Ar hyn of bryd mae'r cynnwys hwn ar gael yn Saesneg yn unig.
Ar hyn of bryd mae'r cynnwys hwn ar gael yn Saesneg yn unig.
Ar hyn of bryd mae'r cynnwys hwn ar gael yn Saesneg yn unig.
hyrwyddo a dathlu cerddoriaeth Cymru
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Beyond the Haze of Winter's Edge by Ashley John Long has been selected by the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) to represent Wales at this year's World New Music Days. The piece will be performed as part of the ISCM's festival which takes place in the Portugal between 30 May and 7 June 2025. Beyond the Haze of Winter's Edge will be performed by Sond’Ar-te Trio, 18:00 Thursday 5 June at São Luiz Teatro Municipal, Lisbon. Further information
Ashley John Long Beyond the Haze of Winter's Edge (2023)
This work takes its inspiration from a repetitive dream that I kept having around the time of composition. In the dream, I found myself walking a strange, desolate winter landscape alone, and with no end in sight. I found the imagery unsettling, but strangely calming. The piece reflects these qualities with a character that is predominantly meditative, but hints at a darker undertone with occasional violent outbursts. The work is cyclic in nature and melodic and harmonic materials are transformed through various means, whilst small expressive fragments create brief flurries of activity which always gradually fade once more into stillness.
Ashley John Long was one of six composers short-listed by the Welsh panel for consideration by the ISCM. The other composers were:
Ethan Davies More Is Less (2023)
‘More Is Less’ was a commission for an evening of new solo performances, called ‘SoloS’. Programmed palindromically, the concert order of six pieces in the first half was repeated backwards in the second half. The stipulation was that the second performance of each piece should be somehow different from the first, so for this piece the musical material was determined by chance, during the performance, using a pair of dice, a pack of cards, and a hymn book. To the hymn-tune chosen by this method, I applied a set of processes, which would work with any hymn in the chosen book – in this case was ‘Y Caniedydd’, a Welsh hymnal.
The video is a performance on an organ in Merthyr Tydfil, in a former chapel which had been attended by many of the composers of the tunes in the book, including Harry Evans, ET Davies, and Joseph Parry.
▶ Watch More is Less
Nathan James Dearden Everything about us (2022)
This is a ritual. Separate entities coming together to chant and sing.
‘Everything about us’ is a choral work written with the National Youth Choir of Wales to give voice to the young membership, expressing the ways in which they come together and make a statement. The text, derived from the membership in collaboration with poet Rufus Mufasa, speaks to the singers’ lived experiences as young people in Wales and what they hope for the future – to know oneself, relearn, and shine.
Joseph Graydon Antiquities (2023-24)
Antiquities is a work for large ensemble, composed in 2023/24 and is a personal account of how memories may warp through the process of remembering.
The work explores the rejuvenation of materials and was composed as an act of ‘remembering’ the sensation of materials embedded consciously and unconsciously within my mind. This act aimed to create new meanings and tensions between physics, materials, melodies and harmonies which previously have had other lives.
The work was through-composed without clear goals or formal concerns. I aimed for it to be consistently in a state of change, or becoming, reiteratively altering its form within each moment until I reached fatigue.
▶ Listen to Antiquities
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Andrew Lewis In Memory (2021)
‘In Memory’ is a reflection on life with dementia, and especially the experience of unpaid family carers. The title carries different meanings: it is the sense of identity that resides in memory, and a memorial that marks its loss; memories of the person as they were, and more recent memories of the challenges the caring role now brings; it is a plea to remember the millions of family carers whose work often goes unrecognised, and a call for greater recognition and support. Finally, the piece is offered in memory of those who have been lost to dementia, and as a celebration of what remains when all else is forgotten.
I am grateful to Joanna Griffiths, Sue Last and Mary Mitchell for generously sharing their thoughts and experiences; and to my wife Jennie, whose inspirational life as a carer and whose musical ear helped to make ‘In Memory’ a better piece.
Sarah Lianne Lewis Sunflowers in the Autumn (2019)
‘Sunflowers in Autumn’ slowly emerged from very fragmented handwritten sketches presented to the Berkeley Ensemble and continued as a collaborative journey between composer and musicians. It continues to explore my interest in the relationship between creator and performer, as I purposely created a score which leaves the ensemble to decide the length, speed and direction of the work, providing them only with pitch material and suggestions as to how each section could be interpreted.
