Described in the Daily Telegraph as ‘seemingly conjuring a whole orchestra from his instrument’, Iwan Llewelyn-Jones is now established as one of Britain’s most imaginative and successful pianists. Brought up in Amlwch, Angelsey and educated at Oxford University and the Royal College of Music, London he has performed as soloist and with orchestras to audiences the world over and won several awards including the Coolidge Scholarship (Balliol College Oxford), the Hopkinson Gold Medal, Chopin Prize and Instrumental Duo Award (Royal College of Music) and been a prizewinner at several international piano competitions in Britain, France, Spain and Italy.
Iwan broadcasts regularly on Radio 3, Radio Cymru and S4C and has been the recipient of several awards and honours including The Sir Geraint Evans award in recognition of his significant contribution to Welsh Music.
This new album Songs Without Words is a collection of some of Wales’ best loved songs in new arrangements for solo piano as never heard before. From the world of romantic song there are three classics by Meirion Williams reflecting nature in several guises: Pan Ddaw’r Nos (When Night Falls); Mai (May) and Ora Pro Nobis, and several gems from the 20th century including Dilys Elwyn Edwards’ Mae Hiraeth yn y Môr (There is longing in the sea); Yr Ynys Bellennig (Distant Isle) by Eric Jones and two personal favourites from recent years Llanrwst by Gareth Glyn and Dy Garu Di o Bell (I loved you from afar) by Robat Arwyn.
Iwan has also composed a new arrangement of the well known Welsh folk song Ar Lan y Môr (On the sea shore) and a set of variations on Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn (Shepherding the white wheat). Grace Williams’ three songs explore a wide range of emotions with Y Bore Glas (the Bright Day); I Had a Little Nut Tree and Y Gwŷdd (The Loom) and Pwyll ap Sion’s three arrangements are colourful and quirky Y Fam a’i Baban (Mother and Child); C’weiriwch fy Ngwely (make my bed) and Llanast (Chaos).
