Cefn Gwlad: Hogie'r Berfeddwlad Cefn Gwlad

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-# Hail the great day

-the heir to heaven was born

-# Welcome him we will

-in a joyous feast

-# The pure angels

-do sing his praises

-# Hail to you

-# Hail to the day

-# Hail to you, hail to you,

-hail to you

-# Hail to the day

-# Hail to you

-# Hail to you,

-hail to the day #

-It's wonderful here

-in the Conwy Valley.

-The river is shining.

-This is where I'll get hold of

-some very special lads.

-Where do you find them, you ask.

-Here's the name of the choir -

-Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-

-http://www.ylolfa.com/en/cyfdetail2.php?recid=1027&title=Hogie%92r+Berfeddwlad+(Meibion)

-I've been in my element

-wandering the little lanes...

-..to see them

-at their work every day.

-Sit back and enjoy

-Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-The first thing that strikes you

-about the choir is the unique name.

-The choir was formed in 1999.

-Carwyn Williams, one of the original

-members and now the treasurer...

-

-http://ysgoldyffrynconwy.org/staff-adrannau.html

-Drop down adran dearyddiaeth

-..Head of Geography

-at Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy.

-

-http://ysgoldyffrynconwy.org/

-# Hail to you, hail to you,

-hail to you #

-If I could ask one question.

-If I could ask one question.

-

-Yes.

-I hope I can say it now.

-From where did you get the name

-Hogie'r Berfeddwlad?

-Well, while I was at university...

-..a friend of mine, a former member

-from Cerrigydrudion, Osian...

-..came up with it.

-He likes history.

-He came up with the name

-Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-The name stuck.

-Of course, it's a historical name

-for North East Wales.

-The Perfeddwlad "heartland" name

-goes back to the 13th Century.

-It's where Llywelyn the Great

-and Llywelyn the Last reigned.

-

-http://www.castlewales.com/llewelyn.html

-http://www.visitwales.com/explore/traditions-

-

-e-histories-llewelyn

-There were four regions...

-..Rhufoniog, Rhos,

-Dyffryn Clwyd and Tegeingl.

-Some of those names

-are still in use these days.

-That's where the name came.

-It's quite a difficult name

-to pronounce.

-It's a beautiful name.

-It's a beautiful name.

-

-Yes, it is.

-It's a difficult name to translate!

-# Hail to the day

-# Shout hail to you

-# Hail to the day #

-The choir goes back

-to our time at Ysgol Y Creuddyn.

-

-http://moodle.creuddyn.conwy.sch.uk/

-A group of us in the sixth form

-enjoyed singing Cerdd Dant.

-We competed at the Urdd Eisteddfod

-in Bro Maelor in 1996.

-We competed at that Eisteddfod.

-After that, while we were at

-university in Aberystwyth...

-..we decided to compete

-under the name Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-It's quite a mouthful.

-It's quite a mouthful.

-

-Yes it is. It's different.

-Yes, many an adjudicator

-and compere has stumbled...

-..trying to say our name.

-Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-I think there were around

-sixteen of us on the stage.

-Most of us are over 25 by now.

-The average age

-is still quite young.

-Yes, I've noticed that.

-You've got a very experienced

-conductor in Catherine Watkin.

-

-http://www.ylolfa.com/en/cyfdetail2.php?recid=1027&title=Hogie%92r+Berfeddwlad+(Meibion)

-She has years of experience and

-she's from a Cerdd Dant stronghold.

-Yes, we're very lucky, beyond lucky

-really to have Catherine.

-She comes over to rehearse

-with us on Wednesdays.

-Yes, she's a Cerdd Dant genius.

-We really think the world of her.

-As a conductor, she's our maestro.

-# When Jesus was a baby

-# He slept in his manger #

-You've done a lot of travelling

-as a choir. You've been abroad.

-Yes, we've been to the

-Pan Celtic Festival three times.

-

-http://www.panceltic.ie/

-We were victorious there

-on all three occasions.

-We've won choir of the festival

-twice in a row.

-Those wins were in Dingle

-and Donegal.

-We're very lucky

-of those experiences.

-It would be great to go back.

-We enjoyed it greatly.

-# Beneath the Lord, we are #

-# One was born between God and man

-# Christ, the Lord, is he #

-Guto Owen is another

-member of the choir.

-He works full time

-for Farming Connect.

