Sian James ‹ Cyfres 1

Line	From	To
-888	0:00:00	0:00:00
-888 - -888	0:00:00	0:00:02
-888	0:00:07	0:00:09
-888	0:00:14	0:00:16
-888	0:00:21	0:00:23
-This area has always been my anchor.	0:00:41	0:00:44
-I've moved around...	0:00:44	0:00:46
-..and I've lived in other places -for short periods.	0:00:46	0:00:50
-This is where I always wanted to be.	0:00:50	0:00:53
-I lived in America for a time.	0:00:53	0:00:55
-Coming back -after living in America...	0:00:56	0:00:58
-..I soon realized -there was no comparison.	0:00:59	0:01:02
-This is my heaven.	0:01:03	0:01:05
-This is my home. This is Gardden.	0:01:24	0:01:27
-It's a very special place for me.	0:01:28	0:01:30
-It's been in the family -for generations.	0:01:30	0:01:34
-The James family -has been here since 1756...	0:01:34	0:01:39
-..and we're still here.	0:01:39	0:01:41
-There's an old fort near the house.	0:01:51	0:01:54
-The house was named -after the fort - Garthan...	0:01:54	0:01:58
-..the old word for hill fort.	0:01:58	0:02:01
-That has become Garthen, -due to the local accent.	0:02:01	0:02:05
-We believe the house was built -with stones from the fort.	0:02:07	0:02:13
-It's hard to explain the emotional -ties I have with this land.	0:02:23	0:02:29
-It's deep in my blood.	0:02:29	0:02:32
-My family have lived here -for generations.	0:02:33	0:02:36
-They first moved into the farmhouse -to the left of Gardden...	0:02:37	0:02:42
-..Castell Mynydd.	0:02:42	0:02:43
-They had just escaped from Flanders.	0:02:44	0:02:46
-We've lived here -for many generations.	0:02:47	0:02:50
-It's left its mark on me -as a person evidently.	0:02:50	0:02:54
-Can you see that white house -over there?	0:02:54	0:02:57
-Do you know what it's called?	0:02:59	0:03:01
-Gyfylchau.	0:03:01	0:03:03
-That's where Nain Bryn Tanat, -my mother, stayed during the war.	0:03:03	0:03:10
-She'd stay in Gyfylchau with her -Auntie Maggie and Uncle Ifan John.	0:03:11	0:03:16
-Being here with the children -reaffirms my love for this place.	0:03:16	0:03:22
-I have the opportunity...	0:03:22	0:03:26
-..to pass on -the family stories to them...	0:03:26	0:03:30
-..stories of my mother's childhood.	0:03:30	0:03:35
-And then ours.	0:03:38	0:03:40
-I don't think ours is as big.	0:03:41	0:03:43
-Caeffynnon is big. -Can you see Caeffynnon?	0:03:43	0:03:46
-Can you see Bryn Tanat?	0:03:46	0:03:49
-Oh, yes. Over there.	0:03:49	0:03:51
-I was raised in the village, -in a house called Bryn Tanat.	0:03:53	0:03:56
-Nain and Taid lived here.	0:03:59	0:04:02
-This is where I would come -for peace and quiet.	0:04:02	0:04:07
-I used to walk up to see Nain.	0:04:08	0:04:10
-I would walk across the fields -from Bryn Tanat...	0:04:10	0:04:15
-..just to have a chat -with Nain by the Rayburn.	0:04:15	0:04:19
-Nain passed away -towards the end of the 1980s.	0:04:22	0:04:27
-I inherited the house, -my brother inherited the land.	0:04:27	0:04:31
-We had a home here.	0:04:33	0:04:34
-I loved the house.	0:04:34	0:04:38
-This is where Nain and Taid -had lived.	0:04:38	0:04:41
-When we had children...	0:04:41	0:04:43
-..it was a natural step -to set up our home here.	0:04:43	0:04:47
-It was originally a small cottage.	0:04:47	0:04:50
-I'm not sure -how my great-grandmother...	0:04:50	0:04:53
-..raised 14 children here -but she did!	0:04:54	0:04:56
