Rhys Meilyr, Sain SCD2649

Easy ListeningPoblogaidd

Rhys Meilyr

The wonderful voice you hear on this album belongs to an 11 year old first year pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni on the isle of Anglesey. Rhys Meilyr has emerged over the last few years as one of the brightest young singing stars in this country where singing is very much a part of the culture. He has competed from a very early age at local eisteddfodau, and at the 2010 Glyn Ebwy National Eisteddfod he reached an unique pinnacle by achieving a hat-trick - first on the solo, first on the folk song solo and first on the cerdd dant solo under 12 years old.

His attractively sonorous voice is Rhys’ main asset, a strange mix of innocence and maturity, breathing new life into the songs he sings, bringing a fresh and different voice to the scene which makes one sit up and take notice. But his audience appeal also has a lot to do with his natural and unassuming personality, as well as his sweet and innocent look. His success has led to invitations to sing at some of Wales’ most prestigious venues, including Cardiff’s Millenium Centre, and was also invited twice to sing at the Welsh Festival at Eurodisney, Paris.

The varied repertoire on Rhys Meilyr’s 16 track debut album are songs that he clearly loves singing, showing how unique and adaptable his voice is – from the heavenly Pie Jesu (a duet with his singing coach, Sharon Evans) and Panis Angelicus and Welsh carol O Seren Wen to the simplicity of Ben; Annie’s Song; and At the End of the Day. There is also the emotionally charged Cariad Mam (a fitting tribute to the special bond between mother and child) a lively rendition of one of Wales’ most famous hymns, Calon Lân, on the popular Maori tune, Pokarekare ana, and two other songs by one of Rhys’ favourite Welsh composers, Robat Arwyn Y Pedwar Tymor (the four seasons) and Bendigedig (Benedictus another duet with singing coach Sharon Evans).

Rhys Meilyr has the potential to be a star of the future, long after his voice changes, perhaps following on in the footsteps of another young Angelsey boy singer who has made a worldwide name for himself … Aled Jones.

Tracks -

01. O! Seren Wen

02. Calon Lan

03. Ben

04. Y Darlun

05. O! Dawel Ddinas Bethlehem

06. Pie Jesu

07. Annie's Song

08. Nadolig. Pwy a Wyr

09. Cariad Mam

10. Rho Fory i Minnau

11. At The End of the Day

12. Hen Hen Stori

13. Panis Angelicus

14. Y Pedwar Tymor

15. Iesu Yw

16. Bendigedig.

Yn debyg iawn i nifer fawr o blant ei oed o mae Rhys Meilyr - sy’n 11 oed ac yn ddisgybl blwyddyn 7 yn Ysgol Gyfun, Llangefni, Ynys Môn - yn gallu canu (a llefaru) ac yn cael cryn lwyddiant hefyd yn ein gwyliau cenedlaethol ac mewn steddfodau ar hyd a lled Cymru. Ei lwyddiant mwyaf hyd yma oedd ei hat-trick yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Glyn Ebwy 2010 pan gafodd gyntaf yng nghystadlaethau dan 12 oed yr unawd, yr unawd alaw werin a’r unawd Cerdd Dant. Ond beth sy’n neud enillydd cyson yn wahanol i’r rhelyw o’i gyfoedion?… wel does dim dwywaith fod ganddo lais a hwnnw’n un soniarus a chwbwl unigryw, ond mae i’r llais yma rhyw gyfrinedd sy’n mynnu eich sylw o’r nodyn cyntaf ac yna mae’n lapio amdanoch fel blanced gynnes, gyfarwydd ac yn eich swyno. Ond rhan fwyaf o’i apêl hefyd, sydd cyn bwysiced â llais arbennig, yw naturioldeb Rhys, a’i gymeriad tawel, diymhongar. Er hyn mae’n gwbwl hyderus a chartrefol ar unrhyw lwyfan wrth berfformio ac mae eisoes wedi canu yng Nghanolfan y Mileniwm, Caerdydd, yng nghyngerdd Carolau Nadolig Llangollen, a'r ŵyl Gymreig yn Eurodisney, Paris.

Yn ychwanegol i’w dalent fel canwr mae Rhys yn llwyddiannus yn y byd llefaru, dan hyfforddiant Linda’r Hafod. Clywir Rhys yn amal ar y teledu gan mai efo yw llais Nodi ar raglenni Cyw ar S4C. Ffefrynnau personol Rhys yw’r 16 cân ar y CD cyntaf yma o’i eiddo, ac mae’r mwynhad mae o yn gael wrth eu canu yn amlwg yn ei lais.

Mae’r caneuon yn amrywio o’r nefolaidd Pie Jesu a Panis Angelicus (deuwad gyda Sharon Evans sy’n ei hyfforddi) i anwyldeb Cariad Mam a Y Darlun (Dwy law yn Erfyn) a phump carol hyfryd O Seren Wen, O Dawel Ddinas Bethlehem, Nadolig Pwy a Ŵyr?, Hen Hen Stori a Iesu Yw. Ceir hefyd dair cân Saesneg Ben (a recordiwyd gan Michael Jackson); At the End of the Day; a chlasur John Denver Annie’s Song; a chân ysgafn Rho Fory i Minnau gan Delyth Rees ac Eleri Richard a dwy gân arall o eiddo Robat Arwyn, cyfansoddwr y mae Rhys yn hoff iawn ohono - Y Pedwar Tymor a Bendigedig (Benedictus deuawd gyda Sharon Evans).

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