Unlocked/Datgloi is an album of 10 songs, created by 10 different communities, working with 5 Live Music Now musicians, over 5 Welsh counties, strengthening connections with their local area through sung stories of local heritage.
Written with volunteers from Medrwn Mon, in response to the heritage of St Gallgo's Church, a small church near the village of Llanallgo, on the east coast of Anglesey, North Wales. St Gallgo established the first church here in the early 7th century and it is one of the oldest Christian sites on the island. Gallgo, the brother of Eugrad and of sister, Peithian, were three in a large family. Gildas was another brother and is well known as the writer of De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, a very early British history. Some members of the family arrived in Gwynedd as refugees fleeing the advance of the Picts who were invading what is now known as Scotland.
The church is associated with the 1859 wreck of the Royal Charter ship off Anglesey; it was used as a temporary mortuary, and 140 of the victims are buried in the churchyard. Charles Dickens, who wrote about the loss of the ship, noted the care taken by the rector, Stephen Roose Hughes, for the victims and their families. Hughes died a few years later following the strain of the events and is also buried in the churchyard. The house next door belongs to the Nain (Grandmother) of Pixy Tom and the anchor from the shipwreck is set into the front lawn. The church itself still has regular services.
Pixy Tom is a multi instrumentalist folk musician from the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales. He plays fiddle, piano, banjo, clarinet, whistles and more. He joined Live Music Now in 2018.
lyrics
Sunbeam Sublime
Sunbeams who crash as the world lashes out,
What I see is crippling me.
The sunbeam lights up as I pray one more time,
Sublime, honey, sublime
Sublime, this Welsh church of mine.
Trawstiau haul sy'n chwalu wrth i'r byd bylu,
Yr hon a welaf yn fy llethu.
Mae'r trawsthaul yn goleuo wrth i mi weddio,
Serol, cariad, sanctaidd
Serol yw fy eglwys cymraeg.
Though you're not fancy, quite tidy
I walk again on your straw,
You never close the door,
Yew branches bend over,
They worship your altar
While saints bow like nobody ought to.
Music by Pixy Tom, words by Denise Regan
credits
from Unlocked / Datgloi,
released July 30, 2021
Pixy Tom - vocals, piano, guitar, violin
Patrick Rimes - additional vocals
Live Music Now is the UK's leading musicians development and outreach charity, bringing exceptional live music to communities who wouldn't normally be able to access it. www.livemusicnow.org.uk
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