Wrth i ni ddod at ddiwedd Cathedral Road a throi i’r chwith tuag at ganol dinas Caerdydd yn hytrach na throi i’r dde i’r gorllewin – y ffriodd mwyaf traddodiadol tuag at y gorllewin – daeth yn amlwg fydd y daith yn un diddorol. Yn amlwg, penderfynodd y gyrrwr i yrru tuag at Ffordd y Gogledd i’r M4 – ond pam defnyddio’r ffordd fwyaf synhwyrol pan fod cyfle i ni fwynhau golygfeydd yr Eglwys Newydd ar y ffordd?

Roed mwy o hwyl i ddod wrth i ni gyrraedd Caerfyrddin pan drodd y gyrrwr i’r dde i gyfeiriad y gogledd ddwyrain tuag at Pencader. Dechreuon ni feddwl fod y gyrrwr wedi cael y neges yn anghywir a’i fod yn mynd â ni nol i Lanfihangel-ar-arth – ‘o leiaf bydd cyfle i brofi’r cwrw lleol unwaith eto’ ond na, ar hyd y ffordd gan basio Llanfihangel-ar-arth tuag at Synod Inn. Roedd y bws yn mynd i gyfeiriad hollol wahanol i Tŷ-Rhos. Mae lle arall o’r enw ‘Rhos’ ar Ynys Môn yn ôl Jon Kiff ‘ falle bydd gobaith i ni gyrraedd yno cyn hanner nos . . !

O’r diwedd, dyma ni’n cyrraedd Tŷ-Rhos, o’r gogledd!, wedi blino ac angen defnyddio’r cyfleusterau ‘looked for toilets all around’ Ond sawl tŷ-bach oedd yno ? – roeddem mewn lleoliad bach wedi’r cyfan wedi ein hamgylchynu gan gaeau a defaid – tra ffurfiodd y menywod giw trefnus, aeth y dynion i lawr y ffordd wledig. Beth yn y byd fydd ymateb teithiwr diniwed wrth weld rhes o ddynion mewn siwtiau du yn sefyll mewn llinell ar ochor y ffordd wrth y gwrych?

  

Felly mewn a ni nawr i’r capel am ymarfer byr – a dreuliwyd yn gweithio allan sut i ffitio 70 aelod o’r côr mewn i leoliad lle doedd dim lle i droi ‘Cosy here isn’t it’ – wrth i ni brofi sain y côr yn y capel wrth floeddio ‘Blaenwern’ , ond tybed a fyddai’n syniad gadael lle i’r gynulleidfa?

Yn ffodus i ni, dyma nhw’n dechrau cyrraedd o . . . Wel Duw a Ŵyr! O ble . .. Dim ond tri tŷ oedd i’w weld yn agos.

Mae’r gyngerdd i weld yn mynd yn dda. Y chwarter cyntaf yn llawn emynau ac arias yn cynnwys Ave Maria Rich. Mae e i weld yn ddigon bodlon gyda’r entry mewn i ‘Mater Dei’ wrth nodio’n ffafriol – a’i dyma’r tro cyntaf i ni gal hwn yn iawn? I gloi’r hanner cyntaf, O Fab y Dyn, yn hytrach na’r Tangnefeddwyr. Fel sydd wedi ei nodi yn y rhaglen wrth i’r côr ymateb mewn panic yn chwilio drwy’i ffeiliau am gopïau, er i Rich roi rhybudd o flaen llaw!!!

I ddilyn, caneuon hyfryd gan yr unawdwyr – fy hoff gân i’n benodol oedd Dim ond Ti, sef addasiad Gymraeg o’r clasur ‘Yazoo’ ‘Only You’ a chyflwyniad i’r her o fyw gyda Parkinson’s – sef elusen ddewisedig y digwyddiad.

Nawr am yr ail hanner sydd ychydig mwy diddorol – gydag aelodau ddim yn dod mewn ar ambell i entry ac ychydig o gliciau coll yn Hen Ferchetan a chyfansoddi diddorol yn dod o adran y bas yn ystod yr ‘ooos’ yn O Gymru. Er gwaetha pob dim, daeth y gyngerdd i ben gyda fersiwn bywiog o’r Tangnefeddwyr ac Anfonaf Angel emosiynol iawn gydag ychydig o ddagrau yn dod o’r gynulleidfa – gyda chôr syfrdanol, o’n i’n meddwl y byddai’r to yn codi i’r Angylion gael edrych i mewn!

