soc.culture.welsh COF/FAQsoc.culture.welsh COF/FAQ"Welsh Hymns and their tunes, their background and place in Welsh History and Culture" by Alan Luff:
ISBN 0-916642-42-9 (USA and Canada)
ISBN 0-85249-799-7 (World excluding USA and Canada)).
6.2.1 Information about harps and harpists?Nancy Richards, Brenhines y Delyn, Queen of the Harp (1888-1979) was known to have some of the most dexterous harp fingers ever, and a personality equally as lively. It amazes me how much of a real legend she is in Wales, and even younger people have heard tales about her activities and personality. She was a hit in America in the 20s.
As a child, Nansi listened to the gypsy Wood family in her area near Newtown (Dre Newydd), and was influenced by their strong rhythmic playing.
It was her playing and the stories which have intrigued me since first coming across anything Welsh a bit over 10 years ago. As a result of all of this, I have a telyn deires (triple-strung) along with Celtic and classical harps. It is a fascinating history to study the development of the harp, particularly the legend of the triple harp's travel from Italy to London to be saved and passed along by the gypsies in Wales.
There is today a minor revival in the delyn deires, and yes, Elinor Bennett, wife of MP Dafydd Wigley, and a professional harpist, has one and plays it. Very few persons, to my knowledge have actually studied seriously with Nansi herself, however much they may claim for romantic or publicity reasons.
This instrument is so difficult to play that only a handful of persons are capable of doing so. Classical harps, with their almost instant pedal changes of keys, have made obsolete so many attempts to facilitate incidentals in earlier harp playing. Once one studies the classical harp, it is difficult to go back to Celtic levered harps, and extraordinarily difficult to play the triple rows of the delyn deires, two outer rows in close echo, and the inner row for the hand-tuned sharps or flats. But the sound is different--a beautiful full, rich, strong and rhythmic sound--unmatched by any other single stringed instrument.
Sain Recording Company has a tape of Nansi playing, taken from an assortment of recordings, some old and others more recent.
6.3.1 What recordings of Welsh music are available?Phone +44 (0)1558 823864 Fax +44 (0)1558 823867.
6.3.2 Are there any "what's on" Web pages for music?Sianel 4 Cymru (S4C) - Good and user-friendly - DPJ
CapitalNET (for Cardiff at least)
NWI Wales Tourism Page - not specifically "What's On" but good links for North Wales.
Also for a (pretty specific!) event - Eisteddfod Genedlaethol / National Eisteddfod
6.3.3 What is the URL of Curiad, the site about Welsh bands?6.3.4 Discussion listsThere is an internet list devoted to the Super Furry Animals. If you'd like to subscribe, please send an e-mail to: SFAList@aol.com
6.3.5 Are there good internet addresses or snail mail addresses to places where you can find perhaps not only lists of available songs, but also descriptions of them?Here are just a very few of the known publishers of male choir music. I have omitted addresses because they change so much:
A very valuable and extensive source is Swales Music Centre. The Swales catalogue of "Music For Male Voice Choirs" contains more than 2500 items which seem to be mainly the very large repertoire used by the Welsh Male Voice Choirs. Swales maintain stocks of most of the items in their shop in Haverfordwest.
Swales Music Centre LtdAlthough there is quite a lot of American Male Choir music in the Swales catalogue a better supply source for American items appears to Hoyt's: (They are likely to require placement of a special order since they probably do not carry stock of a large range of Male Choir Music at their store.)
Byron Hoyt Sheet Music ServiceMost of the following sources will supply catalogues of their Male Voice Choral Music on request. For quick contact, ordering and payment FAX is definitely the way to go.
J.W. Pepper & Son IncHuna blentyn ar fy mynwes
Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon;
Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat,
Cariad mam sy dan fy mron.
Ni cha' dim amharu'th gyntun,
Ni wna undyn â thi gam,
Huna'n dawel annwyl blentyn,
Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam.
Huna'n dawel heno, huna
Huna'n fwyn y tlws ei lun;
Pam yr wyt yn awr yn gwenu
Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun?
Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu
Arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon,
Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno,
Huno'n dawel, ar fy mron?
Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen
Gura, gura ar y ddôr,
Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig
Sua, sua ar lan y môr,
Huna blentyn, nid oes yma
Ddim i roddi iti fraw;
Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes
Ar yr engyl gwynion draw.
Sleep my baby in my bosom,Translation DPJ
Warm and cosy may you rest,
Mother's arms are round you tightly,
Mother's love is in my breast
Not a thing shall mar your resting,
Nor a person do you harm,
Be at rest, my darling baby,
Sleep my baby, on your mam.
Sleep in peace tonight, my beauty
Sweetly sleep, my work of art;
Why have you just started smiling,
Smiling gently in your heart?
Could it be some angels smiling
Down on you, in smiling rest,
With you smiling back and sleeping,
Slumb'ring sweetly on my breast?
Fret you not, tis but an oak leaf
Beating, beating at the door.
