Huw Chiswell Deuawdau Rhys Meirion

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-I'm Rhys Meirion.

-In the coming weeks,

-I'll enjoy the company...

-..of some of Wales's

-most talented singers.

-I'll travel to all sorts of places,

-some further than others.

-We'll share stories...

-..and of course,

-there will be plenty of singing.

-I'll invite the artistes

-to the studio to sing duets.

-We'll have fun

-and tackle a few challenges.

-I'll choose a song

-to sing with them...

-..and they'll choose

-a song to sing with me.

-Welcome to Deuawdau Rhys Meirion.

-The valley is close to the heart...

-..of the person

-I'll sing duets with this week.

-He asks the same question

-over and over again.

-"Why, why?"

-# Why? #

-I've heard him described

-as Wales's Billy Joel.

-If you don't know who he is yet...

-..the audience in Caernarfon's Clwb

-Canol Dre have a few more clues.

-The one and only.

-The one and only.

-

-The whole package.

-Legend.

-Legend.

-

-The main appeal is the songs.

-"I Be."

-"I Be."

-

-"Nos Sul Yn Baglan Bay."

-"Y Cwm" is good.

-Please welcome Mr Huw Chiswell!

-"Y Cwm", "I Be",

-"Nos Sul Yn Baglan Bay"...

-..and as a fan said,

-it's the one and only Huw Chiswell.

-# Frank drinks in the bar

-# He's lost his house and car

-# Mm mm

-# He plays a tune on his mouth organ

-# The fairytale symphony

-# Mm mm

-# Oh oh oh

-# The people in our world #

-He's easy on the eye.

-The music is lovely.

-No-one can compose

-chords like Huw Chiswell.

-There's something about his voice.

-Some songs stand out

-and linger in the memory.

-# Mm mm mm #

-Thanks.

-Huw, it was great listening to you.

-You're on form.

-You're very kind. Thanks.

-We haven't sung together and we

-don't know if our voices will blend.

-How do you feel?

-Slightly apprehensive, of course!

-I hope to learn something,

-most of all.

-Young people come to see you, but

-don't come to see me! I'm envious.

-LAUGHTER

-If I sing with you,

-young people might come to see me.

-Who knows?

-# Cardiff, Cardiff #

-I'm on my way to Huw's house.

-I'm looking forward

-to seeing him again.

-As you saw in the gig,

-he's very popular.

-We treasure him in Wales.

-Everyone knows his songs.

-Huw, uniquely perhaps...

-..is a poet as well as a composer.

-He sings poetry in his ballads.

-I'm looking forward

-to seeing him in his home...

-..but most of all,

-to sing two duets with him.

-# I'm driving back

-to the place where I was born #

-Hello!

-PIANO IN DISTANCE

-I hear something upstairs.

-Maybe he's composing. I'll go up.

-Hello!

-Huw!

-How are you?

-I'm well. What a fine room.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Fine. You?

-The door was open.

-You're always welcome,

-if it's open or not.

-This is your studio.

-Yes, this is where we'll be.

-There's an interesting

-story behind this instrument.

-It dates back to the 1970s.

-Goodness!

-It's a Yamaha

-with a baby grand inside.

-It's interesting...

-..because it's

-Cat Stevens's old piano.

-No!

-When he converted to Islam...

-..he sold all his worldly goods,

-including his piano.

-I was very lucky to get this.

-Are you composing a new song?

-I'm working on something.

-I have an idea

-for a new song, "Bwrw Glaw".

-Do you want to hear a bit?

-An exclusive preview.

-# They were talking about the flood

-# As the rain falls

-# It was clear,

-hearing a report on the hour

-# There's a flood around us

-# In sunshine or bad weather

-# What will you do, brother? #

-Thank you very much!

-You're welcome.

-It's odd to sing it

-to someone for the first time.

-I feel very important!

-The important news

-I wanted to tell Huw...

-..was the duet I'd sing with him.

-The duet I've chosen for you is...

-"...Gira Con Me".

-I don't know if you've heard it.

-I don't know if you've heard it.

-

-No.

-It's a Josh Groban song.