-As we renovated the house, -we found so many fascinating items.	0:04:57	0:05:03
-We found some children's shoes -buried in the hallway.	0:05:04	0:05:09
-They were tiny shoes, three of them.	0:05:10	0:05:14
-Young families had a tradition -of burying shoes in the ground...	0:05:14	0:05:19
-..to bring the house good luck -and plenty of children.	0:05:20	0:05:24
-The latter was certainly a success!	0:05:25	0:05:28
-I also discovered -my great-grandmother's wedding ring.	0:05:28	0:05:33
-She'd raised 14 children here.	0:05:34	0:05:37
-After enquiring within the family...	0:05:37	0:05:39
-..it appears that she'd lost -her wedding ring for years.	0:05:40	0:05:43
-There was a lot of embarrassment...	0:05:43	0:05:46
-..because she didn't have -a wedding ring on her finger.	0:05:46	0:05:51
-When we were renovating -the floors upstairs...	0:05:52	0:05:56
-..we discovered a round ring -which was totally black.	0:05:56	0:06:01
-We washed it in the well -and the gold shone through.	0:06:01	0:06:05
-After making the enquiries...	0:06:05	0:06:08
-..we realized we'd found -the long-lost ring.	0:06:08	0:06:11
-The house is full of music -all the time.	0:06:37	0:06:40
-The children play -musical instruments...	0:06:40	0:06:44
-..guitars, drums and the piano.	0:06:44	0:06:47
-They even play the harp sometimes.	0:06:47	0:06:50
-It's a special feeling for me -because music is my life.	0:06:55	0:07:00
-It also acts as a link to the past.	0:07:00	0:07:03
-Dad's family was very musical.	0:07:04	0:07:06
-I imagine there's been music -and singing in this house...	0:07:06	0:07:11
-..for generations.	0:07:11	0:07:12
-It's an ideal place.	0:07:26	0:07:28
-Just seeing the scenery from Gardden -is enough to inspire my music.	0:07:28	0:07:33
-She's unique, in some ways. -There's no-one else like her.	0:07:43	0:07:47
-She can sing like an angel, and she -could have performed worldwide...	0:07:47	0:07:52
-..but she chose to return -to her home.	0:07:53	0:07:55
-She's very proud of her roots -in the Banw Valley.	0:07:56	0:08:01
-There are drawbacks -when you live in the countryside.	0:08:02	0:08:06
-I don't want to romanticize -too much...	0:08:06	0:08:09
-..because it can sometimes -be awkward living here...	0:08:09	0:08:14
-..for my career -and Gwyn, my partner's career.	0:08:14	0:08:19
-We have to travel everywhere.	0:08:19	0:08:22
-Having said that, -we have to adapt too.	0:08:22	0:08:24
-You have to work around -the difficulties.	0:08:25	0:08:28
-We decided to open a studio -in our home...	0:08:28	0:08:32
-..in the cowshed -that's a part of the building.	0:08:32	0:08:36
-We made a lot of alterations.	0:08:38	0:08:41
-There's something nice -about being able to work from home.	0:08:41	0:08:46
-# The valley springs to life #	0:08:46	0:08:49
-Initially, -we created the studio for my work...	0:08:51	0:08:55
-..to allow me to record my music.	0:08:56	0:08:58
-I recorded -Pur and Y Ferch O Bedlam here.	0:08:58	0:09:01
-Nowadays, -young bands come here to record.	0:09:03	0:09:06
-Local bands, bands from afar.	0:09:06	0:09:09
-We record choirs -and soloists here.	0:09:10	0:09:13
-It's really great -having people here...	0:09:15	0:09:19
-..recording and sharing their music.	0:09:21	0:09:23
-# I know	0:09:24	0:09:26
-# Why I'm alive	0:09:27	0:09:31
