4LLE / 4PLACES

Orchestra: 3(III+picc).3(III+ca).3(II+Ebcl.III+bcl).2.cbn - 4.3.2.btbn.1 - timp.3perc - hp - strings
18 minutes

Commissioned by BBC National Orchestra of Wales. First performed 1997 at St. David's Hall, Cardiff by BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Martyn Brabbins. Re-released as 4LLE / 4PLACES by Ffin Records in 2024. It is dedicated to Helena Braithwaite and all members of the orchestra.

1. LLYN CAU PENYGADAIR (water upon Cader Idris)
- after more than an hour of climbing, suddenly, there is the deepwater ‘seat’ of Idris, the giant/dragon - a dormant volcano caldera, at the summit of Mynydd Cader Idris
- anyone who sleeps there overnight will awake either mad, or a poet

2. LLYN TEGID A’R TYLWYTH TEG (on Bala Water)
- travel on Tegid [Lake Bala], the largest and deepest natural body of water in Wales
- famous for its unique ancient fish, the Gwyniad, not found anywhere else in the world
- frolicking with the secret fairy folk, who are said to be the cause of disturbances at the surface - though some have claimed there is a hump-backed creature beneath the waters
- could this be a folk memory of beavers?

3. LLEUAD AR DDŴR LLYN SYFADDAN (moon over Llangors)
- moon on water, at Llangors, visible from miles around
- with a prehistoric crannog homestead, a floating island, ever changing light and mist - its slow-moving boats feature in the diary of Rev Francis Kilvert in June-July 1870
- Gerald of Wales in the 12th century mentions the abundant birds and fish

4. HWYLIO YR ORLLEWIN – LLUNIAU YR ARFORDIR AUR (sailing westward)
- pictures of the golden coast
- running towards the West, blind in the blazing light 

"The rhythmically charged, open and immediately engaging music is bright and colourful while still managing to evoke the landscape"
Pwyll ap Siôn, Gramophone Magazine

4 stars **** "Four colourful, finely crafted movements"
Phil Sommerich, Classical Music Magazine

"masterpiece of creation... an extraordinary piece of history"
Roy Noble, BBC Radio Wales

"Colourful, filmic, and open to pleasurable listening at a single sitting"
Howard Smith, Music & Vision

"Powerfully cinematic"
Gavin Allen, South Wales Echo

Culprit 1 remix

Working on his first remix of classical orchestra music, Culprit 1 was drawn in by the combination of distinctive melodies, rich sounds and a unique story. ‘I wanted to stay pretty faithful to the original tune as I liked it so much,’ he explains, ‘I also liked the fact that the music had a personal resonance for John.’

In his remix Culprit 1 built the beat from ‘recordings of people whacking stuff like pipes and doors... samples of classic 808 and 909 machines and a bit of 'mouth percussion' for good measure!’

'Culprit 1's take on the piece retains the flowing, powerful drive of the original and marries it to a light beat and twisting filters that warp and distort the music to good effect.' BBC Music Wales