The Latest From Cymuned - Supporters Email

( This is not an official press release but rather the personal observations of a Cymuned supporter ) There is still time for you to contact us if you have any comments about the first issue of our members Magazine, or a letter or article about things that are happening in Wales at the moment - eLCOs and European elections for instance. We would love your input into our magazine, so don't be shy! The North Wales People's Council will be sharing our stand in Bala, as they campaign against the plans to include great chunks of North Wales into a Greater Merseyside style economic area. I will write in greater depth about these plans in another email (Carrie and the NWPC are still trying to get answers and clarifications about some of the more controversial points.) But just a taster, apparently the difference of the culture of North Wales to the rest of the area was originally noted as a threat to the plan, though no solution to this threat was noted... Anyway, a member of the NWPC has recorded a song for YouTube opposing the plan. You can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gLrYDSTCSM You will remember the article that I quoted from the Times last month. We have received a number of emails from people who responded to the it, including one from Rob. Here are some excerpts: "Just a quick email to say that I found the above article very amusing.I bet you ... need to try and increase your populatrity by belittling a country like Wales in order to try and progress your career. Well done you. ... we live in a great diverse green island. It's due to people like you, that it will be a broken Kingdom sooner than later. Try not to choke on that cigaretter of yours (or that stinking London smog) for too long now eh..." We'd love to know if anyone gets any responses to their emails! And finally, the executive committee is meeting next Saturday, 4th July, so contact us with anything that you think should be discussed. Until next month, then! Iestyn * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dewi Sant told us to "Do the little things." To see what he had in mind, have a quick look at: www.cymuned.net/ymlaen/dewisant * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Are you a dreamer or a doer? Cymuned can't survive without YOUR help. Have a look at: www.cymuned.net/ymlaen/ourfuture to hear how to make things change. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Americymru International Film Festival

Americymru is immensely proud and pleased to announce that it will be holding the first Americymru International Film Festival in Portland, Oregon between August 23rd and August 28th 2010. The festival will coincide with the Left Coast Eisteddfod which will be held on the weekend of Aug 27th-Aug 29th. The likely final list of film categories for submission is listed below.

"This is the festival that honours the individual voice. Its mission is to provide a worldwide public forum for films made by Welsh & Celtic filmmakers. We also welcome films inspired by or based in Wales ."

To enter a film or video click below

ENTER

( For details of this years Eisteddfod CLICK HERE )

Best Welsh Language film

Best Wales based production

Best Celtic language Film

Best Original Screenplay Award

Best Film under 5 minutes

Best Film under 10 minutes

Best Film under 15 minutes

Best Film under 20 minutes

Best Film under 35 minutes

Best Film under 65 minutes

Best Film under 70 minutes

Best Film under 80 minutes

Best UK Short under 5 minutes

Best UK Short under 10 minutes

Best UK Short under 20 minutes

Best American Short Film

Best International Short Film

Best Student Film

Best Young Filmmaker

First Film – North America

First Film – International

Music Based Video / Film

Public Service / Community Award

Best Animation / CGI

Best Documentary

Best Film USA

Best Horror Film

Best American Feature Film

Best International Feature Film

Best Feature Film

Best in Festival

Email

Wales at the USA Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Pictures property and courtesy of Caribousteaks

Wales and Welsh culture are a featured nation at this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC. - rugby, lovespoons and beer on the USA national Mall!

A pub on the National Mall!

Tag rugby lessons on the National Mall in front of the Smithsonian Castle, the original museum building, now an administrative building

Hanging with the Welsh National Rugby Team

Chicago Tafia and Americymru member Katie took these pics before and during the recent Wales v USA clash at Toyota Park Chicago.

Katie:- "I worked as the local liaison to the Welsh National Rugby Team while they were in Chicago getting ready for their match against the US team. It was a crazy, exhausting, but fabulously fun week! A great group of folks to work with and for!"

Find more photos like this on Americymru

World Famous Llangollen Festival takes centre stage at Smithsonian Festival

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will this year be taking centre stage in Washington D.C as one of the 160 organizations, musicians, poets, scholars, artists and craftsmen representing Wales as the Guest Nation at the two week long Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington D.C. 24 June – 5 July.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which takes place every year and attracts over one million visitors from the USA and overseas, will welcome Wales as the featured Nation providing visitors with a unique opportunity to learn about Welsh culture. As representatives of Wales’ festivals, Llangollen will be an integral part of the Wales and the World Pavilion where they will be telling the unique story of Llangollen and the Welsh Eisteddfodic tradition on which it is based.

The International Eisteddfod’s presence in Washington will highlight the parallels between both events as the International Eisteddfod’s Executive Director, Mervyn Cousins explains, “It is a great privilege to be part of such a major world festival with similar aims as ours. In the same way as the Llangollen Eisteddfod aims to promote world peace through music and dance, the Smithsonian Festival aims to do this by showcasing the best the Guest Nation has to offer to the rest of the world and we are very proud to be here representing Wales’ festivals. Llangollen is where Wales and the World meet and therefore this is an ideal opportunity for us to take Llangollen to the world!”

