Photo by Gareth Thomas<\/p>\n
Written by Harry McPhail and translated by Iwan Thomas<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n I remember the first time I went to see the Aberystwyth\nPhilomusica perform. I remember the goosebumps I experienced when their pieces\nreached a crescendo and the awe I felt when I remembered that quite a few of\nthe performers playing were friends I had made at university. Since that\nperformance I have tried to go to every performance I can and have effectively\nbecome a bit of an Aberystwyth Philomusica fan. I had the opportunity to speak\nto Anna Pennington, trumpeter and Student representative, and Christian Berlin,\nFirst Violinist. It was an enjoyable interview where we spoke about a wide\nvariety of things. Here is what we spoke about: <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n<\/p> Harry (H)<\/strong>: What is your relationship with music? How did you get\ninto music?<\/b><\/p> Chris (C)<\/strong>: I actually heard an audio book when I was six years\nold about a violinist and I wanted to play the violin because it sounded really\nawesome and from then on it has been a massive part of my life.<\/p> Anna (A)<\/strong>: So my Dad is actually a music teacher, so I\u2019ve been\nsurrounded by music since I was born. For me, playing trumpet actually started\nin year 4. […] So music has always been a massive part of my life and then\nwhen COVID hit suddenly all of that was taken away and I did really miss the\nsocial, community feel. […] I think it\nwas COVID that really highlighted how important music is to me<\/strong>.<\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>: How was the orchestra affected by COVID?<\/b><\/p> C<\/strong>: Sadly, because so many people were inside, they weren\u2019t\nable to do anything in my first year of university. Thankfully, with\nrestrictions, they started rehearsing in my second year, a year ago, so we had\nto log in and wear masks in order to follow all those restrictions. Actually,\nin my head, it was quite a seamless experience from where we were, with all the\nrestrictions, to where we are now. It\nfeels like we almost grew into it,<\/strong> everything fell into place.<\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>: Would you say you\u2019re back to normal?<\/b><\/p> A<\/strong>: Yeah, I was in the orchestra before COVID and then took a\nyear out, so it feels like I\u2019ve almost\npicked up where I left off<\/strong>.<\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>: What kind of opportunities have you had through the\nPhilomusica, any particularly memorable moments?<\/b><\/p> A<\/strong>: Back in my first year I had a little solo, which for me\nwas a big thing because I had never played in an orchestra before. It was only\na few bars of music but I felt like I had really accomplished something through\nthat.<\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>: How about you [Chris] any memorable moments?<\/b><\/p> C<\/strong>: During COVID when I came here first, there was not so much\nI could do at all but it was allowed for four people to gather outside so some\nof the locals asked me if I would like to play a quartet with them, so we\nplayed some chamber music and that was\nreally one of the bright points.<\/strong><\/p> H<\/strong>: What does being in a community of musicians mean to you?<\/b><\/p> C<\/strong>: Because the music is quite tricky, it\u2019s nice to be able\nto immerse yourself and really try and do your best in the moment. You are\nreally quite focused but you are also focused with this group of people, yeah,\njust the feeling of working towards a\ncommon goal is great<\/strong>.<\/p> A<\/strong>: I came into the orchestra having not played in an\norchestra before, being surrounded by people who are music teachers as their\nprofession has been really helpful.<\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>: What are some of the pressures of playing in an\norchestra?<\/b><\/p> A<\/strong>: From a trumpeter’s\nperspective if you hit a bum note, everyone hears<\/strong> but I\u2019ve got to say people will encourage and help me<\/strong> if\nI\u2019m getting something wrong. You don\u2019t feel silly or out of place for doing\nsomething wrong, they want to help you.<\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>: What kind of performances have you got coming up?<\/b><\/p> C<\/strong>: On the 8th May we are performing at the 150th anniversary\nof the university. A piece is actually being written as we speak by a composer,\n[the performance will be] including both the Philomusica and the Elizabethan\nMadrigal Singers [university chamber choir] and a local children\u2019s choir and\ndancers I think.