Draw Dros y Don Canu'r Cymoedd


Draw Dros y Don

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-# 'THE MARTYRS OF THE ARENA' -

-Laurent de Rille. #

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-We Welsh sing our national anthem

-with a passion...

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-..most notably on match days,

-here at the Millennium Stadium.

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-Our national arena compares

-with the coliseums of the Romans.

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-Some musical pieces have the same

-emotional and dramatic appeal...

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-..as any national anthem.

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-'Martyrs Of The Arena' has been a

-choral favourite for over a century.

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-In Roman times,

-Christians were thrown to the lions.

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-There was no ref - just an emperor!

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-His red card

-was a down-turned thumb!

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-Today, our international football

-and rugby players represent us.

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-But at one time, our choirs

-represented us throughout the world.

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-Audiences would be enthralled

-at their operatic choruses.

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-The singers took on the roles

-of soldiers, sailors and thieves.

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-They could also sing

-from their hearts like slaves.

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-# "VA, PENSIERO (THE CHORUS OF THE

-HEBREW SLAVES)" - Giuseppe Verdi. #

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-I don't think Verdi ever visited

-the Rhondda...

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-..but if he had, he would have been

-as warmly welcomed in Maerdy...

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-..as he was in Milan.

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-His operatic choruses appealed

-to Wales's industrial workers.

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-They were slaves, to some extent,

-just like the Hebrews of old.

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-But they were ruled by ironmasters

-and colliery owners.

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-The Welsh male voice choirs formed

-when Verdi was in his prime...

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-..Victoria was on the throne

-in England...

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-..and coal was king in Wales.

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-Its throne was here in the Rhondda.

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-The Valleys began to sing

-as soon the first load of coal...

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-..left Treherbert's Bute Colliery

-in 1855.

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-The results were impressive.

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-There were fewer than 1,000 people

-living in the Rhondda in 1851.

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-Within 60 years,

-the population was 150,000.

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-Most were young, single men.

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-They rented a room near the

-front door in terraced houses.

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-After work, they left

-through that front door...

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-..to join a rugby team,

-a band or a choir.

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-The new communities created

-in the Rhondda and in the Valleys...

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-..in the late 19th century

-had several special characteristics.

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-The community revolved

-around the coalfields.

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-During this period,

-the coal industry grew rapidly.

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-It became a huge industry.

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-Many young, single men moved to

-the area to work in the coal mines.

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-What happened in society mirrored

-what happened in the coal industry.

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-It was a predominantly male society.

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-It was a society

-which respected skill.

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-Different levels of skills

-were required in the coal industry.

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-It was an energetic society

-which enjoyed a spectacle.

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-This was reflected in the way men

-congregated in their spare time.

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-They formed rugby teams,

-football teams and brass bands.

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-Competition was an integral part

-of society and recreation.

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-Competition was a way

-of creating a local identity...

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-..among the population.

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-Brass bands and choirs

-competed in eisteddfodau.

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-It helped develop

-a sense of local identity.

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-The first edition of 'Y Cerddor'

-in 1889 made references...

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-..to male voice choirs in Brynaman,

-Gilfach Goch, Cwmafan...

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-..Kenfig Hill, Pontycymmer,

-Dowlais, Treorchy...

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-..Treherbert, Ferndale

-and Tylorstown.

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-All in coal mining areas,

-four of which were in the Rhondda.

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-One of the choirs would gain

-international recognition.

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-CHORAL SINGING

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-Rhondda is renowned

-for its coal and its choirs.

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-In the early 1880s, a group

-of young men from Treorchy...

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-..would meet and sing here,

-in the Red Cow.

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-They needed proper

-musical leadership.

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-They invited a man called

-William Thomas to conduct them.

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-Thomas had sung with Caradog's

-choir and he was teetotal.

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-He agreed to conduct them

-if they left the pub...

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-..and followed him

-to Glyncoli Road schoolhouse.

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-Amazingly, Treorchy Male Voice Choir

-still rehearse there twice a week.

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-# On the breeze

-a sound is stealing...

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-'Comrades In Arms'

-was the first piece they learned.

