Erwau'r Daith

Aled Wyn Davies Tenor Aled Wyn Davies is a name that has become very familiar over the last few years in Wales and afar and is regularily heard and seen on television, radio and in many concerts. He is the new member of the Three Welsh Tenors, joining forces with Rhys Meirion and Aled Hall, and is very proud that their first new song recorded together is released on this album. The Three Welsh Tenors are in great demand and are looking forward to travelling the length and breadth of the country, and beyond, entertaining audiences. Aled started his career as a folk-singer, but after winning all the important prizes in folk-singing at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1999 and the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2001, he began to broaden his horizons as a tenor soloist. To date, one of Aled’s greatest achievements is that he won the national tenor solo competition three times in succession in 2004, 2005 and 2006, then he won the ultimate accolade at the Swansea National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2006 – the famous Blue Riband vocal prize. Aled has had considerable success at all of our major eisteddfodau including “Singer of the Year” at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2005, and the prestigious Blue Riband at the Cardigan Musical Festival in July 2006. In March 2006, he was approached by the renowned classical promoter Raymond Gubbay Ltd and was invited to perform as their tenor soloist in their “Last Night of the Proms” series of concerts. This was a great opportunity for Aled, and he performed at prestigious venues such as the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. Aled has travelled all over the world, singing in prestigious concerts and festivals. He has been a guest soloist with Côr Godre’r Aran on tours to New Zealand and Australia in 2003 and to the Welsh communities of Patagonia in 2007. He has performed on three occasions at the Welsh church in Los Angeles and at the North American Festival of Wales twice, once in Chicago in 2008, and again in 2011 at Cleveland, Ohio. Other tours include Welsh society concerts at Johannesburg, Ottawa, Toronto and Southern Ireland. Over the last few years, Aled has been a guest soloist on operatic cruises for Swan Hellenic, where he travelled to the Far East, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and North Sea countries and South America. In November, 2006, Aled released his debut album, Nodau Aur fy Nghân, with the Welsh recording label Sain. Aled is a prime example of the strength of the Welsh culture at its best – striking a balance between farming by day at his home in Mid Wales, and succeeding to use his vocal talents to the maximum by forging a successful singing career which has earned him great admiration and respect. A word from Aled Nine years have flown by since I released my first album with Sain, in 2006, and here I am at last presenting my second album called Erwau’r Daith. The title of the CD is taken from the lyrics that I sing in one of the songs and they are particularly apt because they describe my unique journey as a singer and a farmer too! I must thank Sain Records for their invitation to record these special songs and for making my dream come true! I have been very fortunate to sing in locations all over the world over the last nine years, with special tours that included Patagonia, South Africa and Canada to name but a few and I feel lucky that I’m still in contact with dear friends in numerous countries to this day. It is a tremendous honour to be one of the Three Welsh Tenors and I want to thank Rhys Meirion and Aled Hall for their friendship and for joining me to record our first new song together on this CD. I would also like to thank Caradog Williams and Catrin Dafydd for their inspiration in writing this amazing new song called Y Goleuni. A big thank you must also go to the Rhos Male Voice Choir for inviting me, in 2014, to record with them and for allowing me to include two carols from their CD Noe! Noe! that was released recently. One song that I had to include on this CD was the popular duet Y Weddi (The Prayer). I have been privileged to sing this duet with Sara Meredydd many times and was thrilled when Sara agreed to record this wonderful song with me as part of this album. Thank you, Sara. Another song that has become close to my heart is Gweddi Daer because Karina, my wife, composed the Welsh version of Ron Block’s song called A Living Prayer. Thank you, Karina, for your wonderful and inspiring words. I must also show my gratitude to my vocal coach, Eirian Owen, from Dolgellau, who has guided me on the right path many times with her invaluable advice and support. I must also thank you for your brilliant accompaniment on this album. I would like to thank Karina, my family, my friends and everybody who has supported me as a singer – your encouragement and support over the years are greatly appreciated. I would like to wish you, all the listeners, pleasure as you listen to this album and I would like to dedicate this CD to the aforementioned people but also to the two most precious individuals in my life – my two children, Aria and Aron Wyn.
Aled, June 2015

1.  Galwad y Tywysog
2.  Haleliwia
3.  Some Enchanted Evening
4.  L’Alba Sepàra Dalla Luce L’Ombra
5.  Gweddi Daer
6.  Musica Proibita
7.  Y Goleuni (Tri Tenor Cymru)
8.  Macushla
9.  Lausanne
10.  Yr Hen Gerddor
11.  Y Weddi gyda/with Sara Meredydd
12.  Hyder
13.  Arafa Don
14.  I'll Walk with God
15.  Granada
16.  O Holy Night gyda/with Chôr Meibion y Rhos
17.  Carol y Seren gyda/with Chôr Meibion y Rhos