Allen Raine: The Opera?
'Allen Raine: the opera?' is a creative research and development project seeking to bring together readers, singers, storytellers and music makers to consider the life and work of Victorian novelist Allen Raine with the intention of using her fiction as inspiration for a collaborative site-specific opera.
Prosiect creadigol ymchwil a datblygu yw 'Allen Raine: the opera?' sy'n ceisio dod a darllenwyr, cantorion, storïwr a cherddorion at ei gilydd er mwyn ystyried gwaith a bywyd y nofelydd fictorianaidd Allen Raine gyda'r bwriad o ddefnyddio ei ffuglen fel ysbrydoliaeth ar gyfer opera safle penodol cydweithredol - syniad sydd wedi ei tynnu o'r nofelau ei hunan.
She blushed and smiled, and began in clear crystal tones that beautiful aria from “Acis and Galatea”, “As when the dove,” for the best rendering of which a prize of three guineas had been offered by the Eisteddfod committee…All over the country young maidens were practicing the air; in the farmyards, out in the fields of clover, on the sandy beach; anywhere and everywhere rang out the dulcet melody.
A Welsh Singer, (1897), p. 26
“Sing on little swallows.” She said, “and I’ll sing too. Sara taught me the ‘bird song’ long ago when I was a baby.” And in a clear, sweet voice she joined the birds, and woke the voices from the brown cliffs. The tune was quaint and rapid; both it and the words had come down to her with the old folklore of generations passed away.
Garthowen, (1900), p. 9
…with a musical voice he began the first notes of an old hymn, which was known to be a favourite of his. In a moment the whole crowd had taken it up, and were singing with heart and soul in the words and melody, so that the corncrake’s cry was drowned, the rush of the sea was hushed, and the whole air was filled with harmony…
Queen of the Rushes (1906), p. 161
Dyddiadau / Dates:
12 MAI / MAY Story, Song and Music Workshop 2 ‘Overture and Development’
with Stacey Blythe & Debbie Howlett, Aberporth Village Hall, 10.30 - 4.30pm
9 MEHEFIN / JUNE Story, Song and Music workshop 3 ‘Chorus and Ensemble’
with Stacey Blythe & Debbie Howlett, Aberporth Village Hall, 10.30 - 4.30pm
21 MEHEFIN / JUNE Digwyddiad Rhannu’r Prosiect
Project Sharing Event, Aberporth
If you would like to take part in any of these events please contact:
Os hoffwch gymryd rhan yn y digwyddiadau yma cysylltwch â:
Rowan O’Neill
oneill.rowan@gmail.com
Digwyddiadau Blaenorol / Previous Project Events
20 Ebrill / April Allen Raine Ramble in the company of musician and apprentice herbalist Ceri Owen Jones starting at Penbryn Church.
Taith cerdded yng nghwmni y cerddor Ceri Owen Jones yn dechrau ger Eglwys Penbryn. Photos by Max Thom.
7th Ebrill / April Story, Song and Music Workshop 1: Voice & Aria with Stacey Blythe and Debbie Howlett
Blaenannerch Chapel Vestry 10.30 - 4.30
28 Mawrth Sgwrs/Talk Dr Rita Singer, ‘Allen Raine: The Radical?’, Capel Blaenannerch, 7pm
Allen Raine: the opera?
A project to research and develop ideas for a community opera animated by the biography and writing of Victorian novelist Allen Raine. Allen Raine is the pseudonym of Anne Adalisa Beynon Puddicombe. Raine was a successful novelist who was born in Newcastle Emlyn and lived at Tresaith at the turn of the 20th century. Her novels depict the coastal communities of Tresaith, Aberporth and the surrounding area exploring societal issues through her romantic fiction styled as ‘sandcastle dynasties’.
The project will move through a site specific investigation of place in relation to the author’s life, an exploration of the author’s fiction in relation to community readers today, and an exploration of music and songs in the context of opera as a medium for creative communication. Initial research will be followed by more intensive improvisation/creation days with a view to bringing the work together for a final showcase of findings.
The project is being mentored by Small World Theatre and Creative Agency Addo. The project will run from January 2024 through to July.
The project has been funded by the Arts Council of Wales through their CREATE scheme. Also grateful for support from the Allen Raine Celebration Society.
Prosiect i ymchwilio a datblygu syniadau ar gyfer opera cymunedol ar sail bywgraffiad ac ysgrifen y nofelydd Fictorianaidd Allen Raine. Ffugenw Anne Adalisa Beynon Puddicombe ydy Allen Raine. Roedd Raine yn nofelydd llwyddiannus. Ganwyd hi yng Nghastell Newydd Emlyn a ddoth i fyw yn Nhresaith ar droad yr ugeinfed ganrif. Mae ei nofelau hi yn disgrifio cymunedau arforol o Dresaith, Aberporth a’r ardal gyfagos gan archwilio ystyriaethau cymdeithasol trwy ffuglen ramantaidd sydd wedi ei alw’n ‘sandcastle dynasties’.
Bydd y prosiect yn symud trwy archwiliad safle penodol o le mewn perthynas â bywyd yr awdur, archwiliad o ffuglen yr awdur mewn perthynas â’i darllenwyr heddiw ac archwiliad o gerddoriaeth a chaneuon yng nghyd-destun opera fel cyfrwng ar gyfer mynegiant creadigol. Bydd ymchwil cychwynnol yn cael ei ddilyn gan ddiwrnodau byrfyfyr/creu mwy dwys gyda'r bwriad o ddod â'r gwaith ynghyd ar gyfer arddangosfa derfynol o'r canfyddiadau.
Mae’r prosiect yn cael ei mentora gan Theatr Byd Bach a’r asiantaeth greadigol Addo. Bydd y prosiect yn rhedeg o Ionawr 2024 hyd at fis Gorffennaf.
Mae’r prosiect wedi derbyn cyllid o Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru trwy eu cynllun CREU.