During the two-week festival, that takes place between 24 – 28 June and 1 – 5 July senior Llangollen personnel will lead various presentations. The talks will range in their themes from how the Eisteddfod came into existence 63 years ago, through to the Festival’s commitment to sustainable development and the environment, to how a small town in North Wales was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize!

Betty Belanus, Curator of the Wales Smithsonian Cymru program expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration: "Having visited the Llangollen area during my extended research stay in Wales in 2007, I was very impressed with the beauty of the area as well as the obvious positive impact the International Eisteddfod has had on the town and environs. The idea of an International Eisteddfod illustrates the warm welcome that I have always felt in Wales. Although I have never had the pleasure of attending the event, its vision of promoting peace through mutual cooperation is much like that of our own Smithsonian Folklife Festival. We look forward to hosting the representatives of the International Eisteddfod who will be participating in the Festival, and we hope that visitors will be inspired by the global reach of Wales through finding out about events such as the International Eisteddfod. I believe that the depth of pride and determination of the Welsh people will shine in our event, through one on one interaction with the participants from all around Wales, including Llangollen.”

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival has collaborated with the Welsh Assembly Government to select the best that Wales has to offer. First Minister, Rhodri Morgan said: "No longer will Wales be Europe’s best kept secret. The Smithsonian is one of the world’s biggest cultural festival events and we have a unique opportunity to raise our profile in Washington and right across North America. Visitors to the festival will be able to learn more about our traditional and contemporary cultures and we hope that inspires them to visit, study or invest here."

An Interview Edward Channon, Piper and Author

Edward Channon, a resident of Portland Oregon, has been playing the bagpipes for 35 years. He has recently completed his first book:- The Ballad of A Bagpiper. The book details the humorous stories of things Edward has observed over the years at weddings, funerals, events and a myriad of other gatherings around the world. Edward will be appearing at the Left Coast Eisteddfod where he will be giving a presentation and demonstration of his piping skills and signing copies of his new book.

Americymru: How and why did you start learning the bagpipes?

Edward: I didn’t start with the bagpipes when it comes to learning a musical instrument because both of my parents are classical pianists, I started playing the piano at age four. My father learned in Austria and my mother in the USA. However,my mother being of German/Scotch decent, made me practice the piano at least two times a day ,for about an hour each time. She always gave me that image that comes from being German discipline, thats my mum. If I got something wrong she would yell at me, striking me on the hands with a ruler or just stand behind me yelling ‘PRACTICE, PRACTICE , PRACTICE’ with a German accent ,looking like a Gestapo agent, which always scared the hell out of me!

My grandfather, who at that time was a Episcopal minister and loved classical music, also played the bagpipes. Since I was young he constantly told me how fun bagpipes were. So pulling me away from the piano he showed me the techniques in playing this weird looking and sounding instrument. Of course, I had to use smaller ones, his made me fall over because of its size and weight. He always joked that if you suck at playing the piano, you can’t pick it up and walk out, at least with the pipes you can walk out. Didn’t need to say more!

Americymru: You’ve written a book recently called Ballad of a Bagpiper How would you describe it?

Edward: Ballad of a Bagpiper is the first of its kind in this wonderful world of ours. At least, in the bagpipe world. It's about the funny things that have happened to me, really, and the things I saw at weddings, parties, military events, and even funerals over the many years I’ve been playing. It's not really a life story but more about small segments rather short stories of my life playing this instrument.

Americymru: Do you have a favorite humorous incident?

Edward: I once played for a funeral in England after a rain storm , so the ground was wet, muddy and just slippery typical Britain. Even though I was watching where I was walking, I also had to watch the funeral to get a sign from the minister or family that I had to stop playing, which I had been doing for a while. Walking and looking, walking and looking; finally I thought I saw the sign but it was false, so I kept playing but I didn’t see where I was walking and fell into a newly dug grave. Yes ,it was deep and it was full of water.

Another story, I was doing a benefit walking down the street ,leading runners in a charity run, so that as I walked the runners would run past me. I was sure that they heard me, how can you not hear the bagpipes being played, but I was being bumped and pushed as they ran by. I didn’t care, I was having fun. When I got to a corner, a few reporters came running out to ask runners questions, one of them came up to me to ask me something. I gave them that look like, ‘Ah hello! I’m playing, kind of hard to talk!’ I tried to tell them but I couldn’t and they ran off....... I’ve been in that situation a few times and each time I wonder if reporters ever get it!

Americymru: Where does your sense of humor come from?

Edward: I grew up watching British comedy shows like ‘Benny Hill’, ‘Monty Python’, ‘Dad’s Army’, ‘Are you being Served?’, ‘Man about the House’ and more. But the comedians Spike Mulligan, Peter Sellers and my father were great influences on me and how I look at the world. Not to be a critic about things but seeing the funny side of any situation.

Americymru: Would you say that Celtic music has been your biggest influence in play the bagpipes?

