Pennod 3 Margaret: Ddoe a Heddiw

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-Hello, good evening

-and thank you for joining me.

-I can't wait

-to meet tonight's guests.

-There's a young girl

-with a future in singing.

-There's also an older lady who has

-proved her talents on the stage.

-First, I'll chat with a young man...

-..who belongs to

-a very famous choir.

-It's the tenor, Wyn Davies.

-You have established yourself

-as a well-known singer, Wyn...

-..but I'm sure

-you've always been singing.

-Yes, I was lucky.

-I'm originally from Creunant

-near Neath.

-Music was important in the village.

-I went to chapel on a Sunday...

-..and that's where

-I first encountered music.

-I'd go to Sunday School twice a day

-and to chapel in the night...

-..which is a typically Welsh thing

-to do.

-The chapel is where

-I first heard harmonies.

-When you come across it at a young

-age, it becomes almost instinctive.

-I can identify with music.

-You learn how to harmonise

-as a result of hymn singing.

-Wales is lucky to boast

-a tradition of choral singing...

-..and we all harmonise

-at rugby matches or in the pub!

-Is that still true today?

-I think music is still important

-to the Welsh.

-It's also important

-that we show the wonders of music...

-..and that music can be exciting

-and enjoyed by the young.

-It's in our blood.

-You don't only sing

-but play an instrument too.

-Yes, for many years I was a member

-of the Ystradgynlais brass band.

-I played the flugelhorn

-but started on the second cornet...

-..and did the oompahs

-on the off beats!

-I worked my way up

-to the flugelhorn...

-..and played solos

-at the National Eisteddfod.

-Christmas was always wonderful

-in the brass band.

-We'd go out in our fingerless gloves

-to raise money for charity.

-Nothing beats

-a brass band at Christmas.

-Christmas isn't Christmas

-unless there's a brass band.

-I do play the trumpet at home...

-..but my girlfriend doesn't like it

-when the trumpet comes out!

-I've got a ukulele too.

-Do you plan to do

-anything with them?

-My playing isn't fit for anything

-but we'll wait and see.

-Say no more.

-I believe you used to sing

-in various choirs in the village.

-Yes, I was in chapel and went

-to Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera school...

-..which is a very musical school.

-We had a lot of opportunities

-to perform, sing and act.

-I competed in the Urdd Eisteddfod

-as a soloist and with the choirs.

-Were you successful?

-Yes, but I only got to the stage

-once when I was in primary school.

-I was more successful

-in secondary school.

-I wouldn't be sitting here today

-if it wasn't for the Eisteddfod.

-Was that when you joined

-the Youth Choir of Wales?

-Yes, but when I started

-secondary school...

-..it wasn't cool for boys to sing,

-so I didn't sing for two years!

-However, I started singing again and

-joined the Youth Choir of Wales...

-..after a successful audition.

-It was where I met Tim Rhys-Evans.

-That meeting and your lessons with

-Tim led you into Only Men Aloud.

-Yes, but I almost didn't make it

-to my first singing lesson.

-Tim gave me his address and I went

-on my bike like a typical student.

-I found the street

-but forgot the house number.

-I cycled up and down it

-trying to remember the number.

-Thankfully,

-I heard someone playing a piano.

-It's thanks to that piano

-that I'm a part of Only Men Aloud.

-I'm just grateful that Tim

-is heavy-handed on the piano!

-It's excellent

-to be part of Only Men.

-I've got a clip of when the choir

-sang on my programme in 2005.

-Let's remind ourselves of it.

-# Goodnight

-# Don't get late

-# Goodnight

-# Don't get late

-# Goodnight #

-Oh, that was lovely

-and you made a wonderful sound.

-It's a beautiful song too.

-It's a beautiful song too.

-

-Yes, it is.

-We haven't performed it since then

-so we should dig out our copies.

-Yes, it's a great song.

-You mentioned that it wasn't cool to

-be in a choir when you were young.

-It's quite the opposite these days

-and Only Men changed that...

-..and young boys have joined Only

-Boys Aloud so it's very cool now.

-Yes, we were lucky

-to build up a profile...

-..and show that choirs can be cool.

-We formed Only Boys Aloud...

-..and have 200 boys attending weekly

-meetings of Welsh male voice choirs.

-That's wonderful.

-Do you coach and teach

-any of the boys?

-Each Only Boys Aloud choir is taught

-by two members of Only Men Aloud.

-I go on a Monday and Wednesday

-and we have two groups each.

-My groups in Cwmbran and Aberdare

-are the best!

-Of course,

-but you've got to say that.

-Has being in Only Men

-changed your life?

-It's great to see boys develop

-and learn about music.

-I studied Pharmacy

-and am a qualified pharmacist...

-..but that changed after we won

-Last Choir Standing in 2008.

-It was amazing to see you

-and Glanaethwy in the final.

