Allen Raine: The Opera!
Digwyddiad Rhannu’r Prosiect / Project Sharing Event
21 . 6. 2024
Yr Hen Gapel, Aberporth
'Allen Raine: the opera?' is a creative research and development project which sought to bring together readers, singers, storytellers and music makers to consider the life and work of Victorian novelist Allen Raine with the intention of using her fiction as inspiration for a collaborative site-specific opera. The project resulted in a public sharing of work created documented in the film above.
Prosiect creadigol ymchwil a datblygu oedd 'Allen Raine: the opera?' oedd yn ceisio dod a darllenwyr, cantorion, storïwr a cherddorion at ei gilydd er mwyn ystyried gwaith a bywyd y nofelydd fictorianaidd Allen Raine gyda'r bwriad o ddefnyddio ei ffuglen fel ysbrydoliaeth ar gyfer opera safle penodol cydweithredol - syniad sydd wedi ei tynnu o'r nofelau ei hunan. Canlyniad y prosiect oedd rhannu cyhoeddus o’r gwaith a grëwyd sydd wedi dogfennu yn y ffilm uchod.
Digwyddiadau Blaenorol / Previous Project Events
9 . 6. 2024
Creative workshop / Gweithdy Creadigol #3 Ensemble
with Stacey Blythe & Debbie Howlett, Aberporth Village Hall, 10.30 - 4.30pm
A final workshop to learn songs and choruses for the final opera sharing including a humming chorus inspired by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly based on an old Welsh air ‘Cwynfan Prydain’, the hymn Dyma Gariad fel y Moroedd and a new setting of Allen Raine’s milking song as featured in the book On the Wings of the Wind devised by the group. The workshop was recorded by Paul Evans.
Gweithdy olaf i ddysgu caneuon ar gyfer rhannu gwaith y grŵp gan gynnwys corws hymian a ysbrydolwyd gan Madama Butterfly gan Puccini yn seiliedig ar hen alaw Gymreig ‘Cwynfan Prydain’, yr emyn Dyma Gariad fel y Moroedd a gosodiad o gân odro Allen Raine fel y’i gwelir yn y llyfr On the Wings of the Wind i don newydd a greodd gan y grŵp yn y gweithdy.
12 . 5. 2024
Creative workshop / Gweithdy Creadigol #2 Overture / Agorawd
with Stacey Blythe & Debbie Howlett, Aberporth Village Hall, 10.30 - 4.30pm
A workshop to explore the concept of ‘overture’. In opera the overture is played at the start of the work. Here the themes of the work will be presented in miniature to be further developed in the body of the work. These themes can include leitmotifs for particular characters or structures of feelings within the work. In this workshop participants were asked to think about the character they were most drawn to in the novel Queen of the Rushes and to bring a passage from the novel that was particularly resonant for them. Group discussion was translated into vocal and physical improvisation resulting in a sung ‘overture’. The workshop was recorded by Paul Evans.
Gweithdy i archwilio cysyniad o ‘agorawd’ yng nghyd-destun opera. Mae’r agorawd yn arferol yw darn o gerddoriaeth sy’n cael ei chwarae ar gychwyn opera. Yma mae thema’r gwaith yn cael ei gyflwyno ar raddfa fechan. Mae’r thema yn gallu cynnwys ‘leitmotifau’ ar gyfer cymeriadau penodol neu strwythurau a theimladau sy’n rhan o’r gwaith. Yn y gweithdy yma gofynnwyd i’r rhai oedd yn cymryd rhan i feddwl am y cymeriad yn y nofel oedd yn fwyaf deniadol iddynt yn y nofel Queen of the Rushes ac i ddod a thestun o’r gwaith oedd yn siarad iddynt. Cyfieithwyd trafodaeth y grŵp wedyn mewn i fyrfyfyr lleisiol a symudol wrth greu agorawd.