Edward: To tell the truth, no. Growing up I listened to Chopin, Bach, Mozart but going to primary school one day I heard a band called Def Leppard. That was it, I was hooked on rock. Since then heavy metal, classical, pop have been influences on me. I personally find Celtic music kind of boring if not played with passion and many don’t have it. Bagpipers are the same: if you don’t have the passion or the state of mind, then you shouldn’t be playing if it doesn’t come from the heart.

Americymru: You reference some bizarre events in your book. Can you elaborate on these?

Edward: Well I’ve played for a nudist wedding, a vampire wedding and so many more. I don’t want to give to much away. These are just a just a couple of weird or interesting events that I’ve done. Things that I guess a bagpiper probably wouldn't play for or be included in normally however they were interesting and weird, which made them fun to watch and be in.

Americymru: Do you have any book influences or writers you like?

Edward: That's a hard one, since I read all types of books and have since I was a kid. I love all genres but I would say my favorite is Jack Higgins. But I love Bernard Cornwell, Sergei Lukyanenko, Nigel Tranter to name a few.

Americymru: What kind of engagements do you play at?

Edward: Of course I’ve played for normal events like weddings to funerals, a number of these have been very usual in themselves, but I have also played for parties including a fraternity initiation parties, hen nights and stag night parties as well as birthday parties; business events, and even a Bar Mitzvah. However, it has never been about the money for me, I love what I do. It's all about the people I meet, the joy in helping them and the experience of doing it. But, of course in doing so I got into situations where I couldn’t leave or get out of!

Americymru: You’ve played for some celebrities and even royalty can you tell us more about that?

Edward: When playing for politicians and royalty, it is like entering different worlds. Politicians like it to make them look good no matter what, ‘Do it this way as long I look good’. While royalty like it done very specific, conservative and old ways ways, tradition all rules their thinking. ‘This is way we’ve done it for centuries,’ Celebrities such as movie or TV stars are really the most fun. ‘Just have fun!’ is what they’ve always tell me. Each person I play for holds a distinct memory for me, however, playing for Queen Elizabeth is kind of hard to remember as I was so young at the time. Princess Diana was one I remember as being the most elegant, because of her beauty and grace. Her loss was a terrible for Britain and the world. From Reagan to the local politician’s I remember as being stressful because I have to be careful what I say. I have a tendency to say the wrong thing at the worse time, getting the politician in trouble. I’m good at that, my wife would say.

Americymru: Any plans for a record deal or music CD of your own?

Edward: I do. I was recently approached by a record producer to set something up in the near future. Don’t know what type of CD it will be as I find the normal bagpipe CD kind of boring and over done. So, who knows, but as with this book it will be a first of its kind.

Americymru: Any other message for the members and readers of Americymru?

Edward: Just that this book will give everyone a good laugh and for those musicians out there remember that all things are possible if you have a sense of humor when you look at something. Humor I think brings out both the worse and the best in people you just have to figure what to do in that situation. Of course having humor can get you in trouble.... as you will see. hehe!!

Americymru: Any public appearances in the near future?

Edward: I do have many are coming up. The Scottish Highland Games in Gresham, Oregon I’ll be making an appearance there with Kathleen’s of Dublin. I also have a launch party at Kathleen’s of Dublin in Portland on 6 Aug. I will also have a launch party in Seattle on 30 July. I will be working with the Iron Mutt Coffee Company which has three cafe’s around Portland in doing signings, one this coming Saturday the 27th from 10-12 in Hillsboro. This is great place to bring your dog and get them high on caffeine. I’ll be in Seattle, Los Angles as well later in the summer. I believe I’ll be in Boston, London, England, New York, and Albuquerque, New Mexico as well. Then of course Americymru’s big event the third weekend of August which I hope shows the world the funny world of Celtic music.

Find more photos like this on Americymru

David Western's Lovespoon Eisteddfod Blog, 21 June 2009 - "Inspirations!"

Reprinted with permission from David Western's blog, all material © 2009, David Western --

David Western will be appearing, speaking on the lovespoon carving tradition and showing his work, including the Left Coast Eisteddfod lovespoon - which David will award at the event - at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland, Oregon on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, 2009. Get your tickets now.

As I've been compiling this little blog following the twists and turns of carving a lovespoon for the Left Coast Eisteddfod, I've received a number of emails from fellow carvers, lovespoon enthusiasts and a few people who are 'just interested' wanting to know how I got into this and what my inspirations are.

I can tell you that I basically fell into lovespoon carving. Although I have been aware of what they are since childhood, and have tinkered with carving them since my teens, the really serious obsession (or as I prefer to call it, professional interest) with lovespoons is about 10 years old now.

My main inspirations were, and still are, the lovely antique spoons housed at the National History Museum of Wales at St Fagans (near Cardiff). I always make time for a day or two at the museum studying these little gems of fervent workmanship whenever I am in Wales. A finer introduction into the craft cannot be found anywhere else (except maybe in my book The Fine Art of Lovespoon Carving- how's THAT for a shameless plug??). I encourage anyone keen on lovespoons who plans on visiting Wales to make time for this marvelous museum. Even if you could care less about lovespoons, the outdoor museum is chock-a-block with tremendous things to see. But if I were to single out one spoon which above all others has been my greatest source of inspiration and as acted as a beacon guiding me to strive to constantly improve both my carving and my design it would be this one.