-He spends his weekends home on the

-farm, Foel Gadeiriau, by Llangernyw.

-

-http://gwlad.gov.wales/famingconnect/9041790/?lang=en

-http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t

-

-s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwjM8dTR4eDJAhVIUBQKHZ31ADMQFggqMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brocernyw.org

-

-nau%2FEitemau%2520ocsiwn.docx&usg=AFQjCNGJjZTvA1XmChN7j1EG87t9kiiOXg

-We can see Foel Gadeiriau

-in all its glory here.

-It always looks good.

-A bit of good weather

-makes it look even better.

-It's a traditional farm.

-The area has character.

-The land can get quite wet

-in the winter.

-There's plenty of sun in the summer

-so it's varied.

-Are you from around here?

-Yes, I was born and raised

-on the farm.

-I moved here from the village

-at around four years old.

-My grandparents were here.

-I think I'm very unlikely to move.

-It's nice to hear a young man

-speaking about his community.

-You've got good fat sheep here.

-Yes, I've started

-buying white Mules every year...

-..and cross them

-with the Texels I keep.

-I then cross the ewe lambs

-to cross with rams I've bred here.

-The Beltex-Charollais

-or Texel-Charollais.

-I'm trying to produce

-the perfect fattened lamb.

-Where's your market?

-We send everything

-to the livestock market.

-We're not too far from a few markets

-here. Llanrwst is down the road.

-We're not too far

-from Ruthin either.

-We're lucky

-to have them both really.

-I have to thank my father and

-grandfather for developing the farm.

-They got it to where it is. My role

-is to continue that in the future.

-To quote Alun Mabon...

-.."I learned from my father,

-mankind's first skill."

-It goes back

-to the beginning of time.

-# One was born between God and man

-# Christ, the Lord, is he #

-Foel Gadeiriau's farm land

-reaches over 1,000 feet...

-..on the peaks above Llangernyw.

-The Conwy Valley is in the distance.

-The area has a strong

-choral singing tradition.

-We visit different societies

-around the country.

-We've sung in a lot of places.

-As you say, all the members

-of the choir are countryside folk.

-It's a pleasure to go

-to the rehearsal each week.

-Was it you and your sister

-who won the Cerdd Dant duet?

-It was my sister and me.

-We won at the Meifod Eisteddfod.

-We also won at the Cerdd Dant

-Festival last year.

-# The door is open for all

-# All the strings are taught

-# If all your dreams come true

-# Always remember the merriment #

-The singing tradition

-is part of the area.

-When it goes, that will be

-the end of a way of life.

-I've grown up singing.

-Eleri, my aunt, has been teaching me

-since I was very small.

-I think it's in the blood

-to a certain extent.

-I've grown up singing

-and I enjoy it. It's a social thing.

-I remember coming to

-an annual concert in Llangernyw.

-Oh! It would be packed.

-Nothing much has changed since then.

-There'll be a carol service

-at Bro Cernyw hall.

-It'll be packed to the rafters

-that night.

-The singing continues

-at the local pub.

-Your dogs looked handy this morning.

-Yes, I've taught them myself

-over time.

-I try to find time to do that.

-It's important to have a dog.

-The motorbike can do a lot of work.

-The motorbike can do a lot of work.

-

-It can't do what a dog does.

-No, it can't beat a dog.

-No, it can't beat a dog.

-

-Outstanding.

-You can see quite far today.

-It's like paradise.

-It feels like paradise up here.

-You wouldn't move

-for all the gold in China.

-Never.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-# A long time ago in Bethlehem

-# So the Holy Bible says

-# Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ

-# Was born on Christmas Day

-# Hark now hear the angels sing

-# A king was born today

-# And man will live forever more

-# Because of Christmas Day

-# Hark now hear the angels sing

-# A king was born today

-# And man will live forever more

-# Because of Christmas Day #

-Aled Jones, Tyddyn Mawr, Rowen, I

-hear your mother is from Ceredigion.

-Yes, she is.

-You're a Jones.

-You couldn't have done much better!

-It's wonderful here

-down in the valley.

-Your sheep

-are up on the mountains.

-What's the mountain called?

-Tal Y Fan. It's all common land

-that farmers use.

-The sheep go up for the summer,

-do they?

-Yes, they go up in May.

-We round them up three times.

-We do that for shearing

-and when we need to dose them.

-We've just brought them in again.

