"In your hands, the birth of a new day... " (Limahl)

24 October 2011

Ar Daith / On Tour: 1998

1998- GIGS

31/01/98 Y Castell, Cil-y-Coed

05/02/98 SEISWN: I-DOT (Ysbryd Chouchen)

06/02/98 Capel Crwys, Caerdydd

14/02/98 Tŷ Mawr, Brechfa

27/02/98 Gig preifat, Ffordd Cwellyn, Caerdydd

28/02/98 Neuadd Pendeulwyn (Dawnswyr Cwm Rhondda)

07/03/98 Yr Eglwys Norwyaidd, Caerdydd (Ffynnon)

13/03/98 Tafarn y Cŵps, Aberystwyth (Ysbryd Chouchen)

14/04/98 Y Castell, Cil-y-Coed

18/04/98 Yr Eglwys Pabyddol, Y Bont Faen

28/04/98 Neuadd Pontyclun (Dawnswyr Cwm Rhondda)

02/05/98 Orendy Margam (Dawnswyr Cwm Rhondda)

06/05/98 Y Ganolfan Hyfforddi, Glyn-nedd

15/05/98 Sesiwn Fach San Clêr

30/05/98 Y Castell, Caerffili

20/06/98 Gŵyl Stryd, Caerfyrddin

08/07/98 Eisteddfod Rhyngwladol Llangollen (Dawnswyr Nantgarw)

11/07/98 Gŵyl Werin y Cnapan (Ysbryd Chouchen)

18/07/98 Y Countryman, Y Coed Duon

19/07/98 Y Castell, Cil-y-Coed

01/08/98 Neuadd y Sir, Caerdydd

29-30/08/98 Y Gŵyl Fictorianaidd, Llandrindod

05/09/98 Y Chainbridge, Llangollen

11/09/98 Neuadd Buddug, Y Bala (Ysbryd Chouchen)

12/09/98 Gŵyl y Gwyniad, Y Bala

19/09/98 Y Maes Manor, Y Coed Duon

05/10/98 Maindee, Casnewydd

17/10/98 Y Castell, Cil-y-Coed

03/12/98 Plas Dolguog, Machynlleth

Erbyn hyn, roedd crwydro gyda'r delyn wedi dod yn ffordd o fyw, ochr yn ochr a'm astudiaethau ymchwil. Yn ystod gwanwyn 1998 roeddwn yn derbyn cynigion amrywiol gan grwpiau dawns a gwerin o gwmpas de Cymru, a pharhaodd y gigs gydag Ysbryd Chouchen. Ces i gwahoddiad hefyd i ymuno gyda grwp Ffynnon. Wrth edrych yn ol, mae'n debyg mae dyma'r cyfnod lle y gallwn fod wedi penderfynu ar gyrfa fel cerddor gwerin, a hepgor fy astudiaethau'n llwyr - ond doedd hynny byth yn opsiwn mewn gwirionedd, a byddai wedi golygu na fyddwn wedi mwynhau fy llwyddiant cymharol yn y byd academaidd - sef fy mhrif flaenoriaeth ar y pryd. Ond, roedd efallai'n gamgymeriad i mi ymadael a grwp Ffynnon (am ddim rheswm pendant, am wn i). Rhai blynyddoedd wedi i mi fod yn aelod, (ac efallai oherwydd i mi gadael!) aeth y grwp ymlaen i gael tipyn o lwyddiant rhyngwladol.

By now, rambling with the harp had become a settled way of life, alongside my research studies. By Spring 1998, I received a number of offers from dance groups and folk groups across south Wales, and the gigs with Ysbryd Chouchen continued. I was also invited to join the contemporary group, Ffynnon. Looking back, this is the time where I possibly could have decided on a career as a folk harpist, and thrown everything at this activity at the expense of my studies. However, this was never an option at the time, and it would have cost me my brief but fairly successful academic career in political studies, which was always my main priority. Although, in retrospect, it was perhaps a mistake to discontinue my activity with Ffynnon (for no specific reason, as I recall). Some years after I drifted away from Ffynnon (and perhaps because of my departure!) the group went on to have quite a bit of success on the international stage.