For me, this spoon epitomizes all that is great about the lovespoon. Masterfully and elegantly carved, the spoon appears deceptively simple, yet every feature is flawlessly carved and the represents the very highest level of craftsmanship. If you want a spoon that 'has it all'...this is the one. Whoever the unknown craftsman was who made this brilliant offering, I sincerely hope that he won the heart of his intended and lead a long, happy and productive life! He deserves it!

After that masterwork, this little spoon may seem like the 'ugly duckling', but what I love and find so inspiring about this spoon is the passion which seems to almost emanate from its fibres! Lofty talk, I know, but despite its rather rudamentary craftsmanship and design, this spoon has tremendous emotion. Made with the simplest of tools by someone in the deepest thrawl of love, the bowl is exquisitely formed, showing an amateur carver giving it his very best effort . For 'feeling', this spoon has always rated as one of the most inspirational for me!

The last example from the St Fagan's collection is this completely over-the-top example of woodcarving virtuosity. A riot of chainwork, balls in cages, swivels and a fiendishly difficult diagonal chain pattern, this spoon was carved by a very, very serious professional. It would have taken months and months of patient and extremely nerve-wracking carving to create this magnum opus! Whenever I think I am getting fairly good at carving, I study this spoon and realize just how far I have yet to go!

But it isn't just ancient history which inspires. Recently, I had the very good fortune to meet carver Alun Davies of Wales, whom I believe carves the most technically perfect lovespoons I have ever seen. Alun's mastery of woodcarving is so complete that his spoons are almost unbelievable in their perfection. No single aspect of them is any less than stunning. In fact, the first time I laid eyes on them, I felt like I really needed to get some carving lessons and to practice a LOT more!! Alun's spoons aren't just technically staggering though, they have a soft and elegant charm which is really the root of lovespoon carving...they have feeling!!! It was Alun who told me something which has become my lovespoon carving mantra... "A lovespoon is not a lovespoon unless it is carved with love; love for the wood, love for the tradition and love for the person who will receive it." Hang that above the workbench and you have all the inspiration you'll ever need!!

My last lovespoon inspiration has probably had the most profound influence on in my lovespoon carving as he has shown me that the possibilities for the tradition are vast, varied and exciting. Mike Davies is probably the most well known of all the Welsh lovespoon carvers and for many years has been a one-man promotion for this venerable tradition. Thousands of people around the world proudly display Mike's work on their walls and for good reason....Mike was one of the first to really realize the design possibilities for the lovespoon outside the 'antique traditional'. With dramatic Celtic designs, dramatic modern pieces and delicate foliage inspired spoons, Mike's work is always adventurous. Realizing that there were so many unexplored avenues available to the lovespoon carver was probably the greatest inspiration for me and I will always be grateful to Mike for so vividly pointing that out!

I have enjoyed great generousity, cameraderie and inspiration from many lovespoon carvers over the years and I know that like everything else, the more influences, techniques and ideas are brought to a subject, the better it gets. Hopefully, one day I will be an inspiration to a beginning carver or my designs will spark inspiration for someone to take the craft another step further and that will be a very happy day for me.

The Left Coast Eisteddfod Will Be Televised

The Left Coast Eisteddfod will be the centerpiece of a program in the PDXposed television series on Welsh culture in Portland. The half hour long show, which will air on the FOX network in November, will include live footage and interviews from the Eisteddfod itself and will highlight the activities of the Welsh community in the Rose City. There is a possibility that the program will be available to viewers outside the Portland area "on demand".

The producer and crew of PDXposed will be traveling to Wales in September to do a travel show on location to be aired here in Portland. Final locations and subjects aren't yet pinned down and this is still in the planning stage with some logistics and productions to be worked out. PDXposed has worked out this trip with the very able assistance of AmeriCymru member Paul Chibeba from VisitWales.

Some past episodes of PDXposed are available on youtube HERE

In addition to filming at the Eisteddfod, PDXposed presenter Jon Olson expressed an interest in filming a sports activity (rugby, of course!) and people in a restaurant or pub and we suggested meeting them at the Horse Brass on Belmont, if the owners are amenable. We need as many Welsh people and people of Welsh descent as are willing to show up. If you're in the Portland area, please tell us you're willing to drink for Wales at the Horse Brass during the week before the Eisteddfod. Volunteer in the comment box below. Uncle Dai needs YOU!

We strongly advise anyone planning to travel from outside Portland to attend the Eisteddfod to buy tickets well in advance as we predict that demand will be high in the coming months.

Visit the main Left Coast Eisteddfod page HERE

See "In Search of Gareth Hughes" - At the Left Coast Eisteddfod

We are very pleased and proud to announce that a copy of "In Search of Gareth Jones" is being made available to us by its creator, Americymru member Kelvin Guy, for showing at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland . The documentary will be shown in Lola's Room in the Crystal Ballroom on Saturday August 22nd ( precise time to be announced ). For more information about Gareth Evans see below or visit the film's website HERE.

