A Pembrokeshire String Symphony

The stories behind each movement:

1. Carreg Samson

Carreg Samson, located near Abercastle, is an ancient burial chamber, or dolmen, thought to be over 5000 years old. Today, only some stones remain – but it is likely that the original construction was larger and more elaborate. We know little of what happened there, but the ritual dances I see might be sacred, celebratory, or sinister.

 

1. Pembrokeshire cliffs

The Pembrokeshire cliffs are noted for their dramatic beauty. But, when the weather turns, they are also powerful and treacherous. The list of shipwrecks on this stretch of coast is considerable. Do the ghosts of sailors still haunt the rocks and stone faces? Are they there in the sun and shadow of these mighty beings?

 

1. Jack Sound

Between Skomer island and the Pembrokeshire mainland there lies a dangerous stretch of water called Jack Sound. The tidal race is powerful and can unleash unpredictable hazardous currents, and ships can run into trouble in the reefs. Although providing a shortcut for those with local knowledge, other less fortunate vessels have met their end here.

 

1. St Non

St Non was the mother of St David. She gave birth at the spot now known as St Non’s Well. St Non gave birth alone and, with her pregnancy the result of a rape carried out by a local nobleman, she was very vulnerable. However, although there were severe storms in the area, St Non was protected by angels and swathed in calm golden light keeping her and her child safe from the encroaching madness.