Ty Cerdd – Music Centre Wales, the organisation which supports, develops and promotes the creation and performance of music in the Principality, is set to help celebrate the historic links between Wales and Argentina over the next couple of years.

Proud diaspora

For over 150 years Argentina has been home to a proud Welsh diaspora which retains much of its cultural traditions — including a love of music making in its many forms.

Those anniversary links are to be strengthened with the commissioning by Ty Cerdd, BBC Wales and BBC National Orchestra of Wales of two composers to write music for the orchestra. One composer will be Argentinian of Welsh ancestry, the other from Wales.

Argentina link

Hector MacDonald from Gaiman, Chubbut has been chosen to represent Argentina. Hector has a strong Welsh lineage and will work with the orchestra during 2014 and 2015.

Last summer, he spent two weeks attending orchestral rehearsals in Cardiff as he became more familiar with the orchestra, its players and his ideas how to utilize them in full with his work.

Workshops

During this year, Hector will return to Cardiff once more for workshops on his music before delivering his commission in 2015, lasting round 10 minutes, which will be performed throughout Wales and hopefully at a future Promenade Concert in London.

During his time with the orchestra, Hector will work with BBC NOW’s composer in residence Mark Bowden.

Those anniversary links are to be strengthened with the commissioning by Ty Cerdd, BBC Wales and BBC National Orchestra of Wales of two composers to write music for the orchestra4BR

Welsh life

Mark will travel to Argentina in order to learn about the cultural similarities and the differences between Welsh life and that experienced by the descendants of the Welsh immigrants in Patagonia and Buenos Aires.

In turn, Mark will compose a work for choir and orchestra reflecting his experiences to be performed in 2015.

As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations, it has also been confirmed that The National Youth Choir of Wales is tour to Argentina in October 2015.