About Gareth Hughes - From the Wikipedia

Born into a working class family in Dafen, Carmarthenshire, after undertaking some local amateur roles aged 15 he walked to London and joined a West End theatre based group of Welsh players. The group took a tour to the United States, and although not successful Hughes was spotted in New York, and left the group to take a series of minor roles on Broadway. Seen by the right people, they persuaded Hughes to get involved in the new-fangled picture business.

Hughes earlier screen work was with Clara Kimball Young in Eyes of Youth, Marguerite Clark in Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. He was teamed with Viola Dana in The Chorus Girl’s Romance, and was with Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, in Sentimental Tommy, the picture which attracted immediate attention to his ability. Even though he had already appeared in many films before this,he always regarded Sentimental Tommy as his favourite and most successful. In total he made forty five films spanning 1918 to 1931.He was also the Welsh dialect coach, on The Corn Is Green made in 1945 starring Bette Davis (another Welsh connection). Ceil.B.DeMille called him “a young idealist”. Fulton Ousler describes him as” the charm boy to end all charm boys”

In 1929 like many others he lost his fortune in the Wall Street crash and was left penniless, but he carried on making films until 1931 when he appeared in Scarce Heads. He then decided to leave the world of film and return to theatre, which he had always been his first love. His last performance ran for 18 weeks at the Hollywood Playhouse in 1938, where he starred as Shylock in the Merchant of Venice.

In the early 1940s Hughes decided it was time to leave his full and exciting but also lavish and selfish lifestyle. Adopting the name of Brother David, in 1944 he became a missionary to the Paiute Indians on the Pyramid Lake Reservation of Nevada. Hughes spent almost 14 years with his “children” as he liked to call them.

In 1958 Hughes decided to return to Llanelli to spend his final years. But he longed for the sunshine of the West Coast, and after five months he returned to California. Later Hughes moved into the Motion Picture Country Home, in Woodland Hills, where he had his own cottage. He baptised silent film actress Clara Kimball Young prior to her death. There he died at the age of seventy, and his cremains were buried in a Masonic Cemetery at Reno, Nevada.

In 2008, Hughes relative Kelvin Guy made made the film Desert Padre, which premiered in Llanelli.

Welsh Country / Stories In Stone Competition Enter HERE.

Author’s tribute to her parents’ “awesome courage” in the face of anti-Welsh sentiment

Across the Severn is Eva Goldsworthy’s heartfelt tribute to her parents, who were forced to uproot themselves from Wales after the 1921 miners’ strike and had to face down anti-Welsh sentiment when they moved to England.

The author says, “This book is an account of two people I loved. From one angle their lives were uneventful but they illustrate the great courage inherent in the Welsh as a people – the way they stick to a task and make the best of difficult circumstances. May and Joe stayed true to this tradition even though they would have been the last to admit it.”

More than a family’s story, Across the Severn is also an excellent piece of social history. Events in the lives of the protagonists are constantly rooted in the wider context of the turbulent politics of the early 20th century. Goldsworthy examines the devastating effects of pit closures in the Valleys and the 1921 miners’ strike, which left her father with no choice but to seek work in “hostile” England. On a trip home to Ogmore Vale in 1926, the author observed firsthand the “obvious signs of poverty” following the General Strike. She says, “I remember boarded-up shops and thin, grey-faced men hanging around on street corners. The coal mine owners had taken their revenge and there had been savage cuts in employment, most of all for the so-called ‘agitators’. The burning aim of most of the youngsters in Ogmore was to get out.”

The author also includes her reminiscences of the time she spent working on the development of radar and nuclear fission during the Second World War. Socialism, the emancipation of women, and the swan-song of the English gentry are amongst the other wide-ranging topics which form a background to this fascinating story of how individuals coped with the difficulties they faced during an era of unprecedented change.

Eva Goldsworthy was born in Wales but spent most of her life in London as a mathematics teacher. She has three daughters and now lives in Llanfyllin. She is also the author of A Flat-Pack in Greece.

Welsh Music Foundation Drop In Sessions - Bridgend

Drop In Sessions continue... Wednesday 24th June 2009, 4.30pm-6.30pm, Hobo's, Queen Street, Bridgend

WMF are hitting the road again and hosting a series of Drop-In Sessions over the coming months across the country for those who would like to meet face-to-face with questions about their ventures / careers / aspirations in the music industry.

Staff will be on hand to answer queries and offer general guidance to anyone who pre-books a time slot .

The Drop In sessions are free to attend. If you’d like to book a space or would like any further information, please drop us a line.

hello@welshmusicfoundation.com / Tel: 02920 494110

A Report from the Hay Literature Festival - David Williams

Welsh writers were out in force at the recent Hay Literature Festival beating off TV cooks and broken down politicians for the attention of enthusiastic audiences. The highlight was the announcement of the Wales Book of the Year shortlists. Poet Damian Walford Davies from Aberystwyth University chaired an evening in which the three English language and three Welsh language authors were invited to read from and discuss their work.

