"Yr Un Fodrwy - The One Ring" 2024-25

"Yr Un Fodrwy - The One Ring" is a live music and imagery project inspired by literary legend and fantasy genre pioneer J. R. R. Tolkien's masterpiece "The Lord of the Rings"

The Lord of the Rings was first published in three volumes from July 1954 to October 1955, and 2024-25 will mark the landmark work's 70th anniversary

This project, "Yr Un Fodrwy - The One Ring" is centred around music inspired by or linked to Tolkien's works, and runs throughout the same period with performances currently scheduled in South Wales, Bristol, Germany, Jersey and wider throughout 2024 | 25

Concept


​The concept of "Yr Un Fodrwy" is to showcase the technical and musical capabilities of the brass band as the centrepiece of a multi-disciplinary arts project combining music, film and visual art. The project features well-known music from Tolkien based movies, as well as original music both inspired, and specially commissioned for this project, by the same

"The One Ring" also features the premiere performance of new works by Welsh composers, and Welsh language versions of Tolkien themed songs, reflecting and celebrating the link between the Welsh language and culture which inspired the author's creative process, and the linguistic connections created by the same

The project showcases Welsh culture and Welsh language, and the brass band as a vibrant and relevant performance medium, introducing the genre to new audiences, and new audiences to both contemporary and existing music for brass 

Repertoire to include

Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring
Howard Shore
[7:00]
Lord of the Rings Symphony
​Johan De Meij
"Gandalf"
​[6:15]
​*Welsh Premiere - Sunday May 5th, Brecon Medieval Festival, Brecon Cathedral*
Caradhras
​High Peak [Excerpt]
​Eric Ball
​[4:00] 
Gollum's Song
Howard Shore | Leigh Phillips
[4:20]
Misty Mountains Cold
Howard Shore | Scott Sutherland
​[3:20]
King Under The Mountain
​Callum Au
​[5:00] 
*Welsh Premiere*
Return of the King
Howard Shore | Philip Harper
[7:00]
Lord of the Rings Symphony
​Johan De Meij
"Hobbits"
​[9:00] 
​*Welsh Premiere - Sunday May 5th, Brecon Medieval Festival, Brecon Cathedral*
Mirkwood
Christopher Painter
[18:00]
​*premiere performance - Saturday May 18th, Oriana Festival, St Elvan's, Cynon Valley*
Excalibur
Jan Van Der Roost
[13:45]
An Age of Kings
Edward Gregson
​[21:30]

Initial Dates

Sunday May 5th
Brecon Medieval Festival - The Lord of the Rings
Brecon Cathedral
Lewis Merthyr Band
www.facebook.com/breconmedfest

Saturday May 18th 2024
Oriana Festival
St Elvan's, Aberdare
The Massed Bands of City of Bristol & Lewis Merthyr
www.stelvans.com/oriana-festival

June 21st to 23rd
Symphonic Brass Performance
High Wycombe

August 2024
National Eisteddfod of Wales
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Lewis Merthyr Band
www.lewismerthyrband.com

Saturday September 28th
Bristol Cathedral
The Massed Bands of City of Bristol & Lewis Merthyr
www.cobbb.co.uk

​April 4th to 7th
Der Herr Der Ringe | The Lord of the Rings
Konzert Haus, Ravensburg, Germany
www.lewismerthyrband.com

July TBA
St Mary's, Berkeley
City of Bristol Brass Band
www.cobbb.co.uk

July TBA
Jersey
City of Bristol Brass Band
www.cobbb.co.uk