Above: Tom Bryniog thanks friends from near and far in rhyme for their kindness during his hospital stay.
ARTHUR BRYNIOG SINGS SOLO ON YOU TUBE!
Link on Links page to take you to YouTube to hear Arthur Bryniog singing solo with Welsh Male Voice Choir Cantorion Colin Jones - Soloist Arthur Davies, North Wales Male Chorus, "My Dreams" - Concert June 07
http: // www. youtube.com/user/CCJchorus
http: // www. youtube.com/watch?v=XyPDorQvd8A
"MELIN Y COED" sung by local group Y MELLT
Your chance to hear Y Mellt sing "Melin y Coed".
Download is less than 2 MB, but it can't be saved, only listened to.
The record is no longer available in the shops.
Elfed Williams, who composed the music, is a descendant of Thomas Williams, Gorsedd Grucyn, through his son Ynyr.
Above: A poem written by Philip Williams when he was fourteen years old. Philip's grandfather was Thomas Williams of Gorsedd Grucyn.
Thanks to Elfed Williams for the two poems above and the translation of Philip's verse.
Look for our page on Pernant (Bob Owen) of Carmel, who wrote the poem "Melin y Coed."
Above: Blue Riband Winner National Eisteddfod 1980 (Tom Bryniog)
Above: Concert at Hendy 1982
PARTI MEIBION MELIN-Y-COED
MELIN-Y-COED MALE VOICE CHOIR
Arweinydd - Bob Jones - Conductor
Cyfeilydd - Enid Roberts - Accompanist
Margaret Roberts of Ruthin, formerly of Gwyndy, tells us that Enid, formerly of Coed Llydan Bach, now lives in Ruthin and attends and sings in? the same chapel as Mrs Catherine Hughes, wife of one of the previous ministers of Bethel Chapel, and Margaret Roberts herself.
Above: MYC Male Voice Choir
Below: Individual pictures of the members.
Above: Caradog Evans, Llanrwst.
Above: Arthur Davies (Bryniog), Maes Gwyn.
Above: Richard Rhys, Hafan.
Above: Meirion Roberts, Gernant.
Above: John D. Hughes, Y Glyn.
Above: W. M. Jones, Hafod y Geunan
Above: Vernon Williams, Tyddyn Ucha.
Above: Bob Jones, Gwynant
Above: Ifor Thomas, Cae Haidd
Enid Roberts, Coed Llydan Mawr
Above: Stanley Lloyd, Ty'n Twll.
Above: R. D. Roberts, Coed Llydan Mawr.
Above: David Harker Davies, Bryniog Plas
Above left: H. Meirion Jones, Ty Uchaf; Centre: Owen Jones, Cyffdy Hall; Right: Alun Roberts, Bryn Bras.
Above: Cwmni Drama Melin y coed yn 1951 - Drama Company
Above: Cor Meibion Llanrwst a'r Cylch Awst 1952 - August - Male Voice Choir Llanrwst and District
The Carmel Choir around 1982
COR MERCHED CARMEL
CARMEL LADIES CHOIR
L-R Back Row
Betty Davies, Llanrwst; Enid Owen, Tyddyn Frenchar; Olwen Evans, Foel Cathau; Eirlys Davies, Fferm; Ann Pascoe, formerly Tyn Caeau, Llangernyw gynt; Beti Rhys Jones, Llanrwst; Glenys Malethan, Pen Fron, Gwytherin; Rhian Mai Roberts, Llanrwst; Enid Davies, Bryniog Ucha; Enid Jones Davies, Gwenallt; Margaret Williams, Cadwgan, Eglwysbach; Mai Williams, Fedw, Carmel; Cassie Lloyd, Tyn Twll, Melin y Coed; Gwen Royle, Melin y Coed; Afrona Jones, Holbeck, Llanrwst.
Rhes ganol - Middle row
Nan Williams, Bryn Saith Eglwys, Llanddoged; Ann Williams, Henblas, Carmel; Mari Huws, Llanrwst; Maureen Hughes, Trefin (Arweinydd / Conductor); Mair Williams, Nant Erw (Cyfeilydd / Accompanist); Buddug Jones, Llanrwst; Myfanwy Hughes, Melin y Coed; Gaynor Evans, Belmont, Llanddoged.
Rhes blaen - Front row
Rhiannon Griffiths, Scillicorns; Mary Jones, Llwyn Richard; Anwen Hughes, Y Glyn; Gwenda Evans, Plas Bach, Carmel.
Above: Blaenau Ffestiniog Male Voice Choir: Cor Meibion Blaenau Ffestiniog
Above: Production of "Between Tea and Supper".
Above: Concert at Berthddu.
...............
Local Talent Abroad
David Llewelyn Evans interviewed in Bunbury, Western Australia, about the band he plays bass in, The Jones Facility.
Any Joneses in his own family tree? Yes, William and Margaret Jones of Pen Nant, and their daughter Catherine who in time became "Nain Cefn Cestyll" (Nebo).
