) J. Parry arr. R. Williams
15. CYSGA DI FY MHLENTYN TLWS*
(Sleep my Pretty Child) Trad. Arr. Ll. Daniel
16. OS DAW FY NGHARIAD***
(If My Love Arrives)
Trad. Arr. O. Roberts/Hughes & Son
17. AR LAN Y MÔR*
(Down by the Sea)
Trad. Arr. Ll. Daniel
- *Llinos Daniel
- ***The Richard Williams Singers
Vocal & Harp: Llinos Daniel
Additional Instrumentation: Nigel Hopkins
Vocals: The Richard Williams Singers
Piano: Jonathan Griffiths
Concept & Production: Mike Evans
Artwork: GPS Studios, Swansea
Photographs: AF Photography, Llanelli
Location: Margam Castle