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-They sang it

-in their first eisteddfod - and won.

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-Caradog was the adjudicator.

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-It is still a favourite

-with male voice choirs.

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-# Let no clamour broadly peeling,

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-# Disturb the strain melodious.

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-# Companions now in arms,

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-# Comrades, comrades,

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-# Companions in arms.

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-The rivalry between neighbouring

-villages was the most fierce.

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-Major battles were fought

-when Treorchy came up against...

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-..Ton Pentre, Ystrad

-and the Rhondda Glee Men.

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-They worked together in harmony

-under ground.

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-At important eisteddfodau,

-when local pride was at stake...

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-..there was little love lost.

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-On one occasion,

-the Rhondda Glee Men...

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-..attacked the Treorchy

-Male Voice Choir...

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-..as they left an eisteddfod

-in Porth.

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-# Our arms we raise,

-our arms we raise.

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-# Should discord

-bring her arms around us,

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-# All foes invade...

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-With local pride evident

-in their choirs...

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-..rousing choruses

-bred fierce competition.

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-# Guide us and aid...

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-Crowds of 15,000 would sit or stand

-for four to five hours...

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-..listening to a choral competition.

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-When Treorchy triumphed at

-the National Eisteddfod in 1895...

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-..Sir Joseph Barnaby of London's

-Royal Choral Society announced...

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-..that it was the finest singing

-he had ever heard.

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-That performance earned the choir

-a Royal Command...

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-..to sing for Queen Victoria

-at Windsor Castle...

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-..a few months later.

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-Twenty years earlier,

-thanks to Caradog's great choir...

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-..Valleys' singing had astonished

-listeners at the Crystal Palace.

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-Now, thanks

-to William Thomas's choir...

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-..a similar impression was made

-at Buckingham Palace.

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-Treorchy were the first choir

-to sing for the Queen...

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-..but the Glee Men

-were fiercely proud...

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-..of the feat they had achieved

-two years earlier.

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-When the Glee Men beat Treorchy...

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-..at the National Eisteddfod

-in Pontypridd in 1893...

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-..they received a prize far greater

-than a trophy or a baton.

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-They received tickets to sail

-to the World Fair in Chicago.

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-The World Fair

-was a huge exhibition...

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-..of the latest in technology,

-industry and the arts.

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-The Glee Men showcased

-Welsh culture at its finest...

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-..on an international stage.

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-The National Eisteddfod had been

-in existence for the past 40 years.

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-Choral singing played an integral

-part in the Eisteddfod's culture.

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-It felt like they were taking an

-international team out of Wales...

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-..to participate in these Olympics.

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-They were very aware of this.

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-They were performing in front

-of nations from around the world.

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-They wanted to create

-a good impression.

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-Although they weren't part

-of a large nation...

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-..they wanted to show

-that it was a special nation.

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-For the first time, Welsh culture

-was put on a world stage.

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-It was as if the Welsh rugby team

-played in the World Cup.

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-# Fly with them

-to meet the foe before ye,

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-# Be true and brave

-and win the fight,

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-# Be true and brave

-and win the fight,

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-# Be true and brave

-and win the fight.

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-Two other choirs joined the Glee

-Men on the voyage to America.

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-The Penrhyn Male Voice Choir

-from Bethesda...

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-..and Madam Clara Novello Davies's

-Welsh women's choir.

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-This was a huge adventure for most.

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-Many had never been further

-than Cardiff or Liverpool.

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-But they knew that Welsh choirs

-had made their mark in London.

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-This was an opportunity to make

-an impression on the world stage.

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-# Win the fight, win the fight,

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-# Comrades, comrades in arms,

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-# Comrades in arms. #

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-888

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-888

-

-888

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-In 1893, a ship packed with

-Welsh singers arrived in the USA.

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-They were there for the World Fair.

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-This is where they came - Chicago.

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-In 1893, it was home

-to almost two million people.

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-It was America's

-second largest city...

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-..Poland's second largest city,

-and Germany's fifth largest city.

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-And then there were

-the Irish, the Italians...