20 . 4. 2024
The Allen Raine Ramble
The Allen Raine opera study group and light rambling society walked from Penbryn Church to Tresaith on 20th April 2024. At the Church the group was treated to a short harp recital by Ceri Owen Jones where the programme included the traditional folk tune Morfa’r Frenhines. Ceri also shared knowledge of Welsh herblore with special reference to Allen Raine’s novel Queen of the Rushes. There followed a rendition of Allen Raine’s favourite hymn, ‘When for me the silent oar’, played by former Penbryn Church Organist Amanda Painting. A simple bouquet of Lilys and Rosemary was laid at the grave of the author after a brief reading from her novel On the Wings of the Wind which concluded, “if the dead could speak what would they say to us today?” The assembled then made their way via the Corbalengi Stone down into Tresaith to Bronmor the author’s last residence before descending finally onto the beach where the afternoon’s activity concluded. Thanks to all who took part and to Revd. Matthew Baynham and to the residents of Tŷ Allen Raine. Pictures by Max Thom.
Daith cerdded yng nghwmni grŵp astudio opera Allen Raine o eglwys Penbryn i Dresaith ar brynhawn Sadwrn 20 Ebrill.
Yn yr eglwys cafodd y grŵp perfformiad ar y delyn gan Ceri Owen Jones gyda rhaglen oedd yn cynnwys yr alaw werin Morfa’r Frenhines. Rhannodd Ceri ei wybodaeth hefyd o lysieuaeth Gymreig gyda chyfeirnodau arbennig at y nofel Queen of the Rushes gan Allen Raine.
Ar ôl glywed hoff emyn Allen Raine, ‘when for me the silent oar’ aeth y dorf at bedd yr awdur lle rhoddwyd tusw syml o flodau lili a rhosmari. Wedi darlleniad byr o’r nofel ‘On the Wings of the Wind', gyda’r brawddeg cloi, ‘os oedd y meirw yn siarad beth y byddwn yn ddweud wrthym ni heddiw?’ cerddodd y grŵp heibio cerrig Corbalengi i Tresaith lle daeth gweithgaredd y prynhawn i ben. Gyda diolch i Max Thom am y lluniau.
7 . 4. 2024
Creative workshop / Gweithdy Creadigol #1 Aria
with Stacey Blythe & Debbie Howlett, Festri Capel Blaenannerch, 10.30 - 4.30pm
A workshop to explore the concept of voice and aria. In opera an aria is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompaniment, normally part of a larger work. The term was originally used to refer to any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. In opera arias are intimately associated with particular roles being their expression of character and emotion. In this workshop participants were asked to bring a song that had particular significance for them or that related to the area or to the fiction of Allen Raine. The workshop took the form of a singing ‘seiat’ borrowing from the specific context of Raine’s novel Queen of the Rushes which depicts the febrile atmosphere of a prayer meeting during the 1904 methodist revival where public declarations or confessions of faith were encouraged and celebrated. The workshop was recorded by Paul Evans.
