I was born in Mid-Wales in the early ‘70s under the beautiful grey skies of Ceredigion, surrounded by both the existing Welsh culture and new cultural ideas brought by people moving from urban areas in search of an alternative lifestyle. Welsh, English, old and new all collided in an incredible landscape - an ideal start to life and one that continues to inform it. Yng Ngheredigion is an attempt through music, film and stories to capture some of this and to illustrate what it is about the area that so inspires.
Yng Ngheredigion snippet, some manipulated sounds from Pumlumon 70 (Stevie Jones, Jer Reid, Michael Truswell and Rafe Fitzpatrick) and piano recordings from Garreg-Wen to the intro sequence from the film
Just over 6 years ago I spent time 'Yng Ngheredigion' visiting places and making field recording there. The places were either chosen beforehand or very often revealed themselves as I traveled through the landscape. In the recordings I was either trying to capture the essence of the place or the essence of Ceredigion in general, the sound of the wind, of people, of running water, forests...
Sometime I'd play my violin, sometimes walk or open gates, bang things, sing or just listen to the sounds and record.
I've lived in Scotland now for longer than I lived in Ceredigion, BUT, it doesn't go away. I think about the landscape and people daily. Part childhood memories but part tangible world that I can feel and visit in my mind. Sometimes I feel an impetus and imperative from Ceredigion, the landscape, environment and culture.
I became interested in how this manifested itself in myself and others who lived or had lived in Ceredigion. Is there an expression that derives from the place? Is this expression different from those derived from other places - what is a sense of place? Why do places appeal to some and not to others?
Sometime I'd play my violin, sometimes walk or open gates, bang things, sing or just listen to the sounds and record.
I've lived in Scotland now for longer than I lived in Ceredigion, BUT, it doesn't go away. I think about the landscape and people daily. Part childhood memories but part tangible world that I can feel and visit in my mind. Sometimes I feel an impetus and imperative from Ceredigion, the landscape, environment and culture.
I became interested in how this manifested itself in myself and others who lived or had lived in Ceredigion. Is there an expression that derives from the place? Is this expression different from those derived from other places - what is a sense of place? Why do places appeal to some and not to others?