-The place is full of character.

-There are stone walls.

-There's also an old church.

-Yes, my sister is getting married

-there next year.

-It's not the smartest place to get

-married. It isn't easy to get there.

-She's used to living up here.

-Yes, we're used to walking up

-through the forest behind us.

-It's a counter point to the flat

-land you have at the bottom.

-It's not too far

-to take the sheep back and forth.

-Do you walk all the way?

-Do you walk all the way?

-

-Yes. It takes ten minutes from here.

-We've spoken about the old place

-and the old traditions.

-It doesn't take long to come

-back down to the fertile flat land.

-There are a lot of stones but yes.

-You're harvesting the corn today.

-Yes, it's quite late this year.

-We do about twelve acres

-to fatten our own cattle.

-Is it good stuff?

-Is it good stuff?

-

-Oh, yes.

-It gives them a good condition

-and it fills the pit well.

-We can do it all in a few hours

-if things go to plan.

-You say it's late this year.

-I've seen people harvest

-during worse weather than today.

-It's dry today and the sun's out.

-We've been advised to hold on

-until it's ready.

-It's very expensive to grow.

-There's no point rushing into it.

-# While shepherds

-watched their flock by night

-# They saw a bright new shining star

-# They hear a choir sing a song #

-You sing with Hogie'r Berfeddwlad

-in the evenings.

-Yes, it's nice to go somewhere

-and forget about work for a bit.

-All the lads are from

-different backgrounds.

-There's a lot of leg-pulling.

-# They found no place

-to bear her child

-# Not a single room was in sight #

-I'm very lucky

-that there's a choir in the area.

-Without Hogie'r Berfeddwlad,

-there wouldn't be much around here.

-You have fun.

-You have fun.

-

-Yes, we do.

-I think the ducks

-are having fun too!

-# Hark now hear the angels sing

-# A king was born today

-# And man will live for evermore

-# Because of Christmas Day #

-Here's a success story.

-Dylan Roberts,

-a local boy from Llansannan.

-He started a business...

-..rather than move away

-because there was no work.

-He's created a business

-and a lot of young people work here.

-One of them is Myrddin Llwyd Owen.

-He comes from Pandy Tudur.

-He comes here to work every day.

-This is where he makes

-his bread and butter.

-He says it's good for his voice!

-# Hear, hear news from the heavens

-# News from the heavens

-# The son of God wrapped in cloths

-# He came from heaven

-# The word was in the beginning

-# There was no start and no ending

-# He is the resurrection

-# Here's the day, here's the day

-# He came to us, our saviour

-# Here's the day #

-What are you up to? You look busy.

-What are you up to? You look busy.

-

-I've got plenty to do, Dai!

-I bet there is.

-This is a lathe, I take it.

-Yes, this is a lathe. I'm busy

-trimming some iron down to size.

-It's round iron

-and I'm trimming it to size.

-This goes on every day.

-This goes on every day.

-

-Yes, these machines work every day.

-There's always

-one or two small jobs to do.

-People are always breaking

-something!

-Llansannan

-is right in the countryside.

-I remember passing this place

-years ago.

-It was only a small place. Now,

-there are many people working here.

-It's big. We've over 25 people here.

-It's big. We've over 25 people here.

-

-Really?

-Dylan started off welding gates

-with the cattle behind him.

-He's expanded from that.

-It's going to expand even more

-in the next few years.

-It's nice for you lads

-that there's work in your area.

-It's great to have work

-so close to home.

-It's work that I love doing as well.

-There are lads who come in

-from as far as Abergele.

-You don't get many people...

-..driving in from Rhyl, Abergele

-or Conwy to Llansannan for work.

-That doesn't happen often.

-That doesn't happen often.

-

-You enjoy going to the choir.

-I absolutely love it.

-I absolutely love it.

-

-You have a good voice.

-Do you think so? Thank you, Dai.

-You're an asset to the choir.

-# We'll sing together beautifully

-to resonate through the valley #

-Do you find it easy

-to learn the music?

-Yes, although I can't follow sol fa

-at all.

-I can follow musical notes.

-If it goes up I sing higher!

-That's how I learn.

