The
Cordell Collection
Folk Songs by Dawson Smith
Inspired by the characters and stories in the epic Welsh novels
of Alexander Cordell.
Alexander Cordell was an Englishman.
He was born into a military family on
the 9th September 1914 in Ceylon. He
went on to be a soldier and rose to the
rank of Major. Following his Army career
Alexander moved to Llanellen near Abergavenney
in South Wales. He worked for The Civil
Service and as a part time journalist and writer. He quickly became
interested and then obsessed with the industrial heritage in the area
and began writing his first historical novel Rape Of The Fair Country,
which was fist published in 1959. This was his masterpiece; set in
Bleanavon in the early 1800’s the book follows the Mortymer family
through their working lives, up to and including The Chartist uprising
of 1839. Rape Of The Fair Country was followed by Hosts Of Rebecca,
which is set in mid Wales during the Rebecca tollgate riots, and later
by Song Of The Earth, The Fire People, Land Of My Fathers and Sweet
And Bitter Earth. All these books are historical fiction, but are based
on real events set against the background of the terrible working conditions
and political struggles at the beginning of The Industrial Revolution
(and Unionism) in Wales. Alexander Cordell died in Wales in 1997.
On my first album Valley Boy, there are two songs inspired by stories
from Rape Of The Fair Country and Hosts Of Rebecca. These songs were
highlighted in several UK folk magazines. This led to me being contacted
by The Cordell Country tourism project (as I had credited the books
and Cordell on the album sleeve). The Cordell Country Project is a
series of heritage trails around the towns and historical sites that
are featured in the books. I thought this was a wonderful idea and
got to meet the Local Authorities and people involved, this led to
the idea of me writing a collection of folk songs based on the books;
The Cordell Collection.
I spent 2005 researching and writing the songs; my research went beyond
the books and looked at the historical context and background of the
stories. I visited many of the areas and specific sites in order to
get closer to the history and hopefully to understand where the books
came from.
Once the songs were written I got back in touch with The Cordell Country
project and began contacting and meeting people who might be helpful
in developing the recording. I had a very supportive meeting with Simon
Lovell Jones at ACW in Cardiff. He encouraged me to develop partners
for the project and explained the funding requirements.
Following further research and another meeting with Bogda Smreczak
at Torfaen Borough Council (my very supportive Cordell Country contact)
I was directed to contact Richard Frame in Newport. Richard was a close
friend of Cordell and had co written his biography (with Mike Buckingham).
I had read this biography so I knew the name. I made contact with Richard
and sent him some early acoustic demos of the songs. He agreed to meet
me at his office in Newport in May 2005.
This meeting was a real turning point. Richard gave me a complete ‘grilling’ about
my interest in Cordell, my reasons for the songs and basically everything
about me. I knew nothing about him, but realised he was passionate
about Cordell’s work and protective of his legacy and reputation.
What he was actually doing was interviewing me before he put forward
a proposal.The office in which we were meeting was in The Solas Building,
which I understood to be a centre for a homeless charity for young
people. What I didn’t know was it also housed a recording studio.
Richard took me to see the studio and asked if it would be suitable
for recording The Cordell Collection. I was totally taken aback and
elated! We agreed to work together on an application to ACW. The application
was completed and sent in to Simon Lovell Jones and in due course The
Cordell Collection was awarded ACW funding. Recording proper began
in Newport on January 14th 2006.
Over the next three months I worked
with David James (a superb studio engineer and musician) at the Solas
studio on a mixture of workshops and recording sessions with the young
people involved in the Solas project.
Between myself, David and especially
Richard we managed to locate and book the specialist musicians we needed
to play on the songs. After a lot of hard work we finally completed
the studio recording, the next stage was to go out and record the choirs
and brass band.Whilst the studio recordings were taking place, I had
been contacting the choirs and brass bands I needed for the album.
They were all very interested and supportive, but in truth I had nothing
to play them other than the original demo recordings of me and my guitar.
Once the project looked like it may be possible I had contacted an
old school friend, John Harris, a well respected musician in Abertillery
and the valleys. We had lost touch and not seen each other for over
twenty years. We struck up like we had never been apart. He jumped
straight in and understood exactly what it was all about. John worked
on the scores for the brass and choirs and did a great job, he also
recommended I contact his former band at Parc and Dare in Treorchy.
I had also contacted Dowlais Male Voice Choir during this time and
once they had both seen the scores and I had met Dowlais MVC (for a
pint) recording dates were agreed.
This left me with the women’s choir and children’s choir
to book. The women’s choir was an obvious choice as I had been
to see my mother in The Abertillery Ladies Orpheus a few times and
knew they were right for the songs and easily contacted. Sure enough
after official contact with the committee and musical director a date
was also set.
Through The Solas Project, Richard had contacts with the local school,
Pillgwenlly Primary in Newport and was keen to see if they would be
interested in participating in the recording. We contacted Sue Hood
at the school; she was very pleased to get her pupils involved, so
again we booked a date.
The recording of Parc and Dare band was first.
On a cold crisp night in March 2006, myself, David and John travelled
up to Treorchy. We decided to record at their rehearsal room as all
there equipment was there and the room was suitable. They had two pieces
to record so we set up as they had a run through. What a sound! Brass
bands are moving at the best of times, but when its your song and you
are right there in a small room, what can I say, moving in the extreme.
Two hours and they were done, top pros. Then off for a pint for a job
well done. Magic!
Dowlais Male Voice Choir were next. A winter’s night in Merthyr.
They all trooped in one by one at the usual time on a Sunday, no fuss,
read the score, a few arrangements and whoosh! What a sound, did for
me again! Wonderful.
The children at Pillgwenlly Primary were so excited, but their teacher
Sue Hood had them well drilled. We had no idea what to expect, but
they had practised for weeks and were ready. They were marvellous,
everyone a character. A lovely afternoon.
Last by not least, Abertillery Ladies Orpheus.
My hometown and in the chapel where I first
sang as a boy and where I was married. It’s
a small choir of about twenty or so, but they love to sing. They
worked hard and were wonderful. Then up the pub
with me mam. Job done!It took David and myself
about six days to compile and mix the finished
album back at Solas. From then on it was a case
of working on the album artwork and website and
getting the CD's pressed ready for the launch
in Newport on January 19th 2007, appropriately
at The Solas Building in Newport. The making
of The Cordell Collection could be an epic novel
in itself. The creative process has been a real
artistic challenge and an honour and a privilege
to undertake. The biggest joy of the whole project
has been the people who assisted, participated and supported in the
realisation of this unique album.
"THE WORK IS DONE BUT THE SPIRIT REMAINS."
Dawson Smith, 2007
www.cordellcountry.org
Tel : 01495 792 615
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