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-..the Russians,

-the Hungarians and the Welsh.

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-The Fair was meant to present

-an united Chicago to the world.

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-The Welsh wanted to contribute

-to that idea.

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-The 12,000-strong Welsh community

-decided to hold an eisteddfod...

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-..to show that they were Welsh

-and American.

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-This would be an opportunity

-for the Welsh exiles in Chicago...

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-..to show Americans

-Welsh culture at its best.

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-There was only a handful of them.

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-The Welsh in Chicago made up

-less than 1% of its population.

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-But when they heard that the World

-Fair was coming to Chicago...

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-..they decided to form fellowships.

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-They wanted to let Chicago know

-that they were there...

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-..and that they had a culture

-to celebrate.

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-For the miners and the quarrymen,

-this truly was a new world.

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-This world was totally different

-to the one familiar to them.

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-In the 19th century, Chicago grew

-to be America's second largest city.

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-From the middle

-of the century onwards...

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-..the population set about

-building a new, modern city.

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-They had skyscrapers and trams.

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-The first skyscrapers

-were built in Chicago.

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-The skyline was enough to frighten

-the vertically challenged!

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-It was only a village

-50 years earlier...

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-..but as the railways expanded,

-the population grew to a million.

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-It was the archetypal

-grand civic centre.

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-Arriving in Chicago must have

-been an exciting experience...

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-..for the visitors from the Rhondda.

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-This is where the World Fair

-and the Eisteddfod were held...

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-..about six or seven miles

-south of the city.

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-We're on the Midway presence -

-the renowned South Side.

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-This is the University of Chicago,

-where I once studied and lived.

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-At the time, I didn't know how

-influential the Welsh had been here.

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-After a serious fire, which

-almost destroyed Chicago in 1871...

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-..the Fair would recreate

-civic identity and national pride.

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-The purpose of the Fair

-was to exhibit and celebrate...

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-..America's superiority in the world

-of trade, technology and industry.

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-They built a complete city

-to host the Fair.

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-It was called the White City.

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-This area alone

-measured 1,000 acres.

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-It consisted of buildings

-that were admired...

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-..and talked about around the world.

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-The Welsh in Chicago had a deep

-understanding...

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-..of their significance

-within the United States.

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-They saw the eisteddfod

-as a perfect opportunity...

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-..to show off their importance...

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-..among the nations

-of the United States.

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-They persuaded

-the World Fair's authorities...

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-..to hold a grand eisteddfod.

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-Each nation represented at the Fair

-was allocated a day...

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-..to showcase its culture.

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-Wales was given four!

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-That was the eisteddfod.

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-It was an opportunity

-to show how Wales could sing.

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-All the publicity was channelled

-towards the choral competitions.

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-27,000,000 people visited the Fair.

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-That was around a quarter

-of America's population at the time.

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-40,000 of the visitors

-were Welsh Americans.

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-The choral competitions

-were the main attraction.

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-The choirs from Pittsburgh,

-Wilkesbury...

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-..Edwardsville in Pennsylvania,

-Salt Lake City and Iowa...

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-..all had Welsh connections.

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-The Welsh representatives

-were the quarrymen of Penrhyn...

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-..and the miners of the Rhondda.

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-What better set piece

-than a song written...

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-..by the composer

-from Merthyr Tydfil, Joseph Parry?

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-# "THE PILGRIM'S CHORUS" -

-Joseph Parry. #

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-'The Pilgrim's Chorus' illustrated

-Joseph Parry's ability...

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-..of composing choral pieces for

-Welsh choirs and their audiences...

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-..that would be popular

-on both sides of the Atlantic.

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-In Wales,

-choirs had a global outlook.

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-The coal, extracted by the Rhondda

-Glee Men...

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-The coal, extracted by the Rhondda

-Glee Men...

-

-..from the depths of the earth...

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-..from the depths of the earth...

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-..from the depths of the earth...

-

-..was an important element

-of the world's economy.

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-..was an important element

-of the world's economy.

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-There was great anticipation

-in the Fair...

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-..particularly among those in the

-Festival Hall for the choral event..