Fret you not, a lonely wavelet's
Murm'ring, murm'ring on the shore,
Sleep my child, here there is nothing,
Nothing that can frighten you;
Smile in peace upon my bosom
On the distant angels true.
Y lloer oedd yn codi dros gopa'r hen dderwen
A'r haul a fachludai i ddyfnder y don.
A minnau mewn cariad a'm calon yn curo,
Yn disgwyl f'anwylyd dan gysgod Llwyn Onn.
Mor wyn y bythynnod gwyngalchog ar wasgar
Hyd erchwyn cyfoethog mynyddig fy mro:
Adwaenwn bob tyddyn, pob boncyff a brigyn
Lle deuai cariadon i rodio'n eu tro.
Mor hir y bu'r disgwyl o fore hyd noswyl,
Mor gyndyn bu'r diwrnod yn dirwyn i ben:
A minnau mor hapus, ac eto mor glwyfus,
A'm meddwl a'm calon yn eiddo i Gwen:
Cysgodion yr hwyr oedd yn taenu eu cwrlid,
A hir oedd ymaros ar noson fel hon;
Ond pan ddaeth fy nghariad cyflymai pob eiliad,
Aeth awr ar amrantiad, dan gysgod Llwyn Onn.
Mae bys Mari Ann wedi brifo,
A Dafydd y gwas ddim yn iach;
Mae'r baban un y crud yn crio,
A'r gath wedi crafu Johnny bach.
Sospan fach yn berwi ar y tan,
Sospan fawr yn berwi ar y llawr,
A'r gath wddi crafu Johnny bach.
Refrain: Dai bach y sowjwr, a chwt i grys e' ma's.
Mae bys Mari Ann wedi gwella,
A Dafydd y gwas yn ei fedd;
Mae'r baban yn y crud wedi tewi,
A'r gath wedi huno mewn hedd.
Sospan fach, etc., etc.
Mary Ann's finger is hurt,
And David the servant isn't well;
The baby in its crib is crying
And the cat is scratching little Johnny.
The little saucepan is boiling on the fire,
The big saucepan is boiling on the floor,
And the cat is scratching little Johnny.
Second verse: Mary Ann's sore finger is better,
And David the servant lies in his grave;
The baby in its crib has grown quiet,
And the cat is sleeping peacefully. ...
Paham mae dicter, O Myfanwy,
Yn llenwi'th lygaid duon di?
A'th ruddiau tirion, O Myfanwy,
Heb wrido wrth fy ngweled i?
Pa le mae'r wen oedd ar dy wefus
Fu'n cynnau 'nghariad ffyddlon ffol?
Pa le mae sain dy eiriau melys,
Fu'n denu'n nghalon ar dy ôl?
Pa beth a wneuthym, O Myfanwy,
I haeddu gwg dy ddwyrudd hardd?
Ai chwarae oeddit, O Myfanwy
 thanau euraidd serch dy fardd?
Wyt eiddo im drwy gywir amod -
Ai gormod cadw'th air i mi?
Ni cheisiaf fyth mo'th law, Myfanwy,
Heb gael dy galon gyda hi.
Myfanwy boed yr holl o'th fywyd
Dan heulwen disglair canol dydd.
A boed i rosyn gwridog ienctid
Ddawnsio ganmlwydd ar dy rudd.
Anghofiais oll o'th addewidion
A wnest i rywun, 'ngeneth ddel,
A rho dy law, Myfanwy dirion
I ddim ond dweud y gair "Ffarwel".
Why is it anger, O Myfanwy,
That fills your eyes so dark and clear?
Your gentle cheeks, O sweet Myfanwy,
Why blush they not when I draw near?
Where is the smile that once most tender
Kindled my love so fond, so true?
Where is the sound of your sweet words,
That drew my heart to follow you?
What have I done, O my Myfanwy,
To earn your frown? What is my blame?
Was it just play, my sweet Myfanwy,
To set your poet's love aflame?
You truly once to me were promised,
Is it too much to keep your part?
I wish no more your hand, Myfanwy,
If I no longer have your heart.
Myfanwy, may you spend your lifetime
Beneath the midday sunshine's glow,
And on your cheeks O may the roses
Dance for a hundred years or so.
Forget now all the words of promise
You made to one who loved you well,
Give me your hand, my sweet Myfanwy,
But one last time, to say "farewell".
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri,
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
tros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Gwlad! Gwlad!
Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn i'm golwg sydd hardd,
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.
Gwlad! Gwlad!
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed;
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad
Gwlad! Gwlad!
The land of my fathers, the land of my choice,Translated by: Ebenezer Thomas (Eben Fardd)
The land in which poets and minstrels rejoice;
The land whose stern warriors were true to the core,
While bleeding for freedom of yore.
Chorus
Wales! Wales! fav'rite land of Wales!
While sea her wall, may naught befall
To mar the old language of Wales.