-As the title suggests...

-..it's in Italian.

-In Italian!

-My second language.

-RECORDING OF SONG

-This is the song.

-"Gira Con Me" is a light opera song.

-I'm confident Huw can sing it.

-But he'll need to get

-to grips with Italian.

-# E seguo la luna #

-It's very natural.

-You don't need big voice to sing it.

-Hm.

-Try the Italian.

-# Il mondo gira con me

-questa notte #

-# Il mondo gira con me

-# Il mondo #

-# Il mondo gira con me #

-It's just as if

-you're singing in Welsh.

-One of my favourite songs

-is "Rhoddion Prin".

-You sing it like that.

-# Pull the blanket over your body #

-It's not an obvious choice,

-I must say, but there you are.

-I love it.

-Maybe I'm totally wrong.

-I don't know what

-inspired you to compose it.

-But when I listen to it,

-I feel like a parent.

-People go through hard times.

-I've lost my sister and my mother.

-Very often, children

-give us strength to carry on.

-I'm very glad to hear you

-say that about it.

-The song is a classic.

-Come on, then.

-Come on, then.

-

-What?

-Come on.

-Good grief!

-Let's try it.

-Help me if I'm stuck!

-# Pull the blanket over your body

-# Tuck it under your chin

-# Sleep tranquilly

-# Dream with a smile

-# But more than this

-# Don't be surprised

-# If you don't get

-what you want every day

-# Oh

-# Days like that

-# Are very rare days #

-I just about got it!

-Marvellous.

-# Come closer to me now

-# Hold me tightly

-# I feel the warmth of your heart

-# Beating in you

-# I'm lost here

-# Feeling lower than ever

-# Thinking that

-you're here every day

-# I have the rarest prize

-# The prize of prizes

-# The very rarest prize #

-Mm.

-It's a hell of a song!

-Thanks.

-I feel quite emotional!

-It's a hell of a song.

-Listen to it, everyone!

-The lyrics, and that last verse.

-As I said, we've all had hard times.

-Children get us through.

-I could identify with the song.

-Thanks for your kind words.

-It's a thrill, to hear

-your voice filling the room...

-..and to accompany you.

-It's a pleasure.

-I'll never forget that.

-Great.

-Coming up, Huw takes me

-to the valley close to his heart.

-He tells us about

-a person very dear to him...

-..tying it all up

-in a sensitive performance.

-.

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-# Hello, old friend

-# It's good to see you home again #

-The Swansea Valley,

-or specifically, Godre'r Graig...

-..was immortalized by Huw...

-..in the song that won

-the 1984 Song For Wales.

-# I remember now

-# We thought we were grown up #

-Huw's childhood home is a big

-influence and still draws him there.

-What were his early hopes?

-Where did singing fit

-in a career that could gone...

-..in several directions?

-What were your dreams?

-What did you want to be?

-I had a dozen things I wanted to be.

-Exactly.

-They change too,

-as you go through life.

-I wasn't the type

-who knew what he wanted to do.

-I'm still in the process

-of coming to a decision!

-It changed over the years.

-At one time...

-..I wanted to be a professional

-violinist and worked towards that.

-Another time,

-I wanted to be a lawyer.

-In the end, I think

-I just followed my instinct.

-I was interested in literature

-and the Welsh language.

-Studying Welsh

-was a natural choice.

-You studied it in college?

-You studied it in college?

-

-Yes.

-I graduated in Welsh in Swansea.

-Hearing you say that...

-..it's natural

-that you're a skilled lyricist.

-It's a unique gift.

-It isn't accidental.

-Maybe not.

-I suppose I've always

-been interested in words.

-Did the singing and performing

-start in college?

-I did a little, and in school,

-because I played instruments.

-I was in the orchestra and choir.

-In college, I was in a band,

-Y Crach, for a while.

-I was invited to join

-Y Trwynau Coch on the keyboards.

-I was with them for a while.

-After graduating, the plan was

-to do a postgraduate course.

-That was supposed to happen.

-Then S4C arrived.

-There were job opportunities.

-That's how it went after that.

-You're still working now.

