The expert jury on the 2010 S4C songwriting competition, Cân i Gymru, have spent hours listening to a range of compositions – and the shorlist of eight has now been chosen.
The eight songs will be performed live at the Cân i Gymru event, filmed at Venue Cymru, Llandudno and broadcast on S4C from 7.30pm on 26 February. Sarra Elgan and Rhodri Owen will present the evening.
Ex-Catatonia guitarist Owen Powell chairs the jury and he’s joined by a number of familiar faces from the Welsh music scene.
Aloma Jones, one half of the popular duo Tony ac Aloma, versatile composer and singer Endaf Emlyn, singer and presenter of S4C’s music series Nodyn, Elin Fflur, and the 2009 Cân i Gymru winner, Elfed Morgan Morris, are members of the panel. Music producer Dyl Mei and Bethan Williams Jones from the group Calan are also on the jury.
£10,000 will be awarded to the winning composition, with those coming second and third receiving cash prizes of £2,000 and £1,500. Half the votes will be awarded by the judging panel on the night, with the remainder being cast by the viewers at home.
These are the eight songs to reach this year’s final:
• Gwên ar fy Wyneb was composed by Megan Rhys Williams from Hermon near Crymych for her A Level music course at Ysgol Gyfun y Preseli. She’s currently a student at Cardiff University. The song will be performed by Beth Williams.
• Bws i’r Lleuad is a composition by Alun Evans from Llanrwst, or Alun Tan Lan as he’s also known. Alun is a former member of the band Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci but now plays the guitar for a new instrumental group, Y Niwl. Tomos Wyn performs the song.
• Deffra was composed by the musician, composer and actor Gai Toms from Blaenau Ffestiniog and will be performed live by Estynedig. Recently, Gai released an eco-friendly album, Rhwng y Llygru a’r Glasu, and Deffra crystallises that album.
• Pob Siawns is a joint composition by Lowri Evans from Newport, Pembrokeshire and guitarist and studio engineer, Lee Mason. Lowri will perform her own song on the night. The two came second in the 2008 competition with the song, Ti a Fi.
• Gorwel was written by Jaqueline Williams and Aron Elias Jones, a former member of hip hop band Pep Le Pew who now plays for Y Rei.
• Aros yn yr un lle is the brainchild of Osian Howells, a member of the band Yr Ods. Osian also enjoyed a stint playing the guitar and keyboards with the band Yucatan. Yr Ods will perform Osian’s song during the live final.
• Ti a ddaeth o dramor is the song composed by Matthew Wall, from Pwllheli and Deio Jones, from Garndolbenmaen. Matthew is now a teacher at a Barry comprehensive school and plays with the band, Hafaliadau.
• (Yr Owain) Glyndŵr is a joint composition by Simon Gardner, Andrew Moore and Tudur Morgan. Tudur is a professional record producer, Simon a successful solo artist and Andrew is a music transcriber. The song will be performed by Martin Beattie.
