Bryn Terfel - We'll Keep A Welcome
A heartwarming collection of Welsh tunes with excellent singing from everyone
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Traditional, Mai Jones, Arwel Hughes, John Hughes, W. S. Gwynn Williams, A. H. D. Troyte, Owen Williams, James James, T. Gwynn Jones, Idris Lewis, David Richards, Joseph Parry, Rowland Hugh Prichard
Label: DG
Magazine Review Date: 11/2000
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 75
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 463 593-2GH
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Land of my fathers, 'Hen Wlad fy Nhadau' |
James James, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor James James, Composer Risca Male Choir Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Ar Lan Y Môr |
Traditional, Composer
Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Traditional, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| David of the White Rock, 'Dafydd y Garreg Wen' |
Traditional, Composer
Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Katherine Thomas, Harp Meinir Heulyn, Harp Traditional, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| March of the Men of Harlech, 'Rhyfelgyrch Gwyr Har |
Traditional, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Risca Male Choir Traditional, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| My little Welsh home |
W. S. Gwynn Williams, Composer
Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor W. S. Gwynn Williams, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| I do not seek a life of luxury (Calon lán) |
John Hughes, Composer
Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor John Hughes, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Suo Gan |
Traditional, Composer
Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Traditional, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Sosban Fach |
Traditional, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Risca Male Choir Traditional, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Bugail Aberdyfi |
Idris Lewis, Composer
Bryan Davies, Piano Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Idris Lewis, Composer |
| Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda) |
John Hughes, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor John Hughes, Composer Risca Male Choir Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Myfanwy |
Joseph Parry, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Joseph Parry, Composer Risca Male Choir Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Cymru Fach |
David Richards, Composer
Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone David Richards, Composer Gareth Jones, Conductor Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| All through the night, 'Ar hyd y nos' |
Traditional, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Risca Male Choir Traditional, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Sunset Poem (Eli Jenkins' Prayer) |
A. H. D. Troyte, Composer
A. H. D. Troyte, Composer Bryan Davies, Organ Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone |
| We'll Keep A Welcome |
Mai Jones, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Mai Jones, Composer Risca Male Choir Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Tydi a rhoddaist (Tydi, a rhoddaist liw i'r wawr) |
Arwel Hughes, Composer
Arwel Hughes, Composer Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Risca Male Choir Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Diolch I'r Iôr |
T. Gwynn Jones, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Risca Male Choir T. Gwynn Jones, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Sul Y Blodau |
Owen Williams, Composer
Bryan Davies, Piano Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Owen Williams, Composer |
| Hyrfrydol |
Rowland Hugh Prichard, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Risca Male Choir Rowland Hugh Prichard, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
| Hiraeth |
Traditional, Composer
Black Mountain Choir Bryn Terfel, Bass-baritone Gareth Jones, Conductor Meinir Heulyn, Harp Risca Male Choir Traditional, Composer Welsh National Opera Orchestra |
Author: Adrian Edwards
If the Welsh people showed signs of caution when voting for a National Assembly, they might have been stirred into greater numbers at the ballot box by this finely sung and unashamedly patriotic collection of songs featuring their mastersinger Bryn Terfel.
The programme is indeed ‘eclectic’, as described by Terfel, ranging from the unfamiliar, such as Cymru Fach with its Schubertian modulations and Arwel Hughes’s beautiful melody Tydi a Roddaist, to such well-known songs as Ar Hyd y Nos (‘All Through the Night’) andWe’ll Keep a Welcome, made popular not so long ago by Sir Harry Secombe.
Careful planning has evidently been given to the content of this CD, but with a diverse cast-list of two choirs, the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, harp, organ and piano, it is impossible to prevent the occasional jolt to the ear. The melancholy and introspective mood of the lullabies and songs expressing a longing for the Homeland followed by such robust fare as Cwm Rhondda and Men of Harlech, taken here at a jaunty tempo, would benefit from a longer pause between tracks.
Chris Hazell has written some attractive arrangements to enhance such songs as Ar Lan y Mor (‘On the Seashore’), which has a grave oboe obbligato, and a sympathetic setting ofSuo-Gan (‘Lullaby’) for solo voice and orchestra.
The simple legato line of Dafydd y Garreg Wen (‘David of the White Rock’), accompanied by harp, shows off Terfel’s vocal sensitivity and is such a highlight that it is a pity he could not have opened his CD with the solo version (instead of a choral version) of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (‘Land of my Fathers’), which is reprised anyway for full choir as a finale.
This album offers a rare treat in hearing Bryn Terfel relishing the music of Wales sung in his native tongue, with two vigorous supporting choirs who also demonstrate a gentler side to their art in humming the introduction to Ar Hyd y Nos (‘All Through the Night’). With the two distinguished harpists and keyboard players they provide the best possible advertisement for repertoire too long neglected by the major record companies.'
The programme is indeed ‘eclectic’, as described by Terfel, ranging from the unfamiliar, such as Cymru Fach with its Schubertian modulations and Arwel Hughes’s beautiful melody Tydi a Roddaist, to such well-known songs as Ar Hyd y Nos (‘All Through the Night’) and
Careful planning has evidently been given to the content of this CD, but with a diverse cast-list of two choirs, the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, harp, organ and piano, it is impossible to prevent the occasional jolt to the ear. The melancholy and introspective mood of the lullabies and songs expressing a longing for the Homeland followed by such robust fare as Cwm Rhondda and Men of Harlech, taken here at a jaunty tempo, would benefit from a longer pause between tracks.
Chris Hazell has written some attractive arrangements to enhance such songs as Ar Lan y Mor (‘On the Seashore’), which has a grave oboe obbligato, and a sympathetic setting of
The simple legato line of Dafydd y Garreg Wen (‘David of the White Rock’), accompanied by harp, shows off Terfel’s vocal sensitivity and is such a highlight that it is a pity he could not have opened his CD with the solo version (instead of a choral version) of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (‘Land of my Fathers’), which is reprised anyway for full choir as a finale.
This album offers a rare treat in hearing Bryn Terfel relishing the music of Wales sung in his native tongue, with two vigorous supporting choirs who also demonstrate a gentler side to their art in humming the introduction to Ar Hyd y Nos (‘All Through the Night’). With the two distinguished harpists and keyboard players they provide the best possible advertisement for repertoire too long neglected by the major record companies.'
Bryn Terfel - We'll Keep A Welcome
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