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-..of the performance

-of Welsh choirs.

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-What did Welsh choirs

-have to offer world culture?

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-The answer was - enough to win.

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-The Penrhyn choir blamed

-the Windy City for blowing away...

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-..their accompanist's copy

-of the music.

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-The Rhondda boys claimed the Penrhyn

-choir sounded flat well before that!

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-The Glee Men emerged victorious.

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-The Glee Men had confirmed Wales's

-reputation as the Land of Song.

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-After the highs of Chicago...

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-..they returned

-to the reality of the coalface...

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-..to meet the global demand

-for the coal...

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-..that was exported

-from Cardiff Docks.

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-This was the city's golden age. It

-was known as the Chicago of Wales.

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-It had impressive imperial-looking

-buildings at Cathays Park.

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-In their time,

-they were as imposing...

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-..as any of

-the Bay's cutting-edge buildings...

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-..which reflect the current

-confidence within Wales.

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-In keeping with the sense

-of self-importance in Cardiff...

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-..was this great concert hall -

-the Park Hall.

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-It could hold an audience of 2,000.

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-Here, in 1903, an international male

-voice choir competition was held.

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-17 choirs competed.

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-The adjudicator was

-Monsieur Laurent de Rille...

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-..composer of the eternal favourite

-- 'The Martyrs of the Arena'.

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-At the end of the afternoon...

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-..Monsieur de Rille invited the six

-victorious choirs on to the stage...

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-..to sing

-'The Martyrs of the Arena'.

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-The Frenchman expressed

-his astonishment...

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-..that men who had given

-their all in the mines...

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-..regained their strength

-by singing.

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-Not even the smoke of the Rhondda

-could stifle their love of music.

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-It was not unusual

-for a leading European musician...

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-..to visit Cardiff during this time.

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-In the years before the overseas

-market for Welsh coal collapsed...

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-..Cardiff was one

-of the world's most important ports.

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-It was on a par with Hamburg,

-Marseilles and Chicago.

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-Its architecture was striking.

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-Its commercial life never waned.

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-It had a wide range

-of popular entertainment...

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-..from sport to early cinema.

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-One of the earliest cowboy films

-inspired our choirs.

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-# We'll cross

-the redman's wild domain. #

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-New markets, a new culture.

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-This was music

-which spoke of desert lands.

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-Our choirs now sang

-about the prairies.

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-This was a modern, progressive

-forward-looking society.

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-The powerful chorus

-of Maldwyn Price's composition...

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-..'Crossing The Plain', illustrated

-how the choral tradition...

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-..could adapt to the new,

-popular culture of its day.

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-# To hunt white men by day or night,

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-# To take their scalps

-is his delight,

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-# To take their scalps

-is his delight.

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-# To take their scalps

-is his delight.

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-# Who in his wigwam stirs his bow,

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-# His quiver filling forth to go.

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-# To hunt white men by day or night,

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-# To take their scalps

-is his delight.

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-# To hunt white men... #

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-The golden age of choral singing...

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-..happened as a result of

-the Industrial Revolution in Wales.

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-This was the backdrop

-for the growth of our choirs.

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-It also helped people challenge and

-overcome their grim surroundings.

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-They created beauty in a place

-where there was so little.

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-# To hunt white men by day or night,

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-# To take their scalps

-is his delight. #

0:22:010:22:04

-But the good days did not last.

0:22:080:22:12

-After the First World War,

-in the '20s and '30s...

0:22:120:22:15

-..the valleys of south Wales

-would suffer...

0:22:160:22:19

-..economic uncertainty

-and mass unemployment.

0:22:190:22:21

-You would not expect

-an enthusiasm for singing...

0:22:220:22:26

-..in such circumstances.

0:22:260:22:28

-But that was not the case -

-by a long shot...

0:22:280:22:32

-..as we'll find out next week.

0:22:320:22:35

-# We'll sing the carols of the free.

0:22:350:22:41

-# In weal or woe, where'er we be,

0:22:440:22:51

-# We'll sing

-the carols of the free. #

0:22:510:22:59
0:22:590:23:01

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