The work explores the notion of forgotten and remembered memories, and meanders gently though a journey of remembering, much like the hazy golden evenings of summer.
‘Sunflowers in Autumn’ was commissioned by Tŷ Cerdd as part of their CoDI Chamber programme, and premiered by the Berkeley Ensemble on 9th April 2019 at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff.
Listen to Sunflowers in the Autumn
ISCM Welsh Section
ISCM Welsh exists to promote the aims of the ISCM, both within Wales, and in co-operation with the British, Irish, Scottish and other, international Sections. The Society aims to promote contemporary music and raise its public profile, through effective global networking, communication and facilitation of multilateral activities between the members.
Its mission is to:
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Raise the profile of contemporary music through the collective strength of the Society’s global network and membership makeup.
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Pursue exposure, research and performance of contemporary music through initiatives by its membership, as well as collaboration with affiliated bodies.
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Showcase the diversity of contemporary music worldwide through the World New Music Days Festival.
Mae Beyond the Haze of Winter's Edge gan Ashley John Long wedi cael ei ddewis gan y Gymdeithas Ryngwladol ar gyfer Cerddoriaeth Gyfoes (ISCM) i gynrychioli Cymru yng Ngŵyl Cerddoriaeth Newydd y Byd eleni. Bydd y darn yn cael ei berfformio fel rhan o ŵyl yr ISCM a gynhelir ym Mhortiwgal rhwng 30 Mai a 7 Mehefin 2025. Bydd Beyond the Haze of Winter's Edge yn cael ei berfformio gan Sond’Ar-te Trio, 18:00 ddydd Iau 5 Mehefin yn São Luiz Teatro Municipal, Lisbon. Gwybodaeth bellach
Ashley John Long Beyond the Haze of Winter's Edge (2020)
Ysbrydolwyd y gwaith hwn gan freuddwyd yr oeddwn yn ei chael yn aml ar adeg y cyfansoddi. Yn y freuddwyd, roeddwn i’n cerdded ar fy mhen fy hun ar hyd tirwedd gaeafol dieithr ac anghysbell, a heb ddiwedd i’w weld. Teimlwn fod y llun yn aflonyddu arnaf ac eto yn rhyfedd iawn yn fy nhawelu hefyd. Mae’r darn yn adlewyrchu’r rhinweddau hyn gan fod yn bennaf adfyfyriol ond hefyd yn awgrymu islais tywyllach sydd â hyrddiau treisgar achlysurol. Mae’r gwaith yn gylchol ei natur gan drawsnewid deunyddiau melodig a harmonig trwy wahanol ddulliau, tra bod darnau bach mynegiannol yn creu pyliau byr o weithgarwch mawr sydd bob tro wedyn yn pylu yn raddol unwaith eto i lonyddwch.
Nathan James Dearden Everything about us (2022)
Mae hon yn seremonïol. Endidau ar wahân yn dod at ei gilydd i siantio a chanu.
Mae ‘Everything about us’ yn waith corawl a ysgrifennwyd gyda Chôr Ieuenctid Cenedlaethol Cymru i roi llais i’r aelodau ifanc, gan fynegi’r ffyrdd y maent yn dod at ei gilydd ac yn gwneud datganiad. Mae’r testun, sydd wedi dod o’r aelodau mewn cydweithrediad â’r bardd Rufus Mufasa, yn sôn am brofiadau bywyd y cantorion fel pobl ifanc yng Nghymru a’r hyn y maent yn ei obeithio ar gyfer y dyfodol – adnabod eu hunain, ailddysgu, a disgleirio.
Roedd Ashley John Long yn un o chwe chyfansoddwr a gafodd eu rhoi ar restr fer gan banel Cymru i’w hystyried gan yr ISCM. Y cyfansoddwyr eraill oedd:
Ethan Davies More Is Less (2023)
Comisiwn ar gyfer noson o berfformiadau newydd i unawdwyr (o’r enw ‘SoloS’) oedd ‘More Is Less’. Trefnwyd y cyngerdd ar ffurf rhaglen balindromig, cafodd trefn y cyngerdd o chwe darn yn yr hanner cyntaf eu hailadrodd am yn ôl yn yr ail hanner. Y cyfyngiad oedd y dylai ail berfformiad pob darn fod yn wahanol i’r cyntaf rywsut, felly ar gyfer y darn hwn penderfynwyd ar y deunydd cerddorol trwy siawns, yn ystod y perfformiad, drwy ddefnyddio pâr o ddis, pecyn o gardiau, a llyfr emynau. Ar gyfer y dull hwn, rhoddais gasgliad o brosesau ar waith a fyddai’n gweithio gydag unrhyw emyn a ddewiswyd yn y llyfr emynau, sef Y Caniedydd yn yr achos hwn.