The English language shortlist consisted of Gee Williams (Blood etc), Deborah Kay Davies (Grace, Tamar and Lazlo the Beautiful) and Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch (Not In These Shoes) pictured above from left to right. The Welsh language authors were Hefyn Wyn (Pentigily), William Owen Roberts (Petrograd) and Geraint V Jones (Teulu Lord Bach).

Later, Damian Walford Davies teamed up with Richard Marggraf Turley and presented a son-et-lumiere evening of poetry and imagery and another Welsh success: during the course of the festival Flur Dafydd was presented with the Oxfam Emerging Writer of the Year prize.

Pictured below with shortlisted authors is Dominic Williams representing Parthian who can claim two thirds of the Wales Book of the Year list. WTG Parthian!

Vote Now!...in the Wales Book of The Year Award 2009 Poll.

The Latest From Cymuned - Supporters Email

( This is not an official press release but rather the personal observations of a Cymuned supporter )

Between Eisteddfod preparations, we are currently working hard on a second edition of the Cymuned magazine, following a very good reception to the first edition last month. Those of you who are not members are able to subscribe or buy individual copies at www.eingwlad.com. If you have articles, letters or any other material that you think may be of interest to our readership, then by all means drop us a line.

Thanks to Omer for telling us about a strange contribution made at one of the All Wales Convention meetings recently. A gentleman apparently explained to the people there that as they had been born in Wales, they were all English anyway. Those attending the meeting seemed to disagree, and the Man with the Strange Ideas left shaking his head and sighing "Oh, what's the point"... It is unbelievable that such an attitude still exists in Britain, (let alone Wales) but it does show how easy it must be for some to move to the country knowing nothing about our Welshness, or even that it exists.

Thank you also to Siams who drew our attention to an article in the Sunday Times in which Daisy Waugh trundles out the tired old clichés as she talks of a property in Wales, and asks, ""What's actually wrong with (Wales)? Apart from the unpronounceable road signs, ... the rainfall ...and the slightly irritating devotion to a language only kept alive by government edict and European subsidies ... it's just the same as anywhere else in Britain, isn't it?"

But wait, before we complain too much about a columnist who's just trying to get a reaction, consider this: "There's not much we're allowed to snigger at in polite company ... yet somehow fat people and the whole of Wales slipped through the sensitivity net." Ms Waugh does indeed hit on a puzzling truth here, while doing her best to continue the tradition!

Lastly, Arfon Jones, a councilor in Wrexham, has asked us to publicise a petition on the Assembly's website to class MPs as public bodies under the Welsh Language Act 1993, following the refusal of Ian Lucas MP to use Welsh in his annual report. Follow this link, though you will have to register or sign in with the assembly system.

PETITION HERE

Until next month!

Iestyn
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dewi Sant told us to "Do the little things."

To see what he had in mind, have a quick look at:

www.cymuned.net/ymlaen/dewisant

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Are you a dreamer or a doer?

Cymuned can't survive without YOUR help.

Have a look at:

www.cymuned.net/ymlaen/ourfuture

to hear how to make things change.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A book to test how much you really know about Welsh Sport

When it comes to sport, being a small country, Wales has managed to punch above its own weight over the years. Be it in rugby, athletics, football, boxing, snooker and even rugby league Wales has produced its fair share of heroes. A new book published this week will test how sport loving and how knowledgeable the Welsh public really are. So You Think You Know Welsh Sport? includes questions an all kinds of sports. The book has 50 rounds of 10 questions with the questions getting harder as you get along.

It is safe to say that the author Matthew Jones, a 29 year old chemist from Cardiff is a Welsh sports anorak. He spends his weekends travelling the length and breadth of Wales visiting sporting events and he has already published a quiz book on Welsh rugby. It was due to the success and the enthusiastic feedback to So You think You Know Welsh Rugby? that Y Lolfa decided to commission the new book. Matthew Jones said about his new book,

“If you struggle to only get a couple correct then your knowledge is probably equivalent to a drunk dart player however if you manage to get ten out of ten then you are the trivia king of Welsh sport!”

The book includes questions like:

Which Middle East country appointed Terry Yorath as their manager in 1995?

Who recorded Glamorgan’s best ever bowling figures of 7-16 in a one day contest, against Surrey in 1988?

In 1990, whose 27 year Welsh 100 meters record did Colin Jackson break?

Which future rugby union international scrum half was Welsh schools champion in the high jump in 1969 and 1970?

So You Think You Know Welsh Sport? is published by Y Lolfa and will be available in bookshops and on www.ylolfa.com, from Saturday the 8th of June for £3.95.