-Yes.

-Yes, I'm still quite

-busy in the industry.

-In the middle of all this,

-you were busy singing.

-Everyone is asked this question...

-..but what highpoints

-do you remember?

-There are many over the years.

-I composed songs for some time

-before coming to Cardiff.

-I'm sure the incentive...

-..which I'm very grateful for...

-..was composing Y Cwm for the Song

-For Wales competition, which won.

-Interest in what I did...

-..intensified, perhaps.

-If Y Cwm showed

-Huw's composing gift ...

-..it was emphasized

-with Dwylo Dros Y Mor.

-He wrote the song

-in 1985 to raise money...

-..for people starving in Ethiopia.

-# Let's sing with all our souls

-# Oh oh oh #

-It was a very exciting time in the

-world of television, and music too.

-I'm grateful for that.

-I have many sweet memories.

-Let's enjoy the bacon roll

-before it gets cold.

-Yes!

-# The rock is firm under our feet #

-The whole area is

-a constant inspiration for Huw.

-But some corners

-are more significant.

-This walk follows the river...

-..over an old waste tip...

-..from the huge iron works that

-was down the road in Ystalyfera.

-The river is a wonderful sight...

-..when there's a lot of water,

-after heavy rainfall.

-It's quite a sight. I often come

-here, especially in heavy rain.

-I enjoy seeing

-the river in full flow.

-Shall we go down?

-Shall we go down?

-

-Yes.

-After you.

-After you.

-

-Thanks.

-I'm sure you came here to play.

-It was like a leisure centre.

-We swam in the river

-and played on its bank.

-All summer, we'd head for the river.

-The weir is always

-present in my memory.

-It was very near my childhood home.

-As children,

-we all headed there to play.

-It became a symbol for everything.

-It means a great deal to me.

-You refer to the weir...

-..in the song you chose

-for the programme, "Tadcu".

-It must be a very

-special song for you.

-Yes.

-He's a very special

-person for me too.

-He was my grandfather.

-I was an only child.

-I was brought up under

-the same roof as my grandfather.

-I lived in his house,

-with Mam and Dad.

-I had just turned 14 when he died.

-Here's a photo of him.

-You're the little one.

-That was 1961,

-in front of the house.

-I have very dear memories of him.

-I'm sure inspiration

-flowed easily for the song.

-I went down to the weir

-one night under a full moon.

-That's where the idea germinated.

-I looked up from the piano

-at the same moon one night...

-..and the melody came too.

-It's one of the classics.

-Thanks.

-Everyone thinks the world of it.

-Everyone thinks the world of it.

-

-Thanks.

-# In the moon, I see your face

-# Since June '74

-# Yes, I have an eye

-# And tongue in my mouth

-# I just couldn't see

-# Now, I just can't say

-# Why couldn't I make

-your dark hours light?

-# In the moon, I see your face

-# There were many years between us

-# I was very young

-# Thinking I was a man

-# I have so much now to say

-# And so much to undo

-# If I had the time back

-# I'd do my best

-# Here on the bank,

-we can talk until morning

-# The full moon on the weir

-# Shining until morning

-# Like a warm shilling in a pocket

-# You burn the picture

-# Remembering you burns my heart

-# In the moon, I see your face

-# Your voice echoing

-in the empty house

-# And in your silent hours

-# Now I see your strength

-# I smile as I see

-# I smile as I say

-# You make my dark hours light

-# Here on the bank,

-we can talk until morning

-# The full moon on the weir

-# Shining until morning

-# Like a warm shilling in my pocket

-# You burn the picture

-# Remembering you burns my heart

-# Grandfather #

-After the break, Huw takes me

-to meet a very special lady.

-He lifts the curtain

-on his first stage.

-And you'll find out which

-duet he's going to sing with me.

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-Huw Chiswell's musical journey

-brings us to Godre'r Graig.

-He was keen for me

-to meet a special person.

-I want you to meet someone...

-..who had a great deal

-of influence on me.

-Be prepared!

-Hello!

-Hello!

-

-Hello.

-Hello, how are you?

-Welcome to the metropolis!