He's also descended via Ellen Ann of Fronwen from Lewis Roberts of Cae Dafydd Llwyd, Nant Isa and Nant Ucha via Cadwaladr of Bryn y Cyplau, Nebo and his son William Roberts (Taid Cefn Cestyll).
On the Evans side he is descended from William Evans of Llwyn Rhisiart and Glan y Gors and his son William of Ty Newydd and Fronwen (Y Cipar).
David continues the local tradition of singing and songwriting. Below, he entertains friends at a party in Bunbury with his satirical song "Every Pub is Sacred". As well as his band work, David also does solo performances of his own music.
Message from David:
Thankyou for mentioning me in your history of Melin-y-Coed. I'm amazed to see how I fit into this jigsaw puzzle and I'm glad I do. My memory of growing up in Pentrefoelas makes my time in Australia seem less harmful to my moorland heart.
I dearly love thinking about my childhood in Wales. I remember Mrs Roberts, Alun, Iona and Sian Bryn Bras and Elen Bron Cadnant with particular clarity and fondness. Working with Alun at Bryn Bras, Gwytherin and on the mountain near Yspytty Ifan is still a highlight of my life though nearly fourteen years have since passed.
I'm happy that this history is being studied and its story told.
Hwyl i chi,
Dafydd
Below: The Jones Facility at The Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury, Western Australia, 23 May 2008.
David performing one of his own compositions at the Prince of Wales in a solo section.
Playing bass guitar with the band at the Prince.
A cutting from an entertainment publication, "The Drum Media", May 2008.
Above: Band Profile from "The Drum Media", October 2008, about David's band "Toucan Fishbat".
www.collinsmusic.com.au/musician_of_the_month.php
Musician of the month
David Evans
Interview by Keith Gisbourne
Multi instrumentalist
Singer/songwriter
Artist
Member of the band Toucan Fishbat
The South West music scene is thriving at the moment with faces new and old regularly appearing at the likes of the Prince Of Wales and more.
One man who's been more involved than most and is somewhat of a local legend amongst not only musicians but the general public is Mr. David Evans.
When asked what it was that got him actively involved in the local music scene, Dave was beyond eager to give us some insight to the illustrious life he's had.
"I've always been writing, ever since Primary school. It all actively started when my family moved to Collie and, with I being me, I continued writing songs. It wasn't until I recorded my first full length piece that somehow it became renowned around the South West."
All of which holds very true, and some locals who really love Dave's work may even have it stowed away in their collection of ripped music at home (we all do it, don't deny it!)
"Having yet to perform, I then moved to Sydney and met up with some people and joined Ruby Fade playing lead guitar. I then found myself moving back to Bunbury. Cometh the year 2006 (I think) I started a band with Hayden Trentham, and two days after deciding to form a band we played our first ever show at Fitzies, who were kind enough to let us have regular on-stage-jam time every week at the venue."
It may seem that it was something that Mr. Evans had just fallen into but this couldn't be further from the truth as everything Dave has achieved has been because of a passion rivalled by no other - which brought me to my next question, "What goals have you got, whether short or long term?"
"The goal is basically to stay alive. When I don't play I become quite ill, and my only ambition is to stay well. Being based in Bunbury it's really concentrated with all different kinds of people in the same place fighting it out - which doesn't bother me. To be based in Bunbury (playing music) and to travel around Australia playing shows and making my living that way - I guess that'd be the goal.
Being renowned for his strong song structures & enthusiasm for incorporating stories within his compositions we asked where is it and what Dave draws his inspiration from when composing.
"I feel it's necessary to make songs interesting, a bit of life experiences into song structure and a change in my own life shows a change within my own music. Sometimes a dream will change my whole perspective of what music actually is. "
What Dave apparently wasn't aware of was what we put upon him next. A very shocked and out of character David took his time getting the words out in retort. We asked, "Are you aware that your opinion on life, towards music and strong structure has heavily influenced many local musicians?"
"I'm very happy indeed, I never thought it ever would. We're all mirrors of each other so what I mean to you, you mean to me and it's very encouraging to know the feeling that I've always had is mutual."
To finish, Dave was kind enough to give us his views on what it means to support your local scene and what advice he had for any budding musician - a great insight for anybody looking to follow in the footsteps to a man who will always be renowned for sporting amazing chops and being just a genuine down to earth nice guy.
"Pay attention to every moment! Beware of Dogma! Be your own propaganda machine!"
Don't understand? Ask the man himself, he'd be more than happy to shed some light upon this.
"What have you got if you haven't got your own local scene? You have nothing. For a musician the local scene is the friends and the family. The local scene isn't just your local scene. It's your home."
And that it is! David Evans can be seen playing regularly at The Prince Of Wales Bunbury and Dunsborough Tavern amongst other venues with his outfit, Toucan Fishbat, which is a band definitely not to be missed!
With people like Dave amongst us, our local music community will only continue getting stronger from here on.
Do your bit, support your local music community.