Ceri Rhys Matthews, 'Song of The Flowers' and the Folklife Festival 2009

Ceri Rhys Matthews is producer of the Smithsonian Folkways CD, "Blodeugerdd: Song of the Flowers", being released at this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival and which has been described as "a really beautiful concept piece featuring some people who have either never been recorded before, or who were trying out new combinations for the recording." Americymru: How did this project come about? Who participated in it, in what capacity? Ceri: Betty and Ceri Jones - who was 'Project Manager for Wales at the Smithsonian 2009' at the time - came to see me at a project I was working on in Dolgellau called Prosiect Ioan Rhagfyr; a twenty five year project which revolves around flute playing and flute making in the Dolgellau area. They asked if I would advise on possible participants for the music programme at the Smithsonian Folk-life festival. I guess they knew they would get 'alternative' suggestions from me. So, I became part of their curatorial team. During this process I became aware that a CD was going to be released on the Smithsonian Folkways label to be released at the Festival, and so I alongside many others put forward a proposal. And I won the tender. My idea was to record a few of the many thousands of musical tales that could be told of and in; around and about Wales. But I wanted these to be the 'unheard' stories - stories by people who do not 'represent' Wales or any faction in Wales, but people who have nurtured and kept alive a musical narrative, quietly - maybe in their kitchens, or with friends in intimate music making moments. They carry the stories that are never heard above the usual hubbub and hullabaloo of celebrity, fame, radio, tv and the mass media. So, I hired a Tudor gate-house in the Preseli hills, worked out a timetable and asked about twenty musicians or so to come singly, in pairs or trios to come and record a track of their choosing. Anything they were concerned with at the time. The results were astonishing and inspiring, not least because of the interaction between the individuals and the nature of the building and its surroundings. The building itself is after all, a kind of portal. And the music recorded was a key to something that is heard less and less these days; something magic, inspired, at times unearthly, and also very intimate. It's not party music as someone pointed out to me on listening to the recordings. It's not party music in either sense of the word. But it is the music of the people. Or at least, some of them. I could have made three or four CD's and it was an onerous task to leave people out. I think it's fitting that it is to be released on the Folkways label. A label that always recorded the ordinary people; those without an official voice. But whose collective voices became a vehicle of cultural expression for millions, beyond commercial consideration. The musicians on the CD are: 1. Mary Hopkin 2. Anne Marie Summers and Helen Wilding 3. Ceri Jones 4. John Morgan, Diarmuid Johnson, and Chris Grooms 5. Linda Griffiths 6. Ceri and Catrin Ashton 7. Daniel Huws 8. Christine Cooper 9. Llio Rhydderch and Tomos Williams 10. Cass Meurig and Nial Cain 11. Jo Cooper and Elin Lloyd 12. Jem Hammond and Tom Scott 13. Max Boyce, Christine Cooper, and Llio Rhydderch 14. Julie Murphy, Sille Ilves, and Martin Leamon Americymru: How would you describe the final result? Ceri: On compiling the tracks we realised that the CD had a shape. That the individual narratives contained in the tracks made a larger more encompassing story. We likened it to honeybees returning to a hive and telling their individual tales, but those tales painting a picture of the source of their nutrition - of fields of wild flowers. From these wild flowers we pick a posy. The Song of the flowers, literally; Blodeugerdd in Welsh, Anthology in Greek. Without pinning anything down, a shape may be discerned from the individual narratives and the songs seem to cluster into 'themes', or 'tendencies' which may be characterised thus 1. Remembering Mary Hopkin sings a song that is imprinted on the cultural DNA of the people, and yet it is a surprise to hear her sing it. Well known internationally for her popular song, this is where she started, in her and our youth. Anne Marie Summers and Helen Wilding Smith live on the porous border between modern England and Wales. Both have strong Welsh family and childhood connections. Being outside, they remember a cultural inheritance, and give a forgotten dance form, the estampie, back to the giver of that inheritance. Ceri Jones was born and raised in Canada but this summer came to visit his grandmother in Llangrannog for the first time. He remembers his inheritance in a different way. A reverie between John Morgan, Diarmuid Johnson and Chris Grooms. From the quiet and abstract opening notes, the musicians’ conversation is like the dawn, from which we can read the signs of the day to come. Here are elements of the memory, magic, song tunes, instrumental music and emotion which will unfold thought the rest of the anthology. Linda Griffiths remembers how a lover hurt her. Ceri and Catrin Ashton moved away from Conwy to Sheffield. The dance tunes they play, they played as young girls at home. 2. Describing magic Daniel Huws sings of the mystical nature of the nativity, in a plygain carol from Anglesey that has been unsung for some generations. Christine Cooper sends a bird as a love messenger, or llatai, from a winter-like desolate, treeless place without love, to a lover. “Wait,” the lover says, “wait until May.” Llio Rhydderch and Tomos Williams improvise on a forgotten tune. They explore the tune like dancers, with two of the instruments of the forest. Cass Meurig and Nial Cain engage in a mystical dialogue with the cuckoo about the nature of time, a story Cass sings to her children, and then brings us into the world of dance. 3. Dance and celebration Jo and Elin play triple time hornpipes from the border, as Jo prepares to make a new life abroad. Jem and Tom have some light hearted fun with flutes. 