Nawr dyma ddod i uchafbwynt y trip, te capel enwog Tŷ-Rhos! A ni chafodd neb eu siomi. Roedd merched y plwyf wedi rhagori unwaith yn rhagor. Ond a oeddent wedi darparu digon o ‘feringues’ a ‘cream horns’? Roedden nhw i gyd ar un bwrdd gydag aelodau’r côr yn heidio tuag atyn nhw . . Ond ni phoener, roedd mwy na digon o fwyd i lenwi boliau pawb gyda Jon yn heglu o un bwrdd i’r llall yn olygfa gwerth ei weld…

    

Wedyn nol am adre – heibio i fetropolis enwog Crymych (wel mae’n gwbl gymharol ) Mae Alan yn penderfynu herio aelodau’r bas yng nghefn y bws am fersiwn symudol o ‘Pointless’ a chyn pen dim mae Jon yn dechrau sialens ‘Guess that Tune’ gyda’r bas a ymunwyd gan y ddwy Vicky ynghyd â Cathy a Ffion. Yn fuan iawn mae gweddill y bws yn ‘mwynhau’ perfformiad diddorol o’r ‘A Team’ mewn harmoni pedair rhan. Doedd neb yn gallu dyfalu fy fersiwn i o ‘Virginian’ yn amlwg roedd aelodau’r côr yn rhy ifanc i gofio clasuron teledu cowbois y 60au – neu falle doedd e ddim ddigon cerddorol i’w ddyfalu – does bosib! Ar y llaw arall fe lwyddodd i bawb ymdopi â fersiwn Dai o ‘The Lone Ranger’ heblaw am Steff (neu Ceri efallai) oedd a’i ben yn ôl a’i geg ar agor. Dw i’n hoffi meddwl ei fod wedi ei swyno gan yr holl beth . . .

Naethon ni jest redeg allan o syniadau erbyn diwedd, neu falle ein bod ni gyd wedi blino yn dilyn y ‘post tea sugar crash’ neu jest wedi cael digon!

O’r diwedd dyma gyrraedd nôl i’r Mochyn Du am 00:30! A daeth yn amser i’r côr blinedig fynd adre i’w gwlâu – roedd gwaith yn galw i rai’r bore weedy….  Naethon ni glywed yn dilyn noson y gyngerdd for y gyngerdd wedi codi mwy na £1600 i Parkinsons – da iawn i bawb a roll on Eisteddfod…

Gan Gwilym.

 

Hwn oedd ymdrech arall i godi ceiniog new ddwy i gronfa’r côr drwy werthi eiddo diangen pobl eraill.

Roedd yn ddiwrnod o Atgofion Unigryw sef :–

Gwirfoddolwyr  brwdfrydyg o’r côr  yn amharu ar Gyfarfod Gweddi Dydd Sadwrn yr Eglwys, drwy geisio o leiaf dair gwaih,  gadael dillad, boteli a bric a brac yn yr adeilad anghywir !.

Gwynebau trist Frank a Dai wrth sylweddoli nad oedd angen yr allwedd cawsant i fynd mewn i’m tŷ i wedi’r cwbl. Roedd y bagiau a’r bocsys o ddillad a.y.b. eisioes  wedi’u cludo i’r neuadd.  Ond o leiaf mae’n henwau da yn ddiogel!

Lloyd yn ennill yr un tun o Chickpeas dro ar ôl tro ar y stondin Boteli a Thuniau!

Llinos a Trefor yn darganfod potel oedd yn hanner gwag are eu stondin! Tybed ai hon oedd potel Max Boyce “that once held bitter ale”?

Alan yn ceisio perswadio Rachel i brynu’r wisg roedd hi eisioes wedi ei rhoi i’r gwerthiant. O leia mae e’n gwybod beth mae Rachel yn hoffi gwisgo!

Y pryder a’r anobaith wrth weld mwy o wirfoddolwyr na phrynwyr yn y Neuadd. Roedd y stondinau bric a brac ,a dillad yn dal i edrych mor llawn ag erioed. Roedd hyd yn oed y teisennau yn araf ddiflannu . A fyddai’n ddydd Ffwl Ebrill go iawn ar ôl yr holl waith o wneud posteri, casglu rhoddion, gosod y byrddai a’r gwerthu brwdfrydig?

Ar ben hyn i gyd, y foment pan sylweddolom ein bod wedi methu darganfod “au-pair” Swedeg i Tudor. Yr olwg ddigalonnus ar ei wyneb yn gadael y Neuadd yn cydio’n dyn yn ei ddwy rwyf ac yn anelu am Stockholm .

Ond diflannodd y pryder a’r anobaith pan gyfrifodd ein Trysorydd, Eiddwen yr arian  – elw o £803!  Trodd y gofid yn teimlad o ryddhad ac hapusrwydd o’r eithaf

Yn olaf ac holl bwysig oedd y cyfeillgarwch rhwng aelodau’r côr  a’u parodrwydd i helpu a geithio mor galed i wneud y gwerthiant mor llwyddiannus. Dangosodd y diwrnod cymaint yw’r anrhydedd o fod yn aelod o gôr mor unigryw a Chôr y Gleision.

Cardiff Blues Choir Events Blog 2

March 10^th 2017 Bayside Brasserie in advance of Wales V Ireland.

Yet again the W.R.U. showed its commitment to Rugby supporters Wales and Ireland wide by supplying eye wateringly expensive tickets to see a match thoughtfully timed with an 8.05 pm Friday evening kick off.