-Yes, two Welsh choirs on the BBC

-in a Saturday night primetime slot.

-The final

-had about 12 million viewers.

-This was a programme about choirs.

-This was a programme about choirs.

-

-And the best were from Wales!

-Yes, it proves that the Welsh

-can do at least one thing right.

-What are you doing at the moment?

-I've done a lot of presenting

-on television and radio...

-..and worked with

-Only Boys Aloud and Only Kids Aloud.

-Only Men Aloud

-is still recording and touring...

-..but I've always loved

-classical music and opera.

-I hope to develop as a soloist

-in that field.

-That's my current aim.

-I'm sure you'll do it, Wyn.

-Thank you. It's been a pleasure

-to have your company.

-Thank you for asking me.

-Earlier, I mentioned

-a promising young girl.

-Without further ado,

-please welcome Siwan Franey.

-Hello, how are you?

-Hello, how are you?

-

-Hello, Siwan.

-It's nice to meet you.

-Please sit down.

-Thank you.

-Your name is Siwan Franey.

-It's very unusual.

-Siwan is obviously a Welsh name.

-My father's from Ireland

-and Franey is an Irish name.

-I think it makes

-a wonderful stage name.

-It's definitely different!

-It's definitely different!

-

-And very memorable.

-Have you done a lot of singing?

-I started singing when I was five

-and love singing and performing.

-I competed locally

-and won various trophies...

-..at Talybont and Llanuwchllyn.

-I can't believe the Talybont

-Eisteddfod is still going!

-Did you compete in the Urdd?

-Yes, until I went to university.

-What do you do now?

-I'm a classroom assistant

-at Ysgol Bro Ddyfi in Machynlleth...

-..and help one pupil.

-Do you support a child

-with special requirements?

-Yes, and I'm on hand

-for general support.

-I try to boost self-confidence

-and assist with school work.

-Does your work involve

-any creative singing?

-Yes, we do a bit.

-I also help with the musicals

-and Christmas shows.

-You must be in your element

-when you do those.

-Are musicals more your forte?

-Yes, I had a lead role in the

-school's production of Grease.

-I was either in Year 7 or Year 8.

-I also did Pum Diwrnod o Ryddid

-which was an amazing experience.

-I joined Ysgol Theatr Maldwyn

-and we did Nia Ben Aur.

-That's a wonderful show

-with the beautiful song, Cwsg Osian.

-What song did you record for us

-in Llanelli?

-Dyrchefir Fi.

-I can't wait to hear it.

-# When I am down

-and, oh my soul, so weary

-# When troubles come

-and my heart burdened be

-# Then, I am still

-and wait here in the silence

-# Until you come

-and sit awhile with me

-# You raise me up,

-so I can stand on mountains

-# You raise me up,

-to walk on stormy seas

-# I am strong,

-when I am on your shoulders

-# You raise me up,

-to more than I can be

-# There is no life -

-no life without its hunger

-# Each restless heart

-beats so imperfectly

-# But when you come

-and I am filled with wonder

-# Sometimes,

-I think I glimpse eternity

-# You raise me up,

-so I can stand on mountains

-# You raise me up,

-to walk on stormy seas

-# I am strong,

-when I am on your shoulders

-# You raise me up

-to more than I can be

-# You raise me up,

-so I can stand on mountains

-# You raise me up,

-to walk on stormy seas

-# I am strong,

-when I am on your shoulders

-# You raise me up

-to more than I can be

-# You raise me up,

-so I can stand on mountains

-# You raise me up,

-to walk on stormy seas

-# I am strong,

-when I am on your shoulders

-# You raise me up

-to more than I can be

-# You raise me up

-# To more than I can be #

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-We've already chatted

-and listened to some singers.

-Next, we're going to chat

-and listen to someone...

-..who is a popular accompanist

-that regularly appears on S4C.

-Welcome to Annette Bryn Parri.

-Welcome to Annette Bryn Parri.

-

-Thank you, Margaret.

-We know you were born

-in Deiniolen.

-I'm sure you've been playing the

-piano since before you can remember.

-I had my first lesson

-when I was five.

-I was fortunate to go to school

-at Ysgol Gwaun Gynfi...

-..where Welsh musicals

-were very popular.

-I competed in the Urdd and won

-in the county and at the National.

-The winners went to the Albert Hall.

-The winners went to the Albert Hall.

-

-Oh, right.

-I remember being

-a ten-year-old in school...

-..and we all went

-to the Albert Hall.

-That was when I decided

-what I wanted to do.

-I didn't know anything about that.

-You were one

-of the youngest accompanists...

-..of the National Eisteddfod.

-That's what they tell me

-but I'm not sure if it's true.

-I was 15 when I started competing

-at the local eisteddfodau...

-..and was also an accompanist

-at the Bethel Eisteddfod.

