VRï Tickets
St Augustine's Church, Penarth.
Jordan Price Williams (cello, voice), Aneirin Jones (violin, voice) and Patrick Rimes (viola, violin, voice) - are three young men from deepest chapel-going Wales who have mined the cultural upheaval of past centuries and drawn inspiration from the incredible story of a time when Wales’ traditional music and dance was suppressed by Methodist chapels, and, earlier, its language by the Act of Union. Three-part harmonies, stunning fiddle playing and the unusual addition of cello forge the VRï sound that is totally unique. Since forming in 2016, the trio have been in search of an elusive 'chamber-folk' aesthetic – pumping out their native foot-stomping dance tunes whilst maintaining the poise and elegance of a string ensemble. VRï shed new light on a vibrant folk tradition that harnesses the raw energy of the fiddle with the finesse of the violin, the beauty of chamber music with the joy and hedonism of a pub session. It's a cross-genre idea that's very familiar to Scandinavian and North American audiences, but hitherto unheard of in Wales. Their new album 'islais a genir' (a sung whisper) released on 28th October on the bendigedig label.
The name VRï is a word in the Welsh language meaning ‘above’, ‘aloft’, ‘floating’…or simply ‘Up’, with the spelling inspired by Hen Gymraeg (Old Welsh). It describes the sensation of playing this kind of vocal & instrumental chamber music - all six voices independently interacting with one another, without the presence of any kind of ‘anchor’ or safety ropes (be those anchors rhythmic like a drum kit, or melodic such as fretted or keyboard instruments). It’s an experience that is equally exhilarating and terrifying for the performers…and hopefully engaging for the listener!
VRï yw - Jordan Price Williams (sielo, llais), Aneirin Jones (ffidil, llais) a Patrick Rimes (fiola, ffidil, llais) - tri g?r ifanc o berfeddion Cymru, gyda’i hanes hirfaith o fynychu’r capel. Aethant ati i gloddio i gynnwrf diwylliannol y canrifoedd diwethaf a chawsant eu hysbrydoli gan stori anhygoel cyfnod pan gafodd cerddoriaeth a dawns draddodiadol Cymru eu llethu gan gapeli’r Methodistiaid, ac, yn gynharach, ei hiaith gan y Ddeddf Uno. Mae harmonïau tair rhan, chwarae ffidil syfrdanol ac ychwanegiad anarferol y sielo yn creu sain VRï sy’n gwbl unigryw. Ers ffurfio yn haf 2016, mae’r triawd wedi bod yn chwilio am esthetig ‘gwerin-siambr’ - gan gyflwyno eu halawon dawns brodorol bywiog tra’n cynnal gosgeiddrwydd a cheinder ensemble llinynnol. Mae VRï wedi taflu goleuni newydd ar draddodiad gwerin bywiog sy’n harneisio egni amrwd y ffidil gyda cheinder y feiolin, harddwch cerddoriaeth siambr gyda llawenydd a phleserau sesiwn dafarn. Mae'n syniad traws-genre sy’n gyfarwydd iawn i gynulleidfaoedd yn Sgandinafia a Gogledd America ond sy’n anghyfarwydd yng Nghymru hyd yn hyn.
Mae’r enw VRï yn air Cymraeg, sy’n golygu ‘uwchben’, ‘uchod’, ‘arnofio’, yn syml... ‘i fyny!’ gyda sillafiad sydd wedi’i ysbrydoli gan Hen Gymraeg. Mae’n disgrifio’r teimlad o chwarae’r math hwn o gerddoriaeth siambr leisiol a llinynnol - pob un o'r chwe llais yn rhyngweithio'n annibynnol â'i gilydd, heb unrhyw fath o ‘angor’ neu raffau diogelwch (boed y rheiny’n rhai rhythmig fel cit drymiau, neu yn rhai harmonig megis offerynnau cribellog neu allweddellau). Mae’n brofiad sy’n cyffroi’r perfformwyr cymaint ag y mae’n eu dychryn... a gobeithio ei fod yn bleserus i’r gwrandawyr hefyd!
‘This is a landmark in Welsh Music’
Andrew Cronshaw, RootsWorld
‘A primal roar of Welshness’
4*, Nathaniel Handy, SONGLINES
‘islais a genir
is an album that honours variety and positively revels in its own complex, colourful identity, by turns thoughtful and celebratory. A formidable artistic and cultural statement.’
Thomas Blake, Folk Radio UK
‘Hallelujah! Exhilarating, inventive and totally inspiring’
‘An uplifting, lovely album; you just cannot beat the sheer ingenuity of the three instruments combined with the fiery, proud regard and respect of the age-old folk music’
5* FolkWales Magazine
More information about VRï tickets
Wheelchair access via the side entrance of the church, please email joemarvellymedia@gmail.com if you would like further details.