YsbrydMôn by Tristan Rhys Williams

Tristan makes soundworks based on the psychogeographic charge from the isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn). They work towards a ritualistic, degraded aesthetic informed by the elements and ancient prehistoric sites in the environs.

In this collection of works, YsbrydMôn, Tristan was drawn to the notion of writing brief snapshot-type soundworks that capture the spirit of sites on Ynys Môn. These are not densely layered as with many of their offerings. The following self-imposed restrictions were applied:

• No more than two raw field recordings
• Tenor recorder monody
• Vocal recitation of a text written by TRW
• no longer than 2 minutes in length

As ever, they are dedicated to the spirits who roam this isle, remembering what happened here.

Tristan Rhys Williams studied with Robin Holloway at Cambridge University before completing a PhD in musical composition at Brunel University (funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council), studying with John Croft (as well as Richard Barrett and Christopher Fox). They were awarded the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Young Composer Award (2005) and the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize (2007). Works have been performed by the Philharmonia, London Contemporary Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra, trio atem at the Royal Musical Association conference (2011), the Arditti Quartet at the Institute of Musical Research (2012) and the London Sinfonietta as part of the 2013 New Music Show at the Southbank Centre. piece for alto flute (written for Richard Craig) was premiered at the Bangor New Music Festival in 2019 as well as being performed at the Mythologies concert in Thessaloniki, Greece and Unerhörte Musik, Berlin (2019). Recent works have appeared on the ‘Listen to the Voice of Fire’ collections: ‘The Shining Pyramid’ and ‘The Surface of Past Time’. Future projects include a collection of pieces, ‘Ynys Dywyll’, with poet Rhys Trimble.

Proceeds from this album are donated to Amnesty International.

Tracklist

1.	Ogof a Ffynnon Padrig	1:28

2.	Afon Goch	1:59

3.	Llyn Coron	1:04

4.	Afon Braint	1:45

5.	Llanddwyn	1:56

6.	Glannau Porthaethwy	1:35

7.	Llyn Frogwy	1:34

8.	Cwm Cadnant	1:33

9.	Ynys Lannog	1:59

10.	Ffynnon Seiriol	1:46

11.	Llangadwaladr	1:35

12.	Ffynnon Eilian	1:56

13.	Afon Pensarn	1:56

14.	Ffynnon y Wrach	1:38

15.	Porth Dafarch	1:56

Credits

released May 30, 2025

Written and Recorded by Tristan Rhys Williams

Mastered by Jacob Calland

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