Post by Andrew on Nov 27, 2006 13:45:24 GMT
Dear All,
The following (very interesting!) article mentioning Hayley was featured on the 'icwales' website today (Monday 27th November, 2006) here
Enjoy!
Regards,
Andrew
'Gifted' clarinetist fuses classics with easy listening
Nov 27 2006
Claire Hill, Western Mail
AFTER winning this year's Bryn Terfel Scholarship, musician Rhys Taylor wanted to take a risk with his career.
That's why the 24-year-old has turned away from the strict classical world to create an easy-listening album with the clarinet.
The Aberystwyth-born Taylor knows he is taking a gamble with his debut album In Two Minds/ Mewn Dau Feddwl but he is up for the challenge.
He said, "It's very, very daunting as it is basically the biggest step of my career. A lot of it is hoping for the best and seeing how it goes in the first few months.
"To be honest, it is a huge gamble, I have no idea whether it will work or not."
If you ask Taylor whom he emulates, he comes up with the rather strange answer of Hayley Westenra.
But it is her stance on music that he likes.
He said, "Hayley Westenra has taken classical tunes and music and has put an easy-listening lilt on it.
"I want to make my name as a clarinetist who makes music that people love."
Taylor first picked up the clarinet as an eight-year-old schoolboy. His mother, Non, who's memory the album is dedicated to, was a former clarinet player and her instrument was gathering dust in a box in the family home.
He hopes she will like his finished product and jokes "otherwise I will be in for a roasting when I get up there".
With plenty of cajoling from Non to practice - Taylor says he wasn't a typical "music geek" as he wanted to play sport outside - he became a member of the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain.
Then he moved to the Royal Northern College of Music, which he graduated from with honours last year.
His training at the college ensured that he is well-versed in traditional and modern classical music.
He said, "Most of the people there wanted to be classical musicians so, while I am not the black sheep of the class, my desire to do easy-listening music was different."
Tracks for his debut album include more traditional songs like Pie Jesu and Handel's Largo combined with Fly Me To The Moon and When You Wish Upon A Star.
Taylor knew what he wanted to achieve with the album.
He said, "Well, it was 50% wanting to sell myself just as a classical player and 50% wanting to sell the clarinet as an easy-listening instrument.
"I did a bit of research, asked a few friends and gave them a list of tunes like Sinatra and famous crooner music and just got some feedback for it."
But he still didn't know how the arrangements would work in the world of musical recording.
He said, "The only time that I heard the proper sound of it all was when we went into the recording studio and I had the other musicians in there."
But it was at home when he really got to listen to what he had achieved.
"My dad was the first person that I played it to. I brought it home and put it on the CD player. It was brilliant."
While this is a bit of a gamble for him, Taylor will be getting a lot of attention after winning the prestigious Bryn Terfel Scholarship.
Bryn himself calls the young musician "exceptionally gifted", a compliment that fills Taylor with pride.
He said, "Bryn is a massive, massive icon to me. I am always really proud as a Welshman to see him sing and it is just a privilege just to be linked with him."
With the album released and a tour planned next year, Taylor has plenty to keep him busy.
He teaches the clarinet, is a regular musician with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and is currently working as a musical director and conductor on two plays in Aberystwyth.
In Two Minds/Mewn Dau Feddwl (£13.99), by Rhys Taylor, is available from Welsh music stores and www.kissanproductions.com
The following (very interesting!) article mentioning Hayley was featured on the 'icwales' website today (Monday 27th November, 2006) here
Enjoy!
Regards,
Andrew
'Gifted' clarinetist fuses classics with easy listening
Nov 27 2006
Claire Hill, Western Mail
AFTER winning this year's Bryn Terfel Scholarship, musician Rhys Taylor wanted to take a risk with his career.
That's why the 24-year-old has turned away from the strict classical world to create an easy-listening album with the clarinet.
The Aberystwyth-born Taylor knows he is taking a gamble with his debut album In Two Minds/ Mewn Dau Feddwl but he is up for the challenge.
He said, "It's very, very daunting as it is basically the biggest step of my career. A lot of it is hoping for the best and seeing how it goes in the first few months.
"To be honest, it is a huge gamble, I have no idea whether it will work or not."
If you ask Taylor whom he emulates, he comes up with the rather strange answer of Hayley Westenra.
But it is her stance on music that he likes.
He said, "Hayley Westenra has taken classical tunes and music and has put an easy-listening lilt on it.
"I want to make my name as a clarinetist who makes music that people love."
Taylor first picked up the clarinet as an eight-year-old schoolboy. His mother, Non, who's memory the album is dedicated to, was a former clarinet player and her instrument was gathering dust in a box in the family home.
He hopes she will like his finished product and jokes "otherwise I will be in for a roasting when I get up there".
With plenty of cajoling from Non to practice - Taylor says he wasn't a typical "music geek" as he wanted to play sport outside - he became a member of the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain.
Then he moved to the Royal Northern College of Music, which he graduated from with honours last year.
His training at the college ensured that he is well-versed in traditional and modern classical music.
He said, "Most of the people there wanted to be classical musicians so, while I am not the black sheep of the class, my desire to do easy-listening music was different."
Tracks for his debut album include more traditional songs like Pie Jesu and Handel's Largo combined with Fly Me To The Moon and When You Wish Upon A Star.
Taylor knew what he wanted to achieve with the album.
He said, "Well, it was 50% wanting to sell myself just as a classical player and 50% wanting to sell the clarinet as an easy-listening instrument.
"I did a bit of research, asked a few friends and gave them a list of tunes like Sinatra and famous crooner music and just got some feedback for it."
But he still didn't know how the arrangements would work in the world of musical recording.
He said, "The only time that I heard the proper sound of it all was when we went into the recording studio and I had the other musicians in there."
But it was at home when he really got to listen to what he had achieved.
"My dad was the first person that I played it to. I brought it home and put it on the CD player. It was brilliant."
While this is a bit of a gamble for him, Taylor will be getting a lot of attention after winning the prestigious Bryn Terfel Scholarship.
Bryn himself calls the young musician "exceptionally gifted", a compliment that fills Taylor with pride.
He said, "Bryn is a massive, massive icon to me. I am always really proud as a Welshman to see him sing and it is just a privilege just to be linked with him."
With the album released and a tour planned next year, Taylor has plenty to keep him busy.
He teaches the clarinet, is a regular musician with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and is currently working as a musical director and conductor on two plays in Aberystwyth.
In Two Minds/Mewn Dau Feddwl (£13.99), by Rhys Taylor, is available from Welsh music stores and www.kissanproductions.com