Mae’r fideo yn berfformiad ar organ ym Merthyr Tudful, mewn cyn-gapel a fynychwyd gan lawer o gyfansoddwyr yr emyn-donau yn y llyfr, gan gynnwys Harry Evans, ET Davies, a Joseph Parry.
▶ Gwyliwch More Is Less
Joseph Graydon Antiquities (2023-24)
Mae ‘Antiquities’ yn waith ar gyfer ensemble mawr; fe’i cyfansoddwyd yn 2023/2024 ac mae’n gyfrif personol o sut y gall atgofion gael eu hystumio trwy’r broses o gofio.
Mae’r gwaith yn archwilio’r adfer a’r adnewyddu ar ddeunyddiau ac fe’i cyfansoddwyd i fod yn weithred o ‘gofio’ teimlad deunyddiau sydd wedi’u hymgorffori’n ymwybodol ac yn anymwybodol yn fy meddwl. Nod y weithred hon oedd creu ystyron a thensiynau newydd rhwng ffiseg, deunyddiau, alawon a harmonïau a oedd â bywydau eraill cyn hynny.
Cafodd y gwaith ei gyfansoddi yn syth drwyddo i gyd heb fod â nod clir na phryderon ffurfiol. Fy mwriad oedd iddo fod drwyddo draw yn gyson yn newid, neu’n datblygu, gan newid ei ffurf yn ailadroddus pob eiliad nes i mi flinder fy mwrw.
Gwrandewch ar Antiquities
Andrew Lewis In Memory (2021)
Mae ‘In Memory’ yn fyfyrdod ar fywyd gyda dementia, ac yn enwedig profiad gofalwyr teuluol di-dâl. Mae gan y teitl wahanol ystyron: mae’n atgof o hunaniaeth sy’n trigo yn y cof, ac yn gofeb sy’n nodi ei golli; atgofion o’r person yr arferent fod, ac atgofion mwy diweddar o heriau presennol y rôl ofalu; mae’n apêl i gofio’r miliynau o ofalwyr teuluol y mae eu gwaith yn aml heb ei gydnabod, ac yn alwad am fwy o gydnabyddiaeth a chefnogaeth. Yn olaf, cynigir y darn hwn er cof am y rheiny sydd wedi’u colli i ddementia, ac yn ddathliad o’r hyn sydd ar ôl pan fydd popeth arall wedi cael ei anghofio.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Joanna Griffiths, Sue Last a Mary Mitchell am rannu eu meddyliau a’u profiadau mor hael; ac i’m gwraig Jennie, y gwnaeth ei bywyd ysbrydoledig fel gofalwr a’i chlust gerddorol fy helpu i wneud ‘In Memory’ yn ddarn gwell.
Sarah Lianne Lewis Sunflowers in the Autumn (2019)
Cododd ‘Sunflowers in Autumn’ yn araf o frasluniau mewn llawysgrifen dameidiog iawn a gyflwynwyd i’r Berkeley Ensemble ac aeth yn ei blaen i fod yn daith gydweithredol rhwng cyfansoddwr a cherddorion. Mae’n dal i ennyn fy niddordeb o ran y berthynas rhwng y crëwr a’r perfformiwr, wrth i mi greu sgôr sy’n fwriadol yn gadael i’r ensemble benderfynu ar hyd, cyflymder a chyfeiriad y gwaith, gan roi dim ond deunydd traw ac awgrymiadau iddynt ynghylch sut y gellid dehongli pob adran.
Mae’r gwaith yn archwilio’r syniad o atgofion – rhai wedi’u cofio a’u hanghofio – gan grwydro’n ysgafn trwy daith o gofio, yn debyg iawn i nosweithiau teg o haf hirfelyn tesog.
Comisiynwyd ‘Sunflowers in Autumn’ gan Tŷ Cerdd fel rhan o’u rhaglen CoDI Siambr, ac fe’i perfformiwyd am y tro cyntaf gan Ensemble Berkeley ar 9 Ebrill 2019 yn Neuadd Dewi Sant, Caerdydd.