Gweithdy i archwilio cysyniad llais ac aria. Mewn opera mae aria yn ddarn hunangynhwysol ar gyfer un llais, gyda neu heb gyfeiliant offerynnol neu gerddorfaol, sydd fel arfer yn rhan o waith mwy. Defnyddiwyd y term yn wreiddiol i gyfeirio at unrhyw alaw fynegiannol, fel arfer, ond nid bob amser, yn cael ei pherfformio gan gantores. Mewn opera mae cysylltiad agos rhwng ariâu a rolau penodol fel mynegiant o gymeriad ac emosiwn. Yn y gweithdy hwn gofynnwyd i gyfranogwyr ddod â chân oedd ag arwyddocâd arbennig iddyn nhw neu a oedd yn ymwneud â'r ardal neu i ffuglen Allen Raine. Roedd y gweithdy ar ffurf benthyg ‘seiat’ canu o gyd-destun penodol nofel Raine, Queen of the Rushes, sy’n darlunio awyrgylch twymgalon cyfarfod gweddi yn ystod diwygiad Methodistaidd 1904 lle anogwyd a dathlwyd datganiadau cyhoeddus neu gyffesau ffydd.28. 3. 2024
‘Allen Raine: The Radical?’ with Dr Rita Singer
Festri Capel Blaenannerch, 7pm
On the 28th March Dr Rita Singer delivered a talk entitled Allen Raine: The Radical? as part of the Allen Raine opera research and development project. The talk took place in the vestry of Blaenannerch Chapel and provided an insight into the life and work of the novelist followed by a more in depth analysis of the novel Queen of the Rushes which is set during the time of the 1904 methodist revival, initiated by the young charismatic preacher Evan Roberts, who also features as a character in the novel. Following Dr Singer’s talk those assembled were given the opportunity to view the Chapel and to hear about its history and its congregations’ hopes for its future in a short talk from Chapel elder Margaret Daniel. The event concluded with the singing of the revival hymn Dyma Gariad Fel y Moroedd by Gwilym Hiraethog. The singing was led by Margaret Daniel who also played the organ and the hymn was sung to the tune Ebenezer also known as Tôn y botel.
Ar 28ain Mawrth rhoddodd Dr Rita Singer sgwrs o deitl ‘Allen Raine: The Radical?’ fel rhan o brosiect ymchwil a datblygu ‘Allen Raine: the Opera?’. Bu’r sgwrs yn festri Capel Blaenannerch a rhoddodd gipolwg ar fywyd a gwaith y nofelydd fictorianaidd Allen Raine. Cafodd wedyn dadansoddiad manylach o’r nofel Queen of the Rushes sydd wedi’i gosod yn ystod cyfnod diwygiad Methodistaidd 1904 a gychwynnwyd gan y pregethwr ifanc carismatig Evan Roberts sydd hefyd yn ymddangos fel cymeriad yn y nofel. Yn dilyn sgwrs Dr Singer cafodd y rhai a oedd wedi ymgynnull gyfle i weld y Capel ac i glywed am ei hanes a gobeithion ei gynulleidfaoedd ar gyfer ei ddyfodol mewn sgwrs fer gan flaenor y Capel, Margaret Daniel. Daeth y digwyddiad i ben gyda chanu emyn y diwygiad Dyma Gariad Fel y Moroedd gan Gwilym Hiraethog. Arweiniwyd y canu gan Margaret Daniel oedd hefyd yn canu’r organ a chanwyd yr emyn i’r dôn Ebeneser a adnabyddir hefyd fel Tôn y botel.
Listen to Dr Singer’s talk / Gwrandewch ar ddarlith Dr Singer.
Allen Raine: the opera?
A project to research and develop ideas for a community opera animated by the biography and writing of Victorian novelist Allen Raine. Allen Raine is the pseudonym of Anne Adalisa Beynon Puddicombe. Raine was a successful novelist who was born in Newcastle Emlyn and lived at Tresaith at the turn of the 20th century. Her novels depict the coastal communities of Tresaith, Aberporth and the surrounding area exploring societal issues through her romantic fiction styled as ‘sandcastle dynasties’.
The project will move through a site specific investigation of place in relation to the author’s life, an exploration of the author’s fiction in relation to community readers today, and an exploration of music and songs in the context of opera as a medium for creative communication. Initial research will be followed by more intensive improvisation/creation days with a view to bringing the work together for a final showcase of findings.
The project has received mentoring support at the application stage from Ann Shrosbree of Small World Theatre and was conceived as a result of a mentored residency with Creative Agency Addo. The project ran from January through to July 2024.
The project has been funded by the Arts Council of Wales through their CREATE scheme. Also grateful for support from the Allen Raine Celebration Society.
