Tŷ Cerdd awarded grants of £500 to seven composer/society pairings selected for the first year of its CoDI BUDDIES scheme. Part of Ty Cerdd’s composer development initiative, this scheme joins Welsh composers with non-professional music makers from around the country in a series of projects intended to create new works and forge links between creators and local communities.

 

The seven partnerships were:

 

Haldon Evans & Pontardulais Town Junior Band
Haldon wrote a four movement work for performance by young brass musicians. The resulting Buddy Suite was played by the Band at Pontarddulais Town Band's annual concert in July 2019.

 

Iestyn Harding & Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra
Iestyn work-shopped sketches for a triple concerto for flute, violin and horn with players from the Abergavenny SO over a series of sessions  in June 2019. This project was selected for an additional award of £1000 to allow Iestyn to complete the work and have it performed by the Orchestra in November 2022.

 

Martin Humphries & City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Brass Band Organisation
Martin wrote a piece for performance by all five of the organisation’s bands. The Age of Bronze was premiered by over 100 players at the Band's annual concert at the Cardiff University Concert Hall on 30th June 2019.

 

Derri Joseph Lewis & Flat Pack Opera (Cardiff)

Derri developed a text and musical sketches with FlatPack Opera for Coblyn, an educational chamber opera (3 singers, 2 players) about the history of the coal mines in Wales.

 

Richard McReynolds & Celf a Cherdd (Penparcau, Aberystwyth)
Richard worked with local musicians who recorded sounds to create material for a new electro-acoustic work.  Using hydrophones, contact mics and environmental recorders, the collected material was edited and placed into a Max patch.  

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Colin Tommis & Menai Wind Quintet
Colin worked closely with the MWQ's musician to develop his sketches for a new wind quintet. They went on to perform and record the work at a concert in Conwy in May 2019.

 

Jack White + Côr Aduniad (Cwmbrân) 

Jack worked with Côr Aduniad  to create Beacons, an experimental vocal piece that features the use of moving audio speakers. It takes its name from the Brecon Beacons mountain range, on which fires would be lit to warn of approaching armies. This project was selected for an additional award of £1000 to allow Jack to revise his music ready for its premiere by the Choir in March 2020.