-Nice to meet you.

-This is Caryl Chiswell,

-Huw's mother.

-She was a classical pianist

-before becoming a music teacher.

-I wanted to meet you

-because Huw tells me...

-..you were

-his greatest musical influence.

-I don't know about that!

-That's what he said.

-The fact he turned away

-from classical music...

-..to be a singer and songwriter

-proves I didn't succeed.

-I don't know!

-To each his own.

-I played the piano

-when I was growing up.

-The piano was in the parlour.

-Mam was in the kitchen and

-couldn't hear if I was practising.

-The piano was moved

-to the kitchen...

-..so she could keep an eye on me.

-Excellent.

-She almost had to

-nail my hands to the piano.

-I'm glad today. Did he practise?

-No.

-No.

-

-Diligently!

-Whenever I'd intervene...

-..he'd just get up and go out.

-I said, "Huw, come back.

-"You're my worst pupil."

-He replied...

-"..I can't help it that you're

-Godre'r Graig's worst teacher."

-This is too embarrassing.

-I'll make the tea.

-I can find out more about you!

-I don't want to know. Right, tea.

-Get ready to part with money!

-While Huw made the tea,

-I asked more questions.

-Could you hear him composing...

-..on the piano?

-With hand on heart...

-..I never heard any of his songs...

-..until they were on tape,

-on the TV, or the occasional gig.

-I wasn't welcomed in the gigs.

-As his mother,

-you must be proud of him...

-..and how his songs have captured

-the nation's imagination.

-Naturally.

-I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

-He is very humble.

-He doesn't feel

-he deserves the praise.

-That's very nice.

-It was lovely to meet you.

-You have mischievous eyes!

-I can see where he gets it from!

-It was lovely to meet you.

-Is it safe to come in?

-There's sugar in one of these.

-I'm not sure which one.

-I've found out all about you.

-I've found out all about you.

-

-Oh, dear.

-It was lovely to meet Huw's mother.

-The next stop was where

-he performed for the first time.

-Chapel was important to you,

-as it was for me.

-It was part of my family's

-tradition.

-Chapel was everything in those days.

-This is the vestry.

-This is the vestry.

-

-Yes.

-A lot went on here!

-Yes, the Band Of Hope...

-..and all sorts

-of dramatic productions.

-Look.

-Is it the same?

-It's so familiar,

-it feels as if I was here yesterday.

-Is this where you first performed?

-Yes.

-I was Oliver on this stage...

-..in a musical production.

-No!

-It was a junior school production.

-It was a junior school production.

-

-"Please, sir, can I have some more?"

-I sang Where Is Love here...

-..staring lovingly

-into someone's eyes.

-And Mam cried.

-I don't know.

-Look.

-Look.

-

-Blimey!

-Do childhood memories

-come flooding back?

-Yes.

-Very happy memories.

-It must have been exciting

-to perform in Oliver.

-Definitely.

-The feeling still comes back

-whenever I perform.

-It doesn't go away.

-Childhood memories come back.

-In the vestry...

-..I listened to the song

-Huw chose to sing with me.

-The Swansea Valley singer,

-Mary Hopkin, recorded it in 1969.

-"Sparrow".

-# On Sunday morning

-# Everyone will leave the house

-# Dressed for the Sunday service

-# And through the streets

-I used to know

-# They go, to meet their friends

-# And so they take the family seat #

-That was strange.

-That was strange.

-

-Very strange.

-It must have been emotional.

-It must have been emotional.

-

-It's just the whole thing...

-..being back the vestry

-after so many years...

-..and hearing a song

-that means so much to me.

-Gwyn Davies wrote the lyrics.

-He was raised here...

-..opposite the vestry.

-There's been a landslide there.

-There's a mixture of emotions.

-In a way, it's lovely.

-At the same time, it's bittersweet.

-"Sparrow" means a lot to Huw.

-It's time to rehearse with

-the music arranger Caradog Williams.

-What would be possible

-for our different voices?

-It's one of your favourite songs.

-It's part of my upbringing.

-We had the record

-when I was a child.