-# So, do, ti, la, so,

-do, mi, re, do, re

-# Do, so, la, ti, do, re,

-do, ti, la, ti, do

-# So, do, ti, la, so,

-do, mi, re, do, re

-# Do, so, la, ti,

-do, re, do, ti, la, ti, do

-# So, mi, fa, so, fa, so, la,

-so, la, ti, do, re, ti, do

-# So, so, do, so

-# So, do, do, do, la, la, ti

-# Ti, la, ti, do #

-Near Llangernyw, they've all been

-singing since the cradle.

-Oh, yes.

-Oh, yes.

-

-Is your family musical?

-My mother, brother and sister

-sing well. Dad can't sing a note!

-# We'll sing together beautifully

-to resonate through the valley

-# In the language of sol-fa,

-we'll sing so, la, ti, do #

-For how long have you been

-in the choir? Since the start?

-No, the choir was started in 1999.

-I started in 2009-2010.

-I've been going every week

-since then.

-You're a baritone.

-I started off as a baritone,

-I'm more of a bass now.

-We've got a big baritone section so

-I got pushed into the lower section.

-I can sing baritone if I need to.

-# So, la, ti, do, re, ti, do, so

-# So, do, so

-# So, do, do, do, la, la, ti

-# Ti, la, ti, do #

-Well, well.

-This is Ffrith Arw farm

-near Llanddoged...

-

-http://directory.thesun.co.uk/find/llanrwst/livestock-farms

-..not too far from Llanrwst.

-Ifan Owen lives here

-with his parents.

-He's an expert in breeding

-Bluefaced Leicester sheep.

-They've had a lot of success.

-The choir is Ifan Owen's passion.

-# Every soul,

-listen to the ambassador

-# He came from Salem

-to Bethlehem urgently

-# He's the song in key

-# The bottles at a feast

-# A choir of angels

-singing for joy #

-How long have you specialized

-in Bluefaced sheep?

-Dad bought the first sheep in 1987.

-Not many people in Wales

-had heard of them at the time.

-By now, it's fair to say it's one of

-the most populous breeds in Wales.

-It's very popular.

-It's very popular.

-

-Yes.

-It's fairly hardy. It lives up here.

-This is quite high up.

-We're at 1,020 feet above sea level.

-We try to bring them up here

-as much as we can.

-The ewes and lambs

-come up here in March.

-We think it helps to harden them.

-# The way to Bethlehem

-was lit by a star

-# To show the wise men

-signs of the miracle #

-Singing is in your whole family.

-You've all been singing

-over the years

-My aunt sings a lot too.

-Yes, she's moved to South,

-well, Mid Wales.

-I'd imagine it was Taid

-who started us all off.

-Everyone can sing. Mum does a bit

-of composing. It's nice.

-It really is.

-It really is.

-

-I enjoy singing.

-I assume there's a piano

-in your home?

-Yes, there is. It's often in use.

-As often as the tractor?

-Yes.

-I think we just enjoy singing.

-Hogie'r Berfeddwlad

-is a good group of lads too.

-# It all disappeared before noon #

-What I like when I speak to you

-chaps from Hogie'r Berfeddwlad...

-..is that you revel in what you do.

-You know you're doing something

-worthwhile with your spare time.

-There's a lot of fun to be had.

-There are entertainment evenings

-held across North Wales.

-When we get there,

-we enjoy ourselves.

-Prysor is good

-at leading the evenings.

-We throw in some sketches as well.

-No, we enjoy ourselves.

-You practise your talents,

-not just sing.

-# For us, amen #

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Dr Prysor Williams is from

-the village of Pandy Tudur...

-..near Llanrwst.

-He spends much of his working day...

-..at the Henfaes Research Centre

-near Abergwyngregyn.

-# To bring the song to our voices

-# River Euarth

-# River Eidda

-# Nant y goron, river Ro #

-I'm a lecturer in Environmental

-Management at Bangor University.

-That involves agriculture,

-earth science, water and so on.

-I come to Henfaes,

-the university farm...

-..either with students

-or to do research work.

-This must be paradise for you.

-There are Section A

-Welsh Mountain ponies here.

-They are extremely beautiful.

-Henfaes is a special place.

-The weather isn't good today...

-..but there are stunning views

-towards Anglesey.

-The Welsh Mountain sheep and the

-ponies add to the farm's character.

-I'm sure a lot of people

-come to see the waterfall.

-250,000 people

-walk the path every year.

-That many?

-It's easily accessible from the A55.

-The falls are certainly worth seeing

-after walking along the estuary.

