Journeys | Teithiau by Welsh National Opera | Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru

Journeys | Songwriting with CLEAR Project Southampton

Welsh National Opera has worked with the refugee and asylum seeker community in Southampton on a songwriting project, creating eight short pieces that reflect on the journeys we all take and our relationship with the sea.

Participants began by working with writer and poet Nazneen Ahmed to develop words inspired by imagery of the sea and journeys, with each account strikingly different from the next. Images of storms and chaos are placed alongside those with serenity and yearning to create a musical tapestry shaped by the authors of each piece.

Mezzo-soprano and vocal animateur Rachel Maby worked with the participants to set their words to music, exploring many different musical ways to evoke and transform the stories being told. We have paired the classically trained voice with traditional Sudanese music performed by oud duo Nabra, combining traditions from across the world that represent the cultural traditions of everyone taking part.

This work was delivered in partnership with CLEAR Project in Southampton, with all sessions and recordings online.

The stories were created by Leila, Rana, Peyman, Sayed, Aesha, Leila, Soledad and Shanaz.

Teithiau | Cyfansoddi gyda Prosiect CLEAR Southampton

Mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru wedi gweithio gyda’r gymuned ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches yn Southampton ar brosiect cyfansoddi caneuon, gan greu wyth o ddarnau byr sy’n myfyrio ar y teithiau rydym oll yn mynd arnynt a’n perthynas â’r môr.

Dechreuodd cyfranogwyr trwy weithio gyda’r awdur a’r bard Nazneen Ahmed i ddatblygu geiriau wedi’u hysbrydoli gan ddelweddau o’r môr a theithiau, gyda phob elfen yn drawiadol o wahanol i’r nesaf. Mae delweddau o stormydd ac anhrefn wedi’u cyfosod â thawelwch a dyhead i greu tapestri cerddorol wedi’i siapio gan awduron pob darn.

Gweithiodd y mezzo-soprano ac animeiddiwr lleisiol Rachel Maby gyda’r cyfranogwyr i osod eu geiriau i gyfeiliant cerddoriaeth, gan archwilio nifer o wahanol ffyrdd cerddorol i ennyn a thrawsnewid y straeon sy’n cael eu dweud. Rydym wedi paru y llais sydd wedi’i hyfforddi’n glasurol gyda cherddoriaeth draddodiadol Sudan a berfformir gan y ddeuawd oud duo Nabra, gan gyfuno traddodiadau o rannau gwahanol o’r byd sy’n cynrychioli traddodiadau diwylliannol pawb sy’n cymryd rhan.

Cyflwynwyd y gwaith hwn mewn partneriaeth â’r Prosiect CLEAR yn Southampton, gyda’r holl sesiynau a recordiadau ar-lein.

Crëwyd y straeon gan Leila, Rana, Peyman, Sayed, Aesha, Leila Soledad a Shanaz.

Contains tracks

• My Mother's Favourite Colours by Welsh National Opera | Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru
• My Ship Is The Fresh Air by Welsh National Opera | Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru
• Our Love Is Like A Ship (refrain) by Welsh National Opera | Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru
• Be Calm Like The Sea by Welsh National Opera | Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru
• My Ship Is Full Of My Dreams by Welsh National Opera | Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru