Having spent a very rewarding evening last night in the company of Ceri in Dolgellau at the first of the sessions mentioned in the links that follow, I thought he and his music and activities were probably of interest to members of this forum, so I’m just drawing him to your attention.
Ceri is a talented multi-instrumentalist (and a lovely guy!) whom I have met on and off many times over the years in the relatively small pond of the Welsh music scene. When I first knew him he played cittern and guitar primarily. He then became one of the leading figures in the rediscovery/recreation of a Welsh piping tradition, and as a member of supergroup Fernhill he became very well known on the festival circuit and abroad. He also played clarinet for some numbers with Fernhill as part of the distinctive reedy sound of their first three albums. Latterly he has shifted to simple system wooden flute as one of his main means of expression. He has an extensive knowledge of Welsh music, its sources and history, and he is an influential if eclectic and very instinctively expressive interpreter of it. In 2005 he released a beautiful and highly recommendable album of flute music, Yscolan, which I believe is available from him via his website, which is well worth exploring, especially his blog page.
A web-search on his name will bring up quite a few links, including:-
http://www.tradmusic.com/artistinfo.asp?artistID=1814
To anyone who can get to Dolgellau for his new project and sessions, I can’t recommend him highly enough. Details are available at Ty Siamas as well as on Ceri’s own website already linked above.
Ceri’s discography includes:
Saith Rhyfeddod: Saith Rhyfeddod - a band that were kind of a foreshadowing of Fernhill. (Cassette 1991) Sain C478N - apparently unavailable.
Cico Nyth Cacwn (Saith Rhyfeddod): Traditional Welsh Pipe Music by Ceri Rhys Matthews and Jonathan Shorland. (Cassette 1993) Fflach C104G - apparently unavailable.
Pibau: Traditional Welsh Pipe Music by Ceri Rhys Matthews and Jonathan Shorland (Audio CD - 2000) Fflach Tradd label
Yscolan: music on wooden flute from West and South Wales by Ceri Rhys Matthews (Audio CD - 2005)own label
Pibddawns: a solo album of pipe music played on the pibe-cyrn (bag-hornpipe) by Ceri Rhys Matthews (Audio CD - 2007) Fflach Tradd label
Ca Nos: Fernhill (Audio CD - 1996)
Llatai: Fernhill (Audio CD - 1999)
Whilia: Fernhill (Audio CD - 2000)
Hynt: Fernhill (Audio CD - 2003)
Na Pradle: Fernhill (Audio CD - 2007)
(all Fernhill CDs on Beautiful Jo label - on Amazon)
(The first Saith Rhyfeddod album and the first two Fernhill albums include Jonathan Shorland on wooden flute as well as pipes, oboes, clarinet…)
Disclaimer: I have no commercial or personal interest in any of the above products or events. I just think they are potentially of interest to fellow forum members, especially pipers and fluters, some of whom I hope will investigate and enjoy what they find. Ceri is a friendly acquaintance of mine and has not asked me to make this post.