-You are a member

-of Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-Are you very interested in singing?

-Yes. We have a lot of fun and

-that's one of the big attractions.

-I've been interested in singing

-for years.

-I've been brought up in an area

-with a lot of culture.

-The Welsh language

-is very strong here.

-I'm lucky to have been raised

-in an area like this.

-It's great to take part

-in activities...

-..with the local community,

-the Aelwyd, the choir...

-..the Young Farmers and so on.

-# The song of rivers, Lledr, Llugwy

-# Rhyd yr halen, river Bach

-# Henryd, Hiraethlyn,

-Merddwr a Melynllyn

-# River Stumiau, Nant y Wrach #

-It's good to see young people

-going away to college...

-..and then coming home.

-They are deeply rooted

-in the community.

-There's much to be said for that.

-# Alwen flows under bridges

-# An estuary as it reaches the sea #

-The Henfaes Research Centre's land

-stretches from the Aber Falls...

-..all the way down to the farm

-on the banks of the Menai.

-You have a good crop of rape here.

-On farms like Henfaes the lambs

-come down from the mountain...

-..to be fattened up.

-Rape is a great help

-to finish the lambs.

-There's nothing better

-than rape for lambs.

-You can almost see these Welsh lambs

-getting fatter in front of you.

-We've come down the mountain.

-The grazing season is so important.

-There needs to be good grazing

-to keep the animals.

-The ponies don't have

-any additional feed.

-The ponies get all their food

-by grazing.

-These habitats,

-in Snowdonia and so on...

-..have thousands of visitors

-every year.

-Grazing is an important factor

-in the management of the land.

-Many people don't understand

-the importance of grazing...

-..in keeping the landscape

-looking beautiful.

-Let's talk about the choir,

-Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-I've said that name

-so many times today.

-I've started talking to myself.

-You're the compere

-at choir concerts.

-I do my best.

-I introduce the items

-and sometimes the choir members.

-I tell a few jokes.

-If you have some good ones,

-I'll talk to you later.

-Would you be willing to tell them?

-That leads us nicely to the

-conductor of Hogie'r Berfeddwlad...

-..Catherine Watkin.

-

-http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/uploads/publications/931.pdf ???

-She's been a faithful member

-of the choir for many years...

-..and she's still going strong.

-She has made a priceless

-contribution to the nation.

-She has lived all over Wales.

-Wherever she has been, she's tutored

-huge numbers of young people.

-Generations of people

-have benefited...

-..from being taught

-by Catherine Watkin.

-Her enthusiasm and dedication

-are priceless attributes.

-I don't know where she finds her

-energy. We're lucky to have her.

-We're not the best group

-for coming to rehearsals.

-We're harvesting or lambing -

-there's always some excuse!

-But she understands us and

-we understand her. She's one of us.

-We have a lot of fun in her company.

-We're also learning

-from a real expert.

-# Come everyone kindly,

-fresh, full of frolics

-# Christmas is the time

-to praise the Lord's Son

-# With psalms and hymns,

-morning and evening

-# And keep our souls

-from destruction #

-You've been involved in singing

-your whole life.

-You now find yourself with a group

-of talented and tuneful young men.

-It must be a lovely feeling.

-It's wonderful.

-It's good to see young people are

-still interested in old crafts...

-..such as cerdd dant and folk songs

-- that's what we sing mostly.

-They do break new ground

-on occasion.

-I've had the honour of listening

-to them competing many times.

-Their voices and faces

-appeal to the audience.

-They always win over the crowd.

-They're good at that.

-I tell them

-their faces should be expressive.

-I also tell them they should show

-that they're singing from the heart.

-# From that especially,

-through the Christmas holiday

-# We give thanks

-to our loving Father

-# For giving so graciously

-his natural Heir

-# To be our true, strong Protector #

-My fellow adjudicator Dafydd Iwan

-and I were in complete agreement.

-The first prize

-goes to Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-# So, mi, fa, so, fa, so, la,

-so, la, ti, do, re, ti, do

-# So so do do do la la ti

-ti la ti do #

-I've been lucky wherever I've been.

-In Llandysul,

-I was with Lleisiau Teifi.

-I was with a choir in the Swansea

-Valley when I lived in Morriston.

-I returned to this area and when

-the Eisteddfod was in Llanrwst...

-..we had quite a big choir.

-I've returned to the young people.