Undeterred, C.Y.G. made the short trip to the Bay to fulfil the final part of our 2017 Six Nations booking at the Bayside Brasserie, where a modest (but beautifully proportioned) representation of the total membership did the Choir proud .

Arriving early, and as ever eager to hone their skills outside the Restaurant and in view of a somewhat bemused public, the dedicated Bass section practised rounding their vowels in preparation for the fray.

As our starting time approached the news broke that we had no instrument upon which we could be accompanied, and the word quickly spread that we may be expected to start the performance singing Acapulco. As luck would have it, the Chairman arrived just in the nick of time carrying a music stand, with a friend/servant who had been given the responsibility of carrying the Organ for him.

There was considerable relief all round when the Organ was whipped out, erected and found to be in good working order. Richard was soon calling us to attention and our Performance began.

It was immediately apparent that the clientele in the restaurant differed hugely from those that attended Wales v England. This audience were attentive, appreciative and demonstrably enjoyed the evening, responding warmly to our efforts, both in our singing and in our pointing out the way to the toilets. It must be said that in relation to the latter, a substantial proportion of our Celtic male cousins still managed to visit the Ladies.

The repertoire was standard Rugby, with” Ireland’s Call” a popular addition with the supporters downstairs, and ”Wild Rover” a popular addition with Frank, who, in his enthusiasm sang most of the Ladies’ lines as well. A particularly fine “Gwasgwn yn y Rhengau” in Rachie surprised many with its purity, clarity and strength of purpose.

Downstairs, as the Chairman eat a hearty meal following his exertion with the music stand, the Vice Chair tirelessly sold Choir songbooks to Diners.

Richard, multitasking throughout, brought matters to a conclusion with rousing Anthems and our performance came to an end, not a minute too soon some thought, as two enthusiastic male  fans who had followed our performance throughout on the Balcony, cameras in hand,  appeared to be homing in on him as the object of their appreciation and adulation.

Quietly, Choir members dispersed to their favoured locations to watch the game, leaving diners with rounded vowels ringing in their ears, and hopefully happy memories of  being serenaded in Cardiff by C.Y.G.  from the Bayside Brasserie balcony.

 

EVENTS BLOG —– Number 1

In the words of Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates- you never know what you’re gonna get “ – much like our choir gigs ! We set off for Llanfihangel Yr Arth with a full bus, half our body weight in snacks, picnics and voice lubricants, and, as ever, masses of enthusiasm and anticipation.For this Eisteddfod we were a little more relaxed—only 2 songs to sing, both of which we knew well, no coach gymnastics to perform changing into our formal uniform , and no pressure to bring home a cup.But, being Cor Y Gleision , we all wanted to win of course.

The journey to the depths of West Wales was uneventful. In the dark and rain the bus stopped , seemingly in the middle of nowhere—were we lost ? Again ?? Never fear, our trusty driver turned a corner and we spied a few glimmering street lights and the lights of a small building up a hill—we’d arrived! But where was the big tent, where was the coach park and where were the people surging in to get their seats? This was going to be a small but perfectly formed event for sure. We piled off the coach and tried our best to squeeze into Llanfihangel village hall—if the man from the Guinness book had been there I think we would have broken a few records! The overflow marquee was quickly full too.We huddled together for warmth, ate our picnics and hoped we wouldn’t have another Caerphilly evening, waiting for hours for our category to come round.

The Eisteddfod might have been small but the organisers had done a great job and we were called dead on time to perform.Hang on though – Wot, no rehearsal? Wot, no line up ? Having heard our competition singing before us ,we started to feel a little less relaxed, but once we’d shoehorned all 60 of us onto the stage , the floor and hanging from the eaves – well almost – we got going.It may not have been the best we’d ever sung our 2 song choices but we gave a good account of ourselves , the audience seemed to enjoy themselves and were very appreciative.

 

Some people stayed to listen to the next category of competition and our adjudication, whilst a small breakaway group went to do their bit for the local economy and put some funds over the bar , and indulge in our usual post competition sing song , in the small pub nearby. This was also well received by the locals [ a few of our girls almost got themselves married off ! ] and it was a pity that time, space and circumstance conspired against us and prevented us staying to enjoy the hospitality for longer.

Meanwhile back in the hall it was adjudication time. It was by no means a foregone conclusion . The women’s choir competing against us had sung a beautiful second song which the judges clearly loved , and when our “bête noir” of open vowels was raised by the judge my heart sank. In the end we just shaved it – 18 points against 17.5 – another great result for CYG.

Although the venue and audience were small , the local people made up for this in spades. We had a wonderful welcome and they did everything they possibly could to accommodate what must, at times , have seemed like an invasion on our part.The local accompanist who played for us , was clearly extremely nervous , but she did us proud. The fact the Richard had to practically force payment on her for her services sums up the warmth of our reception.Everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy our performance and it was a pity our visit was so brief.

From the smallest stage to the largest ,CYG go out and give their best and have a ball in the process. Long may it continue !