Artist page for Llio Rhydderch

The Welsh triple harp player, Llio Rhydderch, is one of Britain's most important and respected musicians. She has collaborated with a wide range of musicians including John Cale, Donal Lunny and Andrew Cronshaw and has performed at major international festivals. Her live performances combine exquisite interpretations of her inherited musical tradition and her own extraordinary compositions. Drawing inspiration from Celtic spirituality, the historical past of her native Wales and its mythology the importance of place is instantly tangible in her music. There is a rare enduring beauty in her music - refined sophistication that comes from the wellspring of tradition. Yet Llio Rhydderch's music is undeniably contemporary and belongs to the 21st century.

"It is impossible to overstate the importance of this triple harpist from the island of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) in Welsh music, indeed in British music.... not to have heard Llio Rhydderch is to have missed out on a huge chunk of the culture of the British Isles"... Froots

"She plays with wonderful breadth and utmost sensitivity, feeling and deep understanding"... The late Derek Bell of The Chieftains

Llio Rhydderch has performed alongside many internationally renowned artistes including Sekou Keita (Mali), Justin Vali (Madagascar), Abdullah Chhadeh (Syria), Osama Abdulrasol (Iraq) and The Harp Consort directed by Andrew Lawrence-King. Other performances have been with Tony MacManus and Martin Simpson, Fernhill, Julie Murphy, Dylan Fowler and Ceri Rhys Matthews.

She has performed in New York, the Auvergne (France), Brittany, Rome, Ireland, Canada, Belgium and Holland, at the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and in such venues in London as the Albert Hall, the Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Spitz. She has also been invited to perform at Harvard University in the USA and the Ice Hotel, Jukkasjarvi (Sweden). Llio has undertaken three major UK tours, an Irish tour and another in Belgium and Holland.

Her music has attracted the attention of radio programmes such as BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3's Late Junction, In Tune and Morning on Three. She has featured in documentaries on S4C and has appeared as guest artiste on Lesley Garret's Easter Music programme on BBC2 alongside Baaba Maal (Senegal) and Yungchen Lhamou (Tibet).

Llio has been the subject of many articles in national and international publications and has contributed music on the triple harp for film sound tracks including John Cale's Beautiful Mistake, Llifo for Creative Mwldan and Chwarelwr y Sêr for Cinetig.

Llio Rhydderch
Recordings	Enlli Telyn Melangell Gwenllian

	Llio Rhydderch is a traditional Welsh harper and composer who is recognised as the foremost and most innovative and influential exponent of the Welsh Triple Harp today but, above all, she is a creative artist. Llio is descended from the ancient Welsh harpers in an unbroken direct line which extends back many centuries. Through her, this unique line lives on and she is pivotal in its preservation as she passes on the ancient art to her pupils - the next generation. Andrew Cronshaw said of her in FROOTS 'in her resides the living tradition of the old Welsh harpers in all its glory... in this enormously skillful, brilliant creative player of the triple harp' As a child Llio Rhydderch was taught the harp by Nansi Richards (Telynores Maldwyn) acknowledged in her day as the Queen of the Welsh Triple Harp, a title which Llio Rhydderch is increasingly being accorded by her reviewers.
The Welsh triple harp player, Llio Rhydderch, is one of Britain's most important and respected musicians. She has collaborated with a wide range of musicians including John Cale, Donal Lunny and Andrew Cronshaw and has performed at major international festivals. Her live performances combine exquisite interpretations of her inherited musical tradition and her own extraordinary compositions. Drawing inspiration from Celtic spirituality, the historical past of her native Wales and its mythology the importance of place is instantly tangible in her music. There is a rare enduring beauty in her music - refined sophistication that comes from the wellspring of tradition. Yet Llio Rhydderch's music is undeniably contemporary and belongs to the 21st century. "It is impossible to overstate the importance of this triple harpist from the island of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) in Welsh music, indeed in British music.... not to have heard Llio Rhydderch is to have missed out on a huge chunk of the culture of the British Isles"... Froots "Her music is of extraordinary depth, quality and maturity"... Musician "She plays with wonderful breadth and utmost sensitivity, feeling and deep understanding"... The late Derek Bell of The Chieftains Performance Highlights Llio Rhydderch has performed alongside many internationally renowned artistes including Sekou Keita (Mali), Justin Vali (Madagascar), Abdullah Chhadeh (Syria), Osama Abdulrasol (Iraq) and The Harp Consort directed by Andrew Lawrence-King. Other performances have been with Tony MacManus and Martin Simpson, Fernhill, Julie Murphy, Dylan Fowler and Ceri Rhys Matthews. She has performed in New York, the Auvergne (France), Brittany, Rome, Ireland, Canada, Belgium and Holland, at the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and in such venues in London as the Albert Hall, the Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Spitz. She has also been invited to perform at Harvard University in the USA and the Ice Hotel, Jukkasjarvi (Sweden). Llio has undertaken three major UK tours, an Irish tour and another in Belgium and Holland. Her music has attracted the attention of radio programmes such as BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3's Late Junction, In Tune and Morning on Three. She has featured in documentaries on S4C and has appeared as guest artiste on Lesley Garret's Easter Music programme on BBC2 alongside Baaba Maal (Senegal) and Yungchen Lhamou (Tibet). Llio has been the subject of many articles in national and international publications and has contributed music on the triple harp for film sound tracks including John Cale's Beautiful Mistake, Llifo for Creative Mwldan and Chwarelwr y Sêr for Cinetig.

Recent career highlights include: Debut album TELYN (Fflach Tradd CD196H 1997) 'which took the world of Welsh music by storm and proved uncompromisingly that the field of triple harp playing in Wales has immense potential' Creative dance commission with Sioned Huws Dance Company in Royal festival Hall Major UK Harp and Soul Tour organised by Folkworks. Official 1999 Rugby World Cup CD 'Land of My Fathers' the only solo instrumental track in the compilation Dónal Lunny invitation to Dublin to record and film for RTE's Millennium Celebration 2000 TODAY. Llio's performance can be heard on Dónal's double CD Journey - The best of Dónal Lunny John Cale of The Velvet Underground used her music in his film Beautiful Mistake in which she is also featured. The film has been released world wide and has been shown on British TV channels. Llio's music was also used by Gerald Conn's BAFTA Award winning animation film company Cinetig as background to the film Chwarelwr y Sêr Second CD MELANGELL (Flach Tradd CD 234H) appeared in 2000 and has received stunning reviews nationally and internationally. Its tracks have been played on radio and TV including Radio 3's Late Junction and Classic FM Celtic Connections in Rome under the auspices of the British Council, March 2001 Llio has co-authored a book with Huw Roberts entitled The Harpers of Llannerch-y-Medd (ISDB 1 902 565 02 9). It is published by the Isle of Anglesey County Council. Llio has now released her 3rd CD Enlli, together with the first DVD for Welsh traditional music.

Contact Details	Llio Rhydderch
Please contact Llio through her publishers Fflach Tradd
Contact	Fflach Tradd
Address	Llys-y-Coed, Heol Dinbych-y-Pysgod, Aberteifi, Ceredigion, SA43 3AH, Wales, UK
Tel	01239 614691
Fax:	01239 614680
E-mail	info@fflach.co.uk or llio.rhydderch@freeuk.com

Recordings	Enlli Telyn Melangell Gwenllian

External Links	www.fflach.co.uk www.llio.rhydderch.freeuk.com (official web site)

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This page was last updated on 14 April, 2007