-I'm changing gear now

-and slowing down.

-The National Eisteddfod

-awarded you...

-..the Sir T H Parry-Williams Medal.

-That must be one of the highlights

-of your career.

-It's been one of the highlights

-of my life.

-It was a shock when Elfed Roberts

-rang me one Saturday morning.

-I couldn't believe it.

-Do you see a future

-for Welsh culture?

-Will it continue in the hands

-of the young people of today?

-Yes, definitely.

-They have opportunities today

-that we didn't have.

-I'm sure they appreciate

-what they have.

-# For many years, so weak and frail

-# Did the saints long for Christ #

-Three members of the choir are from

-Pant Y Cefn Farm near Llansannan.

-One of the brothers, Ifan...

-..is working in New Zealand

-at the moment.

-It's a bit far

-to come for rehearsals.

-But Huw and Iolo Edwards

-are home today...

-..helping to move the cattle

-down from the mountain.

-# Over the hill and over the vale

-come three wise men

-# A white star #

-They've been up there

-since the beginning of May.

-They're coming down today

-with their calves.

-Do you work at home?

-No, I work full-time

-on a dairy farm near Denbigh.

-Are you a tenor or a bass?

-Are you a tenor or a bass?

-

-I'm a bass.

-You don't sound like a bass.

-You don't sound like a bass.

-

-Not when I talk.

-# In a drab inn, in a poor manger

-# This great divinity

-wrapped in rags #

-You don't work in Wales.

-I work in Coventry,

-the other side of Birmingham.

-I farm with a contractor there.

-I've been lifting potatoes.

-That finished last week.

-Before that, I was bailing straw.

-That was a change.

-You're on a dairy farm.

-Yes.

-I'm sure you help your father

-when you're home.

-We try our best!

-Today you were home and you helped

-to bring the cattle home.

-It's good to have staff

-to do these things.

-How long has your brother been

-in New Zealand?

-About a month.

-Have you been there?

-I've been there.

-I was in New Zealand two years ago.

-I also went to Australia.

-Wow!

-I've seen

-the other side of the world.

-Neither of you are married yet?

-Neither of you are married yet?

-

-No, not yet.

-The voices are still OK.

-The voices are still OK.

-

-So far, so good.

-Do you come back from Coventry

-for rehearsals?

-The rehearsals on Wednesday nights

-aren't so important for me.

-I come home at weekends

-for concerts and so on.

-It's a three-hour journey

-from Coventry.

-It's a great feeling

-to be a member of a choir.

-It's somewhere for you

-to go and make your mark.

-It's something unique to Wales.

-# The day has dawned,

-come great and small

-# Give praise to God in a new song

-# Sing hosanna more, hosanna more

-# Life has come from blessed Jesus #

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-# A large nobleman from Bala

-went hunting one day

-# On a thin black mare

-# On a thin black mare #

-The choir's average age

-is quite young.

-Some of them are very young.

-Their work varies greatly.

-Today on a wet day, we're at

-the Urdd Centre in Glan-llyn.

-It's familiar to many as the home

-of Urdd children during the year.

-Today, we're meeting Llion Jones,

-one of the choir's youngest members.

-He's quite adept on a canoe.

-Just like me!

-# And he blew his horn

-# A ha ha ha ha, a ha ha ha ha

-and he blew his horn

-# All the hounds they ran

-and caught the red fox #

-Llion, are you going on the water?

-Llion, are you going on the water?

-

-Yes.

-Yes, I'll be heading out

-in a good half hour.

-I'm going to Bala today.

-I'm going to Bala today.

-

-Are you?

-The rain doesn't worry you?

-The rain doesn't worry you?

-

-No, not really.

-It's wind that worries me

-more than anything.

-You're the son

-of a Llanrwst butcher.

-Yes, I am.

-Do you commute here every day

-from Llanrwst?

-Yes. I travel every day.

-It's about 40 minutes.

-There are a lot of older people here

-today, older, not old.

-On a day like today,

-are they here to learn anything?

-Or are they totally professional

-already?

-The ones we have now

-are professionals.

-Like me, we're all on a course

-at the moment.

-We all know what to do.

-So this course enables you...

-..to know the safety needs

-when there are children here.

-It's quite wet. I'm glad

-you're in the canoe and not me.

-It's not an easy thing.

-No, no. When you get used to it,

-it becomes quite easy to do.