-Everything about it

-screams Pontardawe to me.

-The descriptions...

-..and atmosphere.

-I listened

-to Gallagher and Lyle's version.

-They composed the song.

-# The sparrow sings,

-the sparrow flies

-# With mighty wings he reaches

-# High as any other bird

-# He shall inherit all the earth #

-We'll have the guitar...

-..and the fantastic orchestra's

-strings and wind instruments.

-The flute and other instruments...

-..will suggest the bird.

-I'm looking forward.

-Can I have a copy?

-Can I have a copy?

-

-Of course.

-You have two!

-You have two!

-

-I'm sorry!

-# The sparrow sings,

-the sparrow flies

-# With mighty wings he reaches

-# High as any other bird

-# He shall inherit all the earth

-# The sparrow sings,

-the sparrow flies

-# With mighty wings he reaches

-# High as any other bird

-# He shall inherit all the earth #

-Brilliant. Happy?

-Excellent. That was lovely.

-# On Sunday morning

-# Everyone will leave the house

-# Dressed for the Sunday service

-# And through the streets

-I used to know

-# They go, to meet their friends

-# And so they take the family seat

-# Father prays so earnestly

-# Forgetting all around him

-# When Eleanor sings in the choir

-# It's like a lark in summer

-# The sparrow sings,

-the sparrow flies

-# With mighty wings he reaches

-# High as any other bird

-# He shall inherit all the earth

-# The sparrow sings,

-the sparrow flies

-# With mighty wings he reaches

-# High as any other bird

-# He shall inherit all the earth

-# A wealth of silence

-# Will descend upon the town

-# In colours of the evening

-# The thought

-has troubled me before, I know

-# How long

-# I need a song to fill each moment

-# I had to find it out my way

-# They could not stop me leaving

-# And though they knew

-but could not say

-# They let me go believing

-# The sparrow sings,

-the sparrow flies

-# With mighty wings he reaches

-# High as any other bird

-# He shall inherit all the earth

-# The sparrow sings,

-the sparrow flies

-# With mighty wings he reaches

-# High as any other bird

-# He shall inherit all the earth

-# Through the blue and hazy drift

-of after two

-# A saxophone is moaning

-# I rise

-# And step into the cool night air #

-It was a pleasure

-to sing "Sparrow" with Huw.

-Coming up, was the challenge of

-singing an Italian duet a success?

-And I pick a fight with Chiz!

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-The duet rehearsals are going well.

-I enjoy Huw's company.

-He asked me to come here.

-We're in Splott in Cardiff.

-He used to go to this gym

-when he used to box.

-He's training here now.

-I might even try out

-some new skills.

-Hey!

-Look at the feet going!

-They're not as fast as they were!

-Do you want a go?

-Do you want a go?

-

-Oh, blimey!

-I haven't skipped in years.

-Give it a go.

-Stand far away.

-Stand far away.

-

-I will!

-Right. Here goes.

-Not bad.

-Not bad.

-

-It's going well.

-Do you do a lot of skipping?

-Do you do a lot of skipping?

-

-I turn to the rope to keep fit.

-Skipping is what I tend to do.

-It's exciting to be here.

-I've always loved boxing.

-You boxed yourself.

-Yes, a bit.

-Well, quite a lot over the years.

-Did you compete?

-I wasn't allowed to do too much.

-Mam didn't know that I was boxing.

-I boxed in the gym.

-Moving to Cardiff

-gave me more freedom.

-Can we go in the ring?

-Can we go in the ring?

-

-I can't see why not.

-Crikey!

-The floor is quite springy.

-It's easier on the joints.

-Do you remember

-the Muhammad Ali v Foreman fight?

-Rope-a-Dope.

-Although I was having fun...

-..I wasn't sure

-what would happen next.

-I'd like to emphasize...

-..that you hit these, not me.

-Nothing outside the white and red!

-Are you going to move them?

-Are you going to move them?

-

-I'll keep them in the same place.

-Left or right hand?

-Right.

-OK, then. Try it. That's it.

-Cross the other.

-On the phone,

-you said your father was a boxer.

-In his time...