4. Emotion and the fabric of life Max Boyce, with Christine and Llio, explores the fabric of sentiment and emotion, and ask the question; what is loss? Julie, Martin and Sille compare the different emotions men and women feel in love. These small individual narratives are the grains of sand in which the whole of the land may be seen, with its towns, mountains and beaches; its rivers, rocks and stones; its lovers, friends, families and homes. Taken together, these songs make a snapshot of a hive of activity. The story of a posy of wildflowers. Americymru: What is planned for its release and where will it be available? Ceri: The CD will be on general release coinciding with the folk-life festival. There will be a launch concert during which six of the musicians who appear on the CD will take part. I don't know that all dates and times are finalised yet. The musicians appearing in Washington will be Ceri Ashton, Catrin Ashton, Linda Griffiths, Christine Cooper, Sille Ilves and Martin Leamon Americymru: Will you be appearing at the Folk-life Festival? Ceri: Yes, I'm pleased to say I'll be performing mainly in a duo with Christine Cooper. But also, and this is very exciting, different combinations of musicians are encouraged to collaborate with each other throughout the festival, so expect some exciting combinations. Last night, a group of seven of us got together that will be playing for a twmpath one evening. Musicians are getting together with storytellers, poets etc. in all sorts of great combinations. But I'm really looking forward to getting a chance to play some really straightforward beautiful flute and fiddle tunes with Christine. Americymru: How did you come to be a musician, what lead you to music? What instruments do you/have you played and what was your musical education? Ceri: Well, I don't know that I am a musician. At least I was always told by my teachers in school that I wasn't one, so I've never really believed that I am, or counted myself as one. I suppose I play music. And I love music. And I love listening to it - I love listening to other musicians, and so I suppose that's how I started. There was no-one playing the music I wanted to hear- so I had to play it myself. I met a man called Jonathan Shorland who had made a pibgorn and some pipes and he showed me how to get started... And so I did. I played pipes and things. Then when we started fernhill, the group I play with, we needed guitar sounds, so I had to do that, learn to play the guitar. Then wanted to play the flute - more than anything else, really (except singing) and so I learned to play the flute, and make the sounds I wanted to hear and the tunes I wanted to hear. Americymru: You've recorded and performed both solo and as part of an ensemble, you formed fernhill and collaborated with Christine Cooper, including on your 2005 solo CD, 'yscolan'. What has been the path of your career as a musician and where do you intend it to go? Ceri: Ha! career!! To career is to lurch about, out of control isn't it? If I have a career it's not a normal trajectory I'd have to say. I don't know. I went to Art School where I learned that everyone is an artist. This really fitted in with my idea of what folk music is about. And so my career is to get as good at playing tunes as I can - as often as I can. So I don't have a job or anything - and I don't earn enough money, but I think I'm getting better at playing music. And sometimes people ask you to play for them, and that's brilliant. And every so often like a painter has to make a painting, a musician has to make a record, and so if we can we do. I've been really lucky in that my music has found patronage with some inspired people. Wyn and Richard Jones at Fflach records and Tim Healy at Beautiful Jo records. They are truly enablers, and friends of musicians. Geniuses in their way and kind and generous souls. Where do I intend it to go? To play as much music with Christine and fernhill and all my friends as well as new people I meet, as is humanly possible. Americymru: What performances are you most proud of in your career? Ceri: Well, performance and the sort of narrative music that I'm engaged in don't really sit comfortably. I'd have to say that when the listener and the player connect, then something special happens. It often happens between musicians and that's magic and what keeps you going. When it happens between the listener and the player, it's like you're dancing with each other. That's happened a few times. It's quite rare and special and happens in unexpected places often. Bessie's in Cwm Gwaun has had many special moments. And my time piping in Libya with Berber musicians was special. But piping along the via Dolorosa in Jerusalem to al-Quds university with thousands of Palestinians roaring and dancing still makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Americymru: What would you most like to achieve as a musician? Ceri: To attain the freedom I hear in musicians who can hear things which seem unreachable to me. People like John Coltrane or Micho Russell. And singers, like say, Bjork or like Mary Hopkin, or Tymon Dogg or Otis Redding - They all make me cry. I'd also like to earn my place in the anonymous pantheon if that's not an oxymoron. Americymru: What's next for you and where can people see you play and find your music? Ceri: Well, the folk-life festival comes up soon. Then there's my regular teaching at Dolgellau, and at Canolfan William Mathias in Caernarfon. I run a music retreat in Pembrokeshire three times a year for all types and abilities of musicians - but musicians who want to get closer to the essence of their own musical voice - the next one's coming up in August. Gigs around Wales with Christine and some exciting fernhill dates on the horizon too. We need to record some sounds too, but it's harder and harder to do so these days what with the ugly commerciality that chokes everything. Still, if we can raise some money we will. So that's a big thing that needs doing soon. www.yscolan.info/ http://yscolan.blogspot.com/ www.youtube.com/user/yscolan www.myspace.com/ceriandchristine www.fernhill.info/ www.myspace.com/fernhillmusic http://www.fflach.co.uk/ http://www.bejo.co.uk/ Interview by Ceri Shaw Email