Aylesbury Lunchtime Music presents

Gwenllian Llŷr

Print version
2 March 2023

Starts: 12:45pm, Doors: 12:15pm

Duration: 1 hour (approx.)

St Mary the Virgin, Aylesbury

£7 adults on the door (<18s & carers free)

Gwenllian Llyr Harp

Programme

In appreciation of the wonderful tradition of sharing music and legends around an open fire, this programme celebrates the transformation of melodies, stories and nursery rhymes into harp masterpieces. Join Gwenllian Llŷr as she displays the versatility of the harp, including her own reimagination of the well-known hymn ‘Calon Lan’, a rhythmic visit to a New York night club, as well as her transcription of the stunning Prelude and Nocturne by Scriabin played solely with her left hand.

  • 1953-

    Ymsonau, Soliloquies (Evans)
    i Dros y Mynydd (Over the Mountain) ii Suo Gân (Lullaby) iii O’r Banna (From the Beacons)

    Haldon Evans’s “Soliloquies” (“Ymsonau”) for solo pedal harp is a three-movement original work based on Welsh folk tunes. A sophisticated concert-piece, this suite makes a very entertaining and imaginative rendering of this traditional music.

  • 1872-1958

    Fantasia on Greensleeves (Vaughan Williams)

    Vaughan Williams once commented, “The art of music above all arts is the expression of the soul of the nation”. In this delightful piece, he manages to capture the very essence of England in music. The serene, pastoral sounds evoke images of bucolic bliss, with lyrical string writing and particularly descriptive flute passages. The title of Fantasia is in some ways misleading: the work is neither long enough nor complex enough to deserve the description; instead, it is a rather faithful setting of the original.

  • 1875-1956

    Piece (Renié)

    Renie dedicated this piece to Marcel Grandjany. A challenging piece in one movement. Beginning with Renie’s Ballade Fantastique (the tell-tale heart), Llyr’s technique is sure, powerful and well-up to the challenges of this notorious gothic fantasy. Changes in register and colour are defined and the ghoulish subject matter clearly lives in the artist’s imagination as she plays.

  • Ffantasi ar Calon Lan (Llŷr)

    “Calon Lân” (Welsh for ‘A Pure Heart’) is a Welsh hymn, the words of which were written in the 1890s by Daniel James (Gwyrosydd) and sung to a tune by John Hughes. The song was originally written as a hymn, but has become firmly established as a rugby anthem. This is an original composition by Gwenllian.

  • 1872-1915

    Nocturne for left hand Op.9 (Scriabin)
    i Prelude ii Nocturne

    In summer 1891 Scriabin hurt his right hand through too much practice. For this reason he cultivated his playing with his left hand for which he composed his Prélude et Nocturne op. 9 in 1894.

  • 1862-1918

    Suite bergamasque, L. 75 (Debussy)
    i Prélude ii Menuet iii Clair de lune iv Passepied

    Suite bergamasque is a piano suite by Claude Debussy. He began composing it around 1890, at the age of 28, but significantly revised it just before its 1905 publication. The popularity of the 3rd movement, “Clair de lune”, has made it one of the composer’s most famous works for piano, as well as one of the most famous musical pieces of all-time. The suite was originally composed for piano but has been arranged for a wide variety of instruments and combinations. Clair de Lune means “moonlight” in French, is taken from Verlaine’s poem “Clair de lune”. The movement is in D-flat major.

  • 1918-1981

    Around the Clock Suite (Chertok)
    i Ten past two ii Beige nocturne iii Harpicide at Midnight iv The morning after

    Pearl Chertok was an internationally regarded harpist and composer for harp from America. This suite for pedal harp incorporates elegant classical traditions with contemporary harp techniques and jazz rhythms. Harpicide at Midnight is the third movement in the Around the Clock Suite.

Performers

  • Gwenllian Llŷr

    Harp

    Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr is gaining international recognition for her charismatic and engaging performances.

    Read More

Key information for concert goers

When

Every Thursday at 12:45pm (except August & over Christmas). Performances last around 60 minutes. Please enter quietly as there is a noon service in the Lady Chapel.

How much?

Entry is £7 per adult (card or cash), under 18s and carers are free. The price includes a programme. Donations are welcomed to subsidise the larger ensembles.

Where?

Performances are at St Mary’s Church in the heart of Aylesbury Old Town. See directions for further details.

Do I need to book?

No, just turn up. Doors open at 12:15 pm. Make sure you arrive in good time to get a seat.

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