<\/p>\n <\/p> <\/p> <\/a>Alongside their performance on the 8th of May The Philomusica have a Welsh Music Dayon the 27th of May. This event is a great chace to try out playng in an orchestra and experience what it is like performing as a musical collective. whether you play an instrument or not, I would recommend checking out the Aberystwyth Philomusica <\/p> Social Media – Philomusica<\/span><\/a>\non Facebook and Website Philomusica Aberystwyth<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p> \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p> Cymraeg<\/strong><\/p>\n Cyfieithiad<\/span> <\/span>gan<\/span> Iwan Thomas<\/span><\/span> <\/span> \u2018Amlygodd COVID Pa <\/span>M<\/span>or <\/span>B<\/span>wysig <\/span>O<\/span>edd <\/span>C<\/span>erddoriaeth <\/span>i<\/span> <\/span>M<\/span>i’<\/span> – <\/span>Ar Y<\/span> <\/span>Philomusic<\/span>a<\/span> Aberystwyth<\/span><\/b><\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/p> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> Dwi\u2019n <\/span>cofio\u2019r<\/span> tro cyntaf i mi fynd i weld y <\/span>Philomusica<\/span> Aberystwyth yn perfformio. Ni allaf am oes i mi <\/span>gofio’r<\/span> darnau a berfformiwyd ganddynt ond rwy’n <\/span>cofio’r<\/span> <\/span>g<\/span>roeng\u0175ydd<\/span> a brofais pan gyrhaeddodd eu darnau e<\/span>u <\/span>cres<\/span>hg<\/span>en<\/span>do<\/span> a’r syndod a deimlais wrth gofio bod cryn dipyn o’r perfformwyr<\/span> oedd<\/span> ffrindiau i mi wedi’u gwneud yn y <\/span>B<\/span>rifysgol. <\/span>Ers y perfformiad hwnnw rwyf wedi ceisio mynd i bob perfformiad y gallaf a rhaid cyfaddef wedi dod yn dipyn o gefnogwr <\/span>Philomusica<\/span> Aberystwyth. Cefais gyfle i siarad ag Anna <\/span>Pennington<\/span>, trwmpedwr a chynrychiolydd Myfyrwyr, a Christian Berlin, Feiolinydd Cyntaf. Roedd yn gyfweliad pleserus lle buom yn siarad am amrywiaeth eang o bethau, llawer ohonynt wedi gorfod cael gwared arnynt er budd i chi \u2013 y darllenydd. Dyma beth siaradon ni amdano:<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> Harry<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span> Beth yw eich perthynas \u00e2 cherddoriaeth? Sut daethoch chi i fyd <\/span>cerddoriaeth?<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p> <\/p> C<\/span>hris<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span> Clywais lyfr sain pan oeddwn yn chwe blwydd oed am feiolinydd ac roeddwn i eisiau chwarae’r ffidil oherwydd ei fod yn swnio’n wych ac ers hynny mae wedi bod yn rhan enfawr o fy mywyd.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> Anna<\/strong>:<\/span> Felly, mae fy Nhad yn athro cerdd, felly rydw i wedi cael fy amgylchynu gan gerddoriaeth ers i mi gael fy ngeni. I mi, dechreuodd chwarae trwmped ym mlwyddyn 4. […] Felly mae cerddoriaeth bob amser wedi bod yn rhan enfawr o fy mywyd ac yna pan darodd COVID yn sydyn bopeth a gymerwyd i ffwrdd ac roeddwn yn gweld eisiau’r naws gymdeithasol, gymunedol yn fawr. […] <\/span><\/span>Rwy’n meddwl mai COVID a oedd wir yn tynnu sylw at ba mor bwysig yw cerddoriaeth i mi<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span> Sut effeithiodd COVID ar y gerddorfa?<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p> <\/p> C<\/strong>:<\/span> Yn anffodus, oherwydd bod cymaint o bobl y tu mewn, nid oeddent yn gallu gwneud unrhyw beth yn fy mlwyddyn gyntaf yn y Brifysgol. Diolch byth, gyda chyfyngiadau, fe ddechreuon nhw ymarfer yn fy ail flwyddyn, flwyddyn yn \u00f4l, felly roedd yn rhaid i ni lofnodi i mewn a gwisgo masgiau er mwyn dilyn yr holl gyfyngiadau hynny. A dweud y gwir, yn fy mhen i, roedd yn brofiad eithaf di-dor o <\/span>ble\u2019r<\/span> oeddem ni, gyda\u2019r holl gyfyngiadau, i\u2019r sefyllfa bresennol. <\/span><\/span>Mae’n teimlo fel ein bod bron wedi tyfu i mewn iddo, mae popeth wedi disgyn i’w le<\/span>.<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span> A fyddech chi’n dweud eich bod yn \u00f4l i <\/span>arferol<\/span>?<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p> <\/p> A<\/strong>:<\/span> Ie, roeddwn i yn y gerddorfa cyn COVID ac yna cymerodd flwyddyn allan, felly mae’n teimlo fy mod <\/span><\/span>bron wedi codi lle gadewais i ffwrdd<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span> Pa fath o gyfleoedd ydych chi wedi’u cael trwy’r <\/span>Philomusica<\/span>, unrhyw eiliadau arbennig o gofiadwy?<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p> <\/p> A<\/strong>:<\/span> Yn \u00f4l yn fy mlwyddyn gyntaf cefais unawd fer, a oedd yn beth mawr i mi oherwydd doeddwn i erioed wedi chwarae mewn cerddorfa o’r blaen. Dim ond ychydig bariau o gerddoriaeth oedd o, ond roeddwn i’n teimlo fy mod wedi cyflawni rhywbeth trwy hynny.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span> Beth am chi [Chris] unrhyw eiliadau cofiadwy?<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> C<\/strong>:<\/span> Yn ystod COVID pan ddes i yma gyntaf, nid oedd llawer y gallem ei wneud o gwbl ond caniatawyd i bedwar o bobl ymgynnull y tu allan felly gofynnodd rhai o’r bobl leol i mi a hoffwn i chwarae pedwarawd gyda nhw, felly gwnaethom chwarae rhywfaint o siambr cerddoriaeth a <\/span><\/span>dyna oedd un o’r pwyntiau disglair mewn gwirionedd<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p> <\/p> H<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span> Beth mae bod mewn cymuned o gerddorion yn ei olygu i chi?<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p> <\/p>
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