Tunes, Dreams, and Drumming Machines

About my music

I am a fiddleplayer and composer based in West Wales. I am passionate about involving people in the creation and performance of new music. I have at present three full-length shows available to book; Totem a musical drama about shape shifting, finding and meeting your inner animal, Merch y Felin a love story set in the Victorian era which also recreates the sound of industrial machinery and Gwyl Nos a metaphorical tale set in the 8th century. All three shows have related workshops in which participants learn drumming, singing, dancing, story telling and acting before taking part in the final performance.

Other compositions include Crossing the Water, a short suite for chamber orchestra written for and performed by the Cleddau Music Makers in 2008 as part of the Rite of Passage art and heritage project based in Pembrokeshire. I have also written numerous short pieces and songs and am always interested in taking on commissions. I am a member of the professional association of Cyfansoddwyr Cymru/Composers of Wales.

My musical influences begin with Classical composers especially Bartok, Martinu, Arvo Part and Harrison Birtwhistle, tempered by a 20 year career playing Welsh, Irish, Bluegrass and Klesmer traditional music and seasoned with 'non- musical' sounds and inspirations such as water, wind, landscape, animal noises and engines.

I am always learning and always exploring new sounds that excite me. At present I am studying the ancient vocal traditions of Northern Finland, which will hopefully colour and influence my next big work. I am also currently playing Klezmer music and am due to visit Eastern Europe this summer to experience this music first hand and explore my Jewish family connections.

News

In March, I had 2 very successful performances of Totem, one with a very large group of children, and one with a group of adults with special needs. Read more about this on the Totem Page.

Over the winter I have been leading sessions for young children (3-6 year olds) in Welsh song at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

In the spring I will be leading workshops in Sea Sound and Song at the National Waterfront Museum.

I am at present involved in working with young people from deprived backgrounds, as part of the Arts Council funded 'Reach the Heights' project. I am working with a film maker, artist and animator to facilitate the young people to create imaginative work, and to make their own DVDs. I have been using junk percussion such as old bins, oil drums and glass containers, and devising rhythmic patterns to use as a sound track to the animation.

I have recently joined the Welsh Folk Orchestra 'Clerorfa', and I am performing regularly with them.

More news and plans for 2011

I have been collaborating with Sean Reidy in County Wexford, Ireland, this autumn in a production of a drama about the Irish immigration to America during the potato famine in the 19th century. This collaboration also involves George Whitfield and writer David Thorpe. It had its first performance in New Ross, County Wexford, in November (2010) and is now undergoing further development. This is a particularly interesting story as it also tells of the ancestors of JF Kennedy who themselves left Ireland during the potato famine and who originally came from County Wexford.

We hope to do several performances in Ireland and Wales (and possibly New York) in 2011.

More details to follow.

I am busy writing new material for the next Fiddlebox album, we have ambitiously put a launch date of October 2011 in our mental diaries (everyone needs a deadline!)

I am exploring a connection between the Norse myths and the Celtic myths with artist Guy Norman and writer David Thorpe for a project linking Denmark and Wales, which will bear fruit in 2011.

New workshops I have developed include one mixing colours and sounds for young children, and a bilingual transport workshop (‘Sound travels’), which I will be delivering in the National waterfront Museum this spring.

About my bands

I perform throughout the year at gigs, parties, festivals and shows. I play in duo Fiddlebox, and we have just released a new album, which is available to buy here. I also play in folk band Can y Ceiliog, Klesmer band Zemerchora, as well as other line ups. I am associated with a Dutch school of Biodanza, a regular at Dance Camp Wales and also perform solo.

About my community music

I lead workshops, either solo or with Fiddlebox, in sea song, Welsh nursery rhymes, percussion, Welsh folk music and fiddle playing for children and adults. I teach violin, piano and music theory. In the past few years I have been director and programmer of Small Nations Festival, as well as secretary and fixer for Symphonica Tywi. At present, I am visiting and performing and singing with a local group of dementia patients.