-# And I know #	0:09:32	0:09:34
-When I'm up here...	0:09:34	0:09:36
-..I'm at peace.	0:09:39	0:09:40
-I can put everything in its place.	0:09:41	0:09:44
-I find the peace -that all of us need.	0:09:47	0:09:52
-It's very important for all of us.	0:09:52	0:09:55
-I'm a very fortunate woman.	0:09:57	0:09:59
-.	0:10:10	0:10:11
-888	0:10:12	0:10:12
-888 - -888	0:10:12	0:10:14
-Mam was a great influence on me, -throughout my life.	0:10:23	0:10:27
-Mam's family comes from Llanon, -near Aberystwyth.	0:10:30	0:10:36
-My forefathers were sailors -and ship captains in Llanon.	0:10:59	0:11:04
-This goes back to the 18th century.	0:11:05	0:11:08
-My grandfather was the first -to break the tradition.	0:11:08	0:11:11
-He went to work in a bank.	0:11:12	0:11:14
-His father, my great-grandfather...	0:11:15	0:11:17
-..was captain of a ship -called Barbara.	0:11:18	0:11:20
-There's a house in Llanon -called Barbara House...	0:11:21	0:11:24
-..named after the ship.	0:11:24	0:11:26
-It's where my grandfather -was raised.	0:11:30	0:11:33
-We had a connection to the house...	0:11:34	0:11:36
-..right up to Uncle Joe, -Mam's brother, until very recently.	0:11:37	0:11:42
-Today, the connection -has disappeared.	0:11:45	0:11:50
-It saddens me -that I can't return to Llanon...	0:11:51	0:11:54
-..with the family still here.	0:11:54	0:11:56
-Mam's mother, -Nain Sowth as we called her...	0:12:01	0:12:06
-..came from Carno.	0:12:07	0:12:10
-After marrying my grandfather, -they moved to Llanybydder.	0:12:10	0:12:15
-Mam and her brother lived there...	0:12:16	0:12:18
-..until they were -six and eight years old.	0:12:18	0:12:21
-In 1936, the family unit fell apart.	0:12:21	0:12:24
-Nain Sowth decided -to divorce my grandfather.	0:12:25	0:12:29
-It was a very unusual occurrence -at the time.	0:12:30	0:12:35
-Mam would often tell me...	0:12:35	0:12:37
-..how she and her mother -travelled by train...	0:12:37	0:12:41
-..from Llanybydder to Newport.	0:12:41	0:12:43
-Her mother had family ties there.	0:12:43	0:12:46
-She fled to Newport...	0:12:46	0:12:49
-..and roamed the streets until -the early hours of the morning...	0:12:49	0:12:53
-..trying to find a bed -for the night.	0:12:53	0:12:56
-They stayed there -during my mother's teenage years.	0:12:56	0:13:03
-Mam had a very difficult childhood.	0:13:05	0:13:09
-She had very few opportunities -in her life.	0:13:09	0:13:15
-That's why she was so eager to give -me the opportunities as a child.	0:13:16	0:13:22
-Here we have Uncle Joe and Mam -in Newport.	0:13:38	0:13:43
-Mam had just become a Brownie.	0:13:43	0:13:45
-Uncle Joe has joined the Scouts.	0:13:47	0:13:49
-They both look very happy.	0:13:50	0:13:52
-Here's a glamorous photo of Mam.	0:14:03	0:14:06
-She's 18 years old in this photo.	0:14:07	0:14:10
-She's wearing a green silk dress.	0:14:11	0:14:15
-There's a reference -in one of Nain Sowth's letters...	0:14:17	0:14:21
-..to this particular dress.	0:14:21	0:14:23
-Apparently, it cost a lot of money.	0:14:23	0:14:26
-Mam liked her clothes.	0:14:27	0:14:29
-I knew her as Sister James.	0:14:35	0:14:37
-To be honest, -she was a rather flamboyant person.	0:14:37	0:14:43
-She stood out in amongst -all the other mothers.	0:14:43	0:14:48
-She was a very special lady....	0:14:48	0:14:51
-..and very colourful.	0:14:53	0:14:55
