Catrin Finch: Women Make Music

A grant has been received towards commissioning and the first performance of a new work by world renowned harpist Catrin Finch. Given her urge to explore musical frontiers, it is not surprising that Catrin recently added composing to her repertoire of skills, and is currently studying a Post-Graduate degree in composition at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. ‘Blessing’, the chart-topping 2012 album collaboration with composer John Rutter, includes her own composition ‘Celtic Concerto’; and she has just completed a commission by the National Youth Orchestra of Wales to write a new harp concerto, inspired by the famous Welsh poet “Hedd Wyn”.

Based on the ancient Welsh mythological “Adar Rhiannon” (“Birds of Rhiannon”) – the supernatural creatures whose healing song can “wake the dead and lull the living to sleep”, the work will be scored for harp solo, 6 flutes, 6 celli, and 6 harps, percussion and youth choir and performed on 22 April in Galeri, Caernarfon during the Wales International Harp Festival.

Organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (Music Centre), the Wales International Harp Festival is dedicated to providing performance experiences of the highest quality for the benefit of all members of the community in Wales and to promoting the harp as the national instrument of Wales.

The 2014 festival to be held in Caernarfon 20-26 April will feature international concerts, masterclasses and competitions. In the year when composer William Mathias would have celebrated his 80th birthday, the festival focus will be on his compositions and composing for the harp.