-When did you win the Blue Riband?

-When did you win the Blue Riband?

-

-It was two years later.

-This was after

-you'd been an accompanist.

-I was invited

-to be an accompanist...

-..at the Eisteddfod on Anglesey.

-Walter Glynne was taken ill...

-..and he put my name forward.

-I was still at college in Manchester

-and I was over the moon.

-You've not only accompanied

-premier artists...

-..but you've performed

-to major celebrities too...

-..such as Andrew Lloyd Webber.

-Yes, I know.

-When was that?

-I was accompanying

-Aled Jones at the time.

-He came to me for piano lessons

-when he was a boy.

-He started singing

-at Bangor Cathedral...

-..and rose to fame so everyone

-wanted him to sing for them.

-His mother and father

-phoned my house one night...

-..and asked if I was willing

-to play for him in London.

-I agreed to it straight away.

-The next thing I knew,

-we went to Kensington Palace.

-As you do!

-Yes, and I remember

-arriving at the gates.

-I didn't know

-who was going to be there...

-..other than

-the Prince and Lady Diana...

-..and they were the only ones

-in the room!

-Aled and I

-performed four or five songs...

-..to the pair of them.

-They told us how much they had

-enjoyed Aled's performance.

-They asked us both some questions.

-The Prince turned to me and asked,

-"Would you like a drink?"

-I didn't know what to say, Margaret.

-Should I ask for tea

-or sparkling water?

-"What are you having?" I asked.

-He said he was having a G&T.

-"Oh, I'll join you," I said.

-Aled was only a young boy

-so he was given a glass of water.

-He only went

-and kicked the glass over!

-Fair play to Diana,

-she wiped it up and said...

-"The boys do that all the time.

-Don't worry."

-You mentioned Andrew Lloyd Webber.

-The following day, we went

-to Andrew Lloyd Webber's flat.

-I had to play Memory.

-I was so nervous about playing

-the accompaniment to his own song.

-Was this for Aled?

-Was this for Aled?

-

-Yes, that's right.

-We performed the song and he was

-the only one in the room with us.

-The door opened.

-A lady stood there in a towel

-and she had another on her head.

-It was Sarah Brightman

-and she had got out of the shower...

-..because she had heard

-Aled singing.

-"That was beautiful," she said.

-She was so kind.

-I haven't experienced anything

-like those two days again...

-..because they were all so famous.

-It was almost unreal.

-It was almost unreal.

-

-Yes, exactly.

-I remember inviting you

-to the studio in 1995...

-..to perform a duet

-with another legendary accompanist.

-It's the late genius, Bryan Davies.

-He was my best friend

-from this field in the whole world.

-Let's remind ourselves of when the

-pair of you performed at the piano.

-That item was totally brilliant,

-Annette.

-I remember it

-as if it were yesterday.

-Bryan and I were true friends.

-He was a real genius.

-He was a real genius.

-

-Oh, yes.

-I remember when we went to Austria.

-We were both accompanists

-on a series with Bryn at the time.

-We went to Austria together

-and had such fun in one of the pubs.

-Yes, he was just like that.

-Yes, he was just like that.

-

-We laughed so much.

-Having said that,

-he was a fantastic accompanist.

-He was a true genius.

-He knew the stories

-behind the compositions...

-..the songs and lieder.

-I learnt so much

-from just being in his company.

-I really miss him and can't think

-of him as the late, Bryan Davies.

-I know that

-you've also done some singing...

-..and you sang with Marina and Olwen

-in Genod Ty'r Ysgol.

-I don't sing any more, Margaret,

-and never sang as a solo artist...

-..but I was happy

-to sing with my sisters.

-I remember asking you

-to sing backing vocals for me.

-You had to leave Deiniolen

-before dawn to get to me in London.

-We had to catch the train

-from Bangor at 5.00am.

-What time did you leave Deiniolen?

-What time did you leave Deiniolen?

-

-I think it was 4.00am.

-We got up at 3.30am and

-left at 3.45am to catch the train.

-We arrived in London

-and went straight to the studio...

-..where you were waiting.

-The three of us said that

-Joan Collins was waiting for us!

-We sang ten songs

-which was a lot in one go!

-It was a real honour for us

-to come to London...

-..and sing backing vocals

-on such a popular series.

-I remember

-when the three of us left.

-Our mouths were dry

-after singing all day.

-We went to a steak house...

-..for some wine and a steak

-before catching the train home.

-I want to close by thanking you

-for our chat.

-My thanks to Wyn, Siwan

-and you at home for your company.

-I hope you join me

-same time, same place, next week.

-We leave you with the

-unique sound of Genod Ty'r Ysgol.

-Goodnight.

-# The melody is so enchanting

-# Pure sounds

-# You will hear

-# When the hour comes

-# And the dawn breaks

-# There is only one

-# In my free heart #

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