From the Archives – The story of Y Ffynhonnau.

From the Archives,
It is ironic that Pendyrus have been commissioned to perform a new work by Gareth Glyn, written and composed by one of Wales leading present day composers. Gareth has dedicated it to Pendyrus and indeed to the history of Rhondda.

This is not the first occasion that Pendyrus have been involved with the story of Y Ffynhonnau, The photograph Below from 2003 was taken on Penrhys mountain in May of that year when Pendyrus provided the music for the film of the same name.

Y Ffynhonnau
This was a film shot entirely in the Rhondda, and particularly around the village of Penrhys. It was the story of Rhydwen Williams, author and poet, and indeed his poem Y Ffynhonnau (The Fountains). He was born in Pentre and educated at Pentre Grammar School before moving on to Swansea and Bangor University. Rhydwen won the crown at the National
Eistedddfods in Mountain Ash 1946 and Swansea in 1964. He wrote many novels including one on the Merthyr Riots of 1831, which was dramatised by the BBC, a new novel on the Senghenydd mining disaster and Mabon’s Day., Mabon is the bardic name of William
Abraham, the first ever Member of Parliament for Rhondda elected in 1885. He was awarded an honorary MA for his contribution to literature. Pendyrus played a significant part in this film, not only background music but also on vision. The film was made by Green Bay Media, and had its premiere at the Parc & Dare Theatre, Treorchy, in May 2003.