Old mountainous Cambria, the Eden of bards,
Each hill and each valley, excite my regards;
To the ears of her patriots how charming still seems
The music that flows in her streams.
My country tho' crushed by a hostile array,
The language of Cambria lives out to this day;
The muse has eluded the traitors' foul knives,
The harp of my country survives.
Words, translation and a musical rendition can be found on: this page - 'Hen Wlad fy Nhadau sung by Morriston Orpheus Choir and The Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen band'.
Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd
Wrthddrych teilwng o fy mryd;
Er o'r braidd 'rwy'n Ei adnabod
Ef uwchlaw gwrthrychau'r byd:
Henffych fore!
Caf ei weled fel y mae.
Rhosyn Saron yw Ei enw,
Gwyn a gwridog, hardd Ei bryd !
Ar ddeng mil y mae'n rhagori
O wrthddrychau penna'r byd ;
Ffrind pechadur !
Dyma'r llywydd ar y mor.
Beth sydd imi mwy a wnelwyf
Ag eilunod gwael y llawr ?
Tystio 'r wyf nad yw eu cwmni
I'w gymharu a'm Iesu Mawr.
O ! am aros
Yn Ei gariad ddyddiau f'oes.
The English words were written by William Williams, Pantycelyn. The Welsh words are by Ann Griffiths (1776-1805). Tune "Cwm Rhondda" by John Hughes (1873-1932).
Wele goelcerth wen yn fflamio,
A thafodau tân yn bloeddio,
Ar i'r dewrion ddod i daro
Unwaith eto'n un;
Gan fanllefau tywysogion,
Llais gelynion, trwst arfogion,
A charlamiad y marchogion,
Craig ar graig a gry^n!
Arfon byth ni orfydd,
Cenir yn dragywydd;
Cymru fydd fel Cymru fu,
Yn glodus ymysg gwledydd.
Yng ngwyn oleuni'r goelcerth acw,
Tros wefusau Cymro'n marw,
Annibyniaeth sydd yn galw,
Am ei dewraf ddyn.
Ni chaiff gelyn ladd ac ymlid--
Harlech! Harlech! cwyd i'w herlid,
Y mae Rhoddwr mawr ein Rhyddid
Yn rhoi nerth i ni.
Wele Gymru a'i byddinoedd
Yn ymdywallt o'r mynyddoedd!
Rhuthrant fel rhaeadrau dyfroedd,
Llamant fel y lli!
Llwyddiant i'n lluyddion!
Rwystro bâr yr estron!
Gwybod yn ei galon gaiff,
Fel bratha cleddyf Brython;
Cledd yn erbyn cledd a chwery,
Dur yn erbyn dur a dery,
Wele faner Gwalia i fyny,
Rhyddid aiff â hi!
A welsoch chi hen ffon fy nain
Sy'n union fel y saeth?
Mae'n hynach heddiw nag erioed
Ond nid yw lawer gwaeth;
Roedd hon mewn bri cyn bod run tren
Yn cario nain trwy'i hoes,
A'i chario wnaeth i byrth y bedd
Heb unwaith gweryl croes.
Trwy gymorth hon y troediai gynt
I'r capel dros y bryn,
Trwy'r haf a'r gaeaf, glaw a gwynt,
Y rhew a'r eira gwyn;
Ac os digwyddai daro'i throed
Wrth faen ar lwybr y fron,
Pan daenai'r nos ei phruddaidd len
"Diogel", meddai'r ffon.
Pan oeddwn gynt yn blentyn bach
Yn dechrau troedio cam,
I dy fy nain y rhoddwn dro
Heb wybod i fy mam;
Fe wyddwn hyn yn eithaf da,
Er maint fy ofn a'm braw,
Na chawswn gam gan undyn byw
Os byddai'r ffon gerllaw
Ond erbyn hyn, mae nain mewn bedd,
Yn ieuanc ac yn llon,
Heb arwydd henaint ar ei gwedd
Yn rhodio heb ei ffon;
A'r ffon yn gorffwys ddydd a nos
Mewn cornel dawel, gain,
O na chawn innau fynd i'r bedd
Ar bwys "Hen ffon fy Nain".
Canwn, Gwasg y Lolfa 1990, tud. 14 | ISBN 0 86243 217 0
Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur y byd na'i berlau mân,
Gofyn rwyf am calon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân
Cytgan (chorus)
Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos,
Does ond calon lân all ganu -
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.
Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Chwim adenydd iddo sydd:
Golud calon lân rinweddol
Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.
cytgan/chorus: Calon lân etc
Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Esgyn ar adenydd cân
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi imi galon lân.
cytgan/chorus: Calon lân etc
I'm not asking for a good life,
The gold of the world, or its Gems,
What I want is a happy, honest, pure heart,
Pure heart! full of Daioni*!
It's better than the pretty lily.
Only a pure heart can sing!
Sing the day, and sing the night!!!
* Daioni = virtue.
There is a dedicated newsgroup - rec.music.makers.choral. Also a website - Choralnet.