CAPEL Y GRAIG  Improvisations  Toby Hay and David Ian Roberts

Recorded  2019 , released 2020

Listen to Capel y Graig Improvisations

‘It is an extraordinary space to play music. The building has a life of its own. One of the most unusual, and powerful natural reverbs I have ever heard. Listening to these recordings now makes me smile. It reminds me how important it is to play music with friends. All three recordings are completely improvised pieces, we let the space guide us as to what to play. It also features me on a beautifully out of tune, old piano.
No artificial reverb is used. The sound is the natural space.’ Toby Hay

Un o Raeadr Gwy yng nghanolbarth Cymru yw Toby Hay, ac mae’n creu cerddoriaeth offerynnol wedi’i ysbrydoli gan dirwedd, pobl a hanes yr ardal. Yn dilyn yn ôl troed y gitaryddion American Primitive a diwygwyr Gwerin Prydain, mae’n cyfansoddi cerddoriaeth ar gyfer gitâr 6 a 12 llinyn.
Wedi’i ddylanwadu gan Ragas Indiaidd, cerddoriaeth Kora Affricanaidd a cherddoriaeth hynafol y delyn Gymreig o lawysgrif Robert ap Huw, mae Toby yn creu cerddoriaeth i gyfleu awyrgylch y rhan arbennig o Gymru mae’n byw ynddo, gan ychwanegu at draddodiad hir cerddoriaeth llinyn Gymreig.
Toby Hay yw’r grym sy’n gyfrifol am Cambrian Records, label recordiau annibynnol wedi’i leoli yn Rhaeadr Gwy, Canolbarth Cymru.

From near Rhayader in Mid Wales Toby Hay makes instrumental music inspired by the landscape, people and history of the area. Following in the footsteps of the American Primitive guitarists and the British Folk revivalists he composes music for the 6 and 12 string guitar. Influenced by Indian Ragas, African Kora music and ancient Welsh harp music from the Robert ap Huw manuscript Toby makes music to capture the atmosphere of the special and under represented part of Wales where he lives, adding to the long tradition of Welsh string music.
Toby Hay is the driving force behind Cambrian Records, an independent record label based in Rhayader, Mid Wales.

Mae gan David Ian Roberts lais unigryw a’i fysedd meistrolgar ar y gitâr sydd wrth galon ei arddull. Mae’n cyfuno sain grwpiau gwerin y 60au a’r 70au gyda cherddoriaeth Indiaidd a cherddoriaeth glasurol. Er i artistiaid fel Nick Drake, John Martyn ac Elliott Smith ddylanwadu arno, mae ei ddawn gyda’r gitâr yn deillio o’i uchelgais i greu seiniau gwreiddiol a threfniannau gyda’i offeryn.
Record werin siambr fugeiliol gynnil oedd albwm cyntaf David, ‘St Clears’ (2014), yn enwog am ei drefniadau llinyn, a chafodd ei chynnwys yn Archif Genedlaethol Sgrin a Sain Cymru.

David Ian Roberts has a unique voice and virtuosic fingerstyle guitar playing at the centre of his style, He combines the sounds of 60’s and 70’s folk acts, with Indian and classical music. Whilst influenced by artists such as Nick Drake, John Martyn and Elliott Smith, his ability on the guitar is based upon an ambition to bring original sounds and arrangements from his instrument. .
David’s debut album ‘St Clears’ (2014) was an understated pastoral chamber folk record, noted for its string arrangements, and was included in the Welsh National Archive of Screen and Sound.

Music from a Welsh Chapel, Richard Williams 

During the month of May 2020, Toby and David have donated all money raised by download sales to Ty Hafan, the Children’s hospice Wales.