-She often became wound up.	0:14:57	0:15:00
-I was a very laid-back child.	0:15:00	0:15:02
-Mam would get frustrated -as she tried to get me motivated.	0:15:02	0:15:07
-"Come on, come on, -you have to do this."	0:15:07	0:15:10
-"OK..." That's how I was.	0:15:10	0:15:12
-There was conflict between us -at times...	0:15:14	0:15:18
-..but we were still -the best of friends.	0:15:18	0:15:21
-The best of friends.	0:15:22	0:15:24
-Those are the treasured memories -I have.	0:15:24	0:15:27
-Curiously...	0:15:37	0:15:38
-..Gwyn, my partner...	0:15:39	0:15:42
-..has strong connections -with this part of Ceredigion.	0:15:43	0:15:47
-When we became a couple...	0:15:48	0:15:50
-..Gwyn soon realized -that he knew some of my family...	0:15:50	0:15:56
-..particularly, my uncle, -Jones y Barbara.	0:15:56	0:15:59
-As we went through some -of the items in Barbara House...	0:16:00	0:16:04
-..we found a photograph.	0:16:04	0:16:06
-My great-grandmother -is in the photograph.	0:16:06	0:16:10
-As we were looking at the -magnificent clothes they wore...	0:16:10	0:16:14
-..Gwyn saw someone rather familiar -standing behind her.	0:16:15	0:16:19
-He said, "I can't believe this.	0:16:20	0:16:24
-"That's my great-grandfather...	0:16:24	0:16:27
-"..standing behind -your great-grandmother."	0:16:27	0:16:31
-We were both gobsmacked.	0:16:31	0:16:33
-Fate had brought us together!	0:16:33	0:16:36
-Composing was my main interest. -It's what I enjoyed doing.	0:16:53	0:16:57
-I've been composing on the piano -since I was six or seven years old.	0:16:58	0:17:03
-I tried to write down the music.	0:17:03	0:17:06
-It developed further at school...	0:17:07	0:17:10
-..and then I wanted to come here.	0:17:10	0:17:13
-Coming to Bangor University...	0:17:31	0:17:34
-..was a huge step -for a girl from Llanerfyl.	0:17:34	0:17:39
-I had no idea what to expect.	0:17:40	0:17:43
-I couldn't compare or talk -about it at home...	0:17:43	0:17:47
-..because no-one had been -to university...	0:17:47	0:17:50
-..before me.	0:17:50	0:17:52
-I was breaking new ground.	0:17:52	0:17:56
-I remember the first day.	0:18:04	0:18:06
-I came here with Mam.	0:18:06	0:18:09
-I felt, "Wow, this is it now.	0:18:09	0:18:12
-"I've left home."	0:18:12	0:18:14
-Mam was ill for many years.	0:18:19	0:18:21
-Responsibility at home fell -on my father - he looked after Mam.	0:18:21	0:18:26
-It was a very difficult situation -for both of them.	0:18:27	0:18:30
-I felt drawn -by very strong emotions...	0:18:31	0:18:35
-..to return home to Bryn Tanat.	0:18:35	0:18:38
-I remember Sian turning up -on the first day.	0:18:55	0:18:59
-It was an exception for a student -to turn up driving a car.	0:18:59	0:19:03
-More than that, -she had a Volvo and a harp.	0:19:04	0:19:07
-She was a gold-mine -for any Welshman!	0:19:09	0:19:12
-There was also something mythical...	0:19:12	0:19:15
-..about the way -her blonde locks walked!	0:19:15	0:19:18
-She came with some kind of drama.	0:19:20	0:19:22
-There was a buzz around the place -when Sian James arrived.	0:19:22	0:19:26
-# To find another was her plan	0:19:28	0:19:30
-# To find another was her plan - -# To find another was her plan	0:19:30	0:19:32
-# But not one of the village lads	0:19:32	0:19:34
-# But not one of the village lads - -# But not one of the village lads	0:19:34	0:19:35