Prosiect i ymchwilio a datblygu syniadau ar gyfer opera cymunedol ar sail bywgraffiad ac ysgrifen y nofelydd Fictorianaidd Allen Raine. Ffugenw Anne Adalisa Beynon Puddicombe ydy Allen Raine. Roedd Raine yn nofelydd llwyddiannus. Ganwyd hi yng Nghastell Newydd Emlyn a ddoth i fyw yn Nhresaith ar droad yr ugeinfed ganrif. Mae ei nofelau hi yn disgrifio cymunedau arforol o Dresaith, Aberporth a’r ardal gyfagos gan archwilio ystyriaethau cymdeithasol trwy ffuglen ramantaidd sydd wedi ei alw’n ‘sandcastle dynasties’.
Bydd y prosiect yn symud trwy archwiliad safle penodol o le mewn perthynas â bywyd yr awdur, archwiliad o ffuglen yr awdur mewn perthynas â’i darllenwyr heddiw ac archwiliad o gerddoriaeth a chaneuon yng nghyd-destun opera fel cyfrwng ar gyfer mynegiant creadigol. Bydd ymchwil cychwynnol yn cael ei ddilyn gan ddiwrnodau byrfyfyr/creu mwy dwys gyda'r bwriad o ddod â'r gwaith ynghyd ar gyfer arddangosfa derfynol o'r canfyddiadau.
Cafodd y prosiect mentora ar adeg ceisio gan Ann Shrosbree, Theatr Byd Bach. Mae’r prosiect yn ganlyniad i gyfnod mentora penodol gyda asiantaeth greadigol Addo. Bydd y prosiect yn rhedeg o Ionawr 2024 hyd at fis Gorffennaf.
Mae’r prosiect wedi derbyn cyllid o Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru trwy eu cynllun CREU.
CREDYDAU / CREDITS
Deunydd Crai / Source material:
Queen of the Rushes, On the Wings of the Wind, A Welsh Singer by Allen Raine
Queen of the Rushes by Allen Raine a poem by Susy Broome
Stranger on the Shore music by Acker Bilk, Morfa’r Frenhines hen alaw Cymreig / an old Welsh air, Someone to watch over me a song by George & Ira Gershwin, Where the sea meets the sky a poem by Susy Broome, First of the tide a song by Erland Cooper, Teg Wawriodd (Y Ceidwad a’r Buddugoliaethwr) Carol Plygain gan Y Parch. Robert Roberts, The Moon Song / Welcome waits home by Dai Gorwel and Jon Turner, Extract from If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie, Ar lan y môr - cân gwerin traddodiadol/a traditional Welsh folk song, The Sky above the Roof by Vaughan Williams, Cwynfan Prydain hen alaw Cymreig / an old Welsh air, emyn don Ebenezer (Tôn y Botel) gan T. J. Williams, a hymn tune, Dyma Gariad fel y Moroedd emyn gan / a hymn by Gwilym Hiraethog.
Ensemble
Carol Morgan, Debbie Howlett, Karen Hadley, Mandy Painting, Maureen Jones, Max Thom, Mel Dubber, Rowan O’Neill, Stacey Blythe, Sue Lewis, Susy Broome
Arweinydd y Gân / Leader of Song: Stacey Blythe
Arweinydd Arwyddion / Leader of Sign: Deborah Howlett
Cofiadur Sain / Sound Recorder & Edit: Paul Evans
Lluniau / Pictures Jacob Whittaker
Cysyniad Creadigol / Creative Concept: Rowan O’Neill
Gyda ddiolch i
Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, The Allen Raine Celebration Society, Bryn Seion at yr Hen Gapel,
Nicola King, Aberporth Village Hall and the Dyffryn Centre, Small World Theatre, Addo Creative Agency,
Margaret Daniel a Chapel Blaenannerch, Dr Rita Singer,
Revd. Matthew Baynham Penbryn Church,
Teulu Howlett, Ceri Owen Jones,
Jim & Iris Ramsbottom
