Calon Lan Performed at Queen's Coronation Festival

Nice to see Calon Lan performed as part of the Queen's Coronation Festival by Only Boy's Aloud.

Catch a glimpse here on iPlayer - Coronation Festival

It is at the end!

Behind the scenes

Not unlike the animation a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to create an item for broadcast.

These are some of the scenes that did not make it to the big screen!



And ACTION, who are these guys?



Not sure what is going on here but they are obviously not listening!

















 

OK - it is us, but looking pretty mischievous I think!

     

 




Bev doing her interview, Teresa trying to blend into the background

                                                  

Bev, where are you when I need you?

 

Special thanks to Ivor Williams, official photographer!

 

And, not to forget - this is who it is all about.

 

 

 

 

 

 



BBC Wales News Link

At lunch time today BBC Wales broadcast a feature on our project and there is a link to this pasted below.  Thanks to all  involved and a special thank you to Cemlyn Davies!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23274008

Evening Post and This Is South Wales feature Premiere

We had an excellent write-up in the Evening Post yesterday and the article appeared on This Is South Wales too!

"A NEW animated short film about Swansea composer Daniel James is to be premiered in the city this week.

James, who is also known by his bardic name of Gwyrosydd, wrote the words for the famous hymn Calon Lan.

He was born on January 13, 1848, in a thatched cottage, long demolished, in what is now Llangyfelach Road, not far from Brynhyfryd Square.

He became a puddler, working first in one of the Morriston ironworks then moving to Landore tinplate works but it is his musical talent that has seen him remembered.

James's grave, which is in the grounds of Mynyddbach Chapel, has almost become a tourist attraction in its own right following increased interest in Calon Lan after a performance of the hymn by Only Boys Aloud on Britain's Got Talent.

And now the Treboeth Historical Society, assisted by the Swansea University Connected Communities project, has put together a short animated story that records the life James. The premier will take place on Wednesday at Mynyddbach Chapel, from 7pm.

The evening will be introduced and led by the Reverend Grenville Fisher of Mynyddbach Chapel. A talk about the project will also be given by Swansea University research graduates, followed by poetry readings and performances by school children from Ysgol Gynradd Tirdeunaw, Gwyrosydd Primary School and Ysgol Gyfun Bryntawe, all of whom have been involved in the creation of the film." - This Is South Wales

Read the full article here: Composer of Welsh hymn featured in animated city film

BBC Wales interview

We had an exciting afternoon yesterday being interviewed for BBC Wales about the project.  Both Teresa and myself were quite nervous about it all but the BBC team were brilliant and put us at our ease right away.  Photos of us too being interviewed at the grave of Daniel James were taken by Ivor and will be out up on the blog shortly.

Geraint was interviewed inside the chapel and was a natural!  He was so calm and told some great anecdotes.  Here are some pictures...

Geraint Williams having some technical adjustments made before his interview!

Ivor and Geraint chatting over Daniel James' chair.

Geraint being interviewed by Cemlyn Davies of BBC Wales

Don't forget to watch tomorrow...BBC Wales at 6.30!

News update!

If you are coming to Mynyddbach on Wednesday 10 July then put a reminder in your diary to catch up or record Wales Today on BBC Wales on that day.  There will be a small feature on our project which is a fantastic opportunity for us.  A big thankyou to Cemlyn Davies and his camera man, Jamie Owen and BBC Wales.  All of the project team really appreciate your interest and Bev and I enjoyed the experience!

Wednesday 10 July 'Film Premiere'

Wednesday evening in Mynyddbach Chapel will be the Premiere of the animation that has been produced on the life of Daniel James. The programme of events will be as follows:

1.  Croeso/Welcome – Parch/Rev Grenville Fisher
2.  Dirpwy Arglwydd Faer Abertawe/Deputy Lord Mayor of Swansea: Cyng./Councillor. Mrs. Ceinwen Thomas
 3.  Calon Lân
 4.  Perfformiadau gan blant / Performances by children of:
Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe Comprehensive School
Ysgol Gynradd Tirdeunaw Primary School
Ysgol Gynradd Gwyrosydd Primary School
 5.  Cân / Song – Ble Mae’r Amen - Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe Comprehensive School
 6. Cyflwyniad gan fyfyrwyr ymchwil Prifysgol Abertawe / Presentation by Swansea University   student researchers: Beverley Rogers, Teresa Hillier, Catrin Haines- Davies gyda chyflwyniad gan / with introduction by: Kate Spiller, Cydlynydd Prosiectau Cymunedau Cysylltiedig /Connected Communities Project Co-ordinator, Prifysgol Abertawe / Swansea University
7.  Nick Price, Cwmni animeiddio Turnip Starfish animation company
8.  Dangosiad cyntaf o’r ffilm animeiddiedig am fywyd Daniel James / Premiere of the animated film on the life of Daniel James.
9.   Parch/Rev. Grenville Fisher
10. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
11. Lluniaeth / Refreshments

We look forward to seeing you in the Chapel

Interviews and animation

Exciting things are afoot! We are going to have a small feature on our project on BBC news. It should be going out this week but will update later on this evening on the developments. This is very exciting for us and all of the project team. Please come back and visit our blog in a few hours for an update!