-..boxing in the South Wales Valleys

-was popular.

-He competed professionally.

-Did he come to see you boxing?

-My last fight was in Neath.

-I was boxing for this club.

-Unbeknown to me...

-..he turned up in the club.

-I felt the pressure.

-Another unfortunate thing

-happened that night.

-I was in the ring

-and heard someone say, "Chiswell."

-I turned round and said,

-"I must be fighting one of you."

-The chap said, "Me."

-"You?" I said, looking up.

-He was at least two or three stones

-heavier than me.

-I was eleven and a half stone.

-I decided to give up after that.

-What was the result?

-I was frightened. He went down

-at the end of the first round.

-He went down twice in the beginning

-of the second round.

-I got away with it. He was KO'd.

-You beat him?

-You beat him?

-

-Yes. Thank goodness.

-That's it. Three fast ones with your

-left and a big one with the right.

-That's it.

-That was a KO.

-There was power in those hits.

-I thought I'd better stay back.

-I'll stick to singing.

-And me!

-Excellent.

-We'll stick to singing. We returned

-to the studio for the final time.

-Huw's challenge is Gira Con Me.

-# Un giorno lui si

-# Si caprira #

-It was challenging for Huw.

-It's a classical song.

-It's a totally different genre

-from what he's used to.

-The Italian was new.

-But he looks Italian.

-He mastered the language.

-It was a challenge,

-but I'm extremely proud of him.

-Humdinger.

-I think we nailed it.

-I enjoyed doing it.

-I feel as if I've been

-in the gym for five hours.

-It was a privilege

-to record with Rhys.

-A lot of people...

-..especially in Wales...

-..would sacrifice

-a great deal for that experience.

-I'm very lucky.

-# To understand you #

-Excellent.

-Excellent.

-

-Thanks for the help.

-# After leaving Ystrad

-# We reach Craig Y Nos

-# Eyes on the road #

-The song was my choice,

-but Huw chose the location.

-Where else but

-Adelina Patti's famous theatre...

-..Craig Y Nos.

-What is the significance

-of this place?

-I grew up with the idea of

-Craig Y Nos as a magical place.

-I'd heard stories

-about Adelina Patti.

-It's possibly one of

-the most beautiful places on earth.

-It's a significant place to me.

-We're nearing

-the end of the programme.

-What does the future hold?

-I'll ask on behalf

-of everyone in Wales...

-..will there be another CD?

-..will there be another CD?

-

-I hope so.

-I'll venture to say that by

-the time the programme goes out...

-..new tracks will be on my website.

-I hope so, for your fans' sakes!

-It was a pleasure to have

-your company and to sing with you.

-Thanks.

-It was a pleasure and privilege

-for me, too. Thanks. I enjoyed it.

-# Il mondo gira con me questa notte

-# Piccoli passi che faccio con te

-# Seguo il tuo cuore e seguo la luna

-# Cosi nascosta lontana da me

-# Il mondo gira con noi questa notte

-# Ah, esistesse lontano da qui

-# Un posto dove scoprire

-il mio cuore

-# Sapere se lui puo'amare ti o no

-# E girera

-# E girera

-# Il cuore mio

-# Assieme a te

-# E girera il la terra

-# Girera la mia vita

-# E un giorno lui si

-# Si caprira

-# It's you who wanders

-with me tonight

-# It's you who wanders far from here

-# But yes I know

-that you are my moon

-# Something you show,

-something you don't

-# There are blue roads in the sky

-# There are eyes,

-and the sky is already there

-# Yes, I think this is the stars

-# Ah, if I could stop like this

-# And it will wander

-# And it will wander

-# My heart

-# Far from you

-# And the earth will wander

-# My life will wander

-# And one day yes

-# Yes it will understand

-# Cuore e gia lontano

-# Si tu sei la luna

-# Potessi scoprirlo nel cielo

-# E girera

-# E girera

-# Si girera

-# Il cuore mio

-# Girera il la terra

-# Girera la mia vita

-# Un giorno lui si

-# Si caprira

-# And one day yes it will

-# And one day yes it will

-# Understand you #

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

-.