-# Ffol-di rol-di -rol-lol ffol-di rol-di ro	0:19:36	0:19:37
-# Wanted to marry -Lisa from Yr Hendre	0:19:38	0:19:39
-# Ffol-di rol-di -rol-lol ffol-di rol-di ro	0:19:40	0:19:43
-# To find another was her plan	0:19:43	0:19:44
-# To find another was her plan - -# To find another was her plan #	0:19:44	0:19:47
-This is where Bwchadanas -was formed...	0:19:47	0:19:50
-..with friends I'd met -during the first year.	0:19:51	0:19:54
-Young, like-minded musicians.	0:19:55	0:19:58
-That, in itself, was a huge step.	0:20:00	0:20:03
-It was something I'd dreamt of -before arriving here.	0:20:03	0:20:06
-"Ooh, I wonder if I could be -in a band?"	0:20:07	0:20:10
-# An old maid lost her lover	0:20:13	0:20:15
-# Ffol-di rol-di rol-lol -ffol-di rol-di ro	0:20:15	0:20:17
-# To find another was her plan	0:20:17	0:20:19
-# Ffol-di rol-di rol-lol -ffol-di rol-di ro #	0:20:19	0:20:21
-The response to Bwchadanas -surprised me.	0:20:21	0:20:27
-I didn't know what to expect.	0:20:27	0:20:30
-Performing at gigs -and seeing people dance...	0:20:30	0:20:34
-..that was wow, it was great!	0:20:35	0:20:37
-It was an opportunity for me to -express myself in a different way...	0:20:40	0:20:45
-..in terms of the way -I performed and used my voice.	0:20:45	0:20:49
-That was a new experience for me.	0:20:49	0:20:51
-I'd been singing to harp -accompaniment since I was 14.	0:20:52	0:20:56
-The concerts I'd attended -were rather respectable affairs.	0:20:56	0:21:01
-In Bangor, -I was in a band with the lads.	0:21:01	0:21:05
-They were influenced -by rock and roll music.	0:21:06	0:21:10
-Further down the line, -we had drums and a bass guitar.	0:21:11	0:21:16
-That opened the floodgates for me.	0:21:16	0:21:20
-We played -rock musical instruments...	0:21:21	0:21:24
-..whilst singing folk songs.	0:21:24	0:21:27
-That was a huge influence on me...	0:21:27	0:21:30
-..especially later on, -with my folk songs.	0:21:32	0:21:36
-It was exciting, really exciting.	0:21:38	0:21:41
-I came back here in 2007.	0:21:58	0:22:00
-I was invited to become -a fellow of the university.	0:22:00	0:22:04
-That was a huge honour.	0:22:04	0:22:07
-It was an emotional experience.	0:22:09	0:22:12
-I do what I do and that's it.	0:22:13	0:22:15
-Having someone acknowledge that what -I've done has been worthwhile...	0:22:19	0:22:24
-..is very nice!	0:22:24	0:22:26
-I don't think you can measure the -importance of going to university...	0:22:41	0:22:47
-..especially if -it's the right choice and it was.	0:22:47	0:22:51
-Not only did I develop musically...	0:22:54	0:22:56
-..although that was bound -to happen...	0:22:57	0:22:59
-..since I was studying -in the music department...	0:23:00	0:23:03
-..which was such a bustling place.	0:23:03	0:23:06
-I also developed as a person.	0:23:08	0:23:10
-When I first arrived, -I didn't know how to write a cheque.	0:23:10	0:23:14
-I felt so naive. -I'd never had to write a cheque.	0:23:15	0:23:18
-At the university, -I learnt a lot about myself.	0:23:22	0:23:26
-So I'm very grateful to this place.	0:23:27	0:23:29
-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.	0:24:09	0:24:11
-.	0:24:11	0:24:12

Sian James 3 Lle

Similar Content

Factual

Cyfres 1

3 Lle

Alwyn Humphreys

Transcript

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS