Aberystwyth inspires live harp recording
Aberystwyth and its people are the inspiration for a concert in the town by the Welsh folk harpist, Carwyn Tywyn on Wednesday 20 June 2012.
Carwyn Tywyn (formerly known as Carwyn Fowler) started his musical career as a street busker in Aberystwyth, when he was a Penweddig schoolboy. He has since recorded his first CD, ‘Alawon o’r Stryd’ (Melodies from the Street) and will now be recording his free performance at Y Drwm on 20 June for release as a live CD.
'As well as performing Welsh traditional tunes, I have also dabbled in composing new tunes over the last few years. Time and again, I seem to return to Aberystwyth as an inspiration for compositions,'says Carwyn Tywyn, who plays the Welsh triple harp and a small Celtic harp.
'Some years ago, I wrote a series of tunes called ‘Alawon Penweddig’ (Penweddig tunes), based on my memories of the old school site. More recently, I have written a song called ‘Awen ac Aber’ and that is the working title for the new CD. I also want to perform a song by Ysbryd Chouchen, a Welsh folk / pop group who were based in Pantycelyn Hall during the 1990s. So in a way, my performance will be a bit of a “sketch” of Aberystwyth memories,' said Carwyn.
Although he is associated with Aberystwyth, Carwyn was born and brought up in Leicester until he was 9 years old and the family moved to Aberystwyth in 1984. He is now married to Kathryn who, coincidently, is from Bow Street on the outskirts of Aberystwyth. They now lives in Burry Port near Llanelli and is a father to Heledd who’s 4 years old and he’s expecting another baby in August. He’s composed songs for them which he’ll perform at the event.
'To put icing on the cake, I am working with the local photographer Keith Morris to provide some quality artwork for the CD, based on Aberystwyth'.
Carwyn Tywyn Gig
1.15 p.m. Wednesday 20 June 2012
The Drwm, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Further information
Siôn Jobbins, NLW Press Office: 01970 632902 post@llgc.org.uk