-Good luck to you.

-Make sure you come back,

-the choir needs you!

-Are you another baritone?

-Are you another baritone?

-

-I'm a tenor.

-I've been meeting baritones

-every time!

-We're quite low on tenors.

-They're rare in general.

-# Came from heaven

-# The son of God wrapped in cloths

-# He came from heaven #

-The choir's age on average

-is quite young.

-You must be amongst the youngest.

-Yes, I think I am

-one of the youngest there.

-It's a good thing when the older

-ones think about leaving.

-There are already fresh,

-younger replacements.

-# He came from heaven

-# Down shone the light

-# Here's the day, here's the day

-# With the valley near death

-# Here's the day

-# The word was in the beginning #

-One of the other lads from Ffrith

-Arw works with these contractors.

-He's on the next load.

-They carry this from Llandudno

-Junction to Pentrefoelas.

-That's quite a bit of work.

-We'll have a chat with Dafydd now.

-# He came to us, our saviour

-# Here's the day #

-Dear me, Dafydd, it's busy here.

-Yes, it is.

-Yes, it is.

-

-What time did you start?

-We started from the farmyard

-at around 6.15am.

-We wanted to be here

-before the rain.

-I think we'll just about

-get it done today.

-Do you work with these contractors?

-Yes. I'm self-employed and I work

-with Pen Isaf most of the year.

-You carry this all the way to

-Pentrefoelas. It's a long way.

-Yes, we're going a long way today.

-There are ten of us at it today.

-That makes it a bit quicker.

-We don't need to hurry.

-Like the others,

-you're in the choir.

-You have a brother in the choir.

-Yes, Ifan and me are brothers.

-It's nice, isn't it?

-It's nice, isn't it?

-

-Yes, it is a nice thing.

-It's nice to be able to socialize

-and sing. I enjoy it a lot.

-How long have you been

-in the choir?

-I think it'll be ten years

-next year.

-Dear me, you must have been young.

-I think it was the

-Swansea Eisteddfod in 2006.

-Prysor recruited Guto and me.

-We were around 16 years old.

-# We'll go on, we'll go on

-# With the wine to the downhearted

-# We'll go on #

-You have a particular role

-in the choir.

-Yes, I've started my second year

-as the choir's secretary.

-There's a bit of pressure.

-Getting everyone to the practice

-is the hardest part!

-No doubt.

-I do enjoy trying

-to keep everyone organized.

-You travel sometimes too.

-You do touring concerts.

-You do touring concerts.

-

-Yes, we do.

-You have to keep all the minutes!

-You have to keep all the minutes!

-

-Yes, I've got to keep them all.

-I've got to make sure

-everyone gets there.

-It could be worse,

-you could be treasurer.

-Indeed. I think Carwyn

-will keep that job forever!

-He's a good lad.

-Yes.

-I don't think anyone else

-has a chance of getting that one.

-# On the hill by the town

-# No stars in the sky

-# Stood poor shepherds in the night

-# Above their heads in the sky

-# Came a white shooting star

-# To light up the night

-# Frightened they were

-in that strange place #

-Ysgol Pantpastynog is a primary

-school three miles from Denbigh.

-It currently has 70 pupils.

-That's enough

-to keep the staff very busy.

-Dafydd Rhys is the head teacher.

-He's a faithful member

-of Hogie'r Berfeddwlad.

-Good afternoon to you all.

-Good afternoon to you all.

-

-Good afternoon.

-Dafydd Rhys,

-this is your everyday work.

-Yes, this is where I'm kept busy.

-What are they up to today?

-We're doing some artwork today.

-The school is working on a project.

-The children have been

-busy yesterday, today...

-..and they will be tomorrow too.

-Hopefully, it'll be finished then.

-With that accent,

-you're from the bottom of Wales.

-Or the middle.

-I'm from Porthyrhyd

-in the Gwendraeth valley.

-Not too far from Carmarthen.

-Did teaching bring you up here?

-No, the boss, my wife.

-I taught a little bit in Ceredigion

-and in Flint and then I came here.

-We've settled now in Llangernyw.

-Our family is there.

-It's a nice area.

-It's absolutely wonderful.

-The choir has been great for you.

-I've been with them

-for about nine years.

-I was trying to work it out

-the other night.

-I was at university with Carwyn,

-the treasurer.

-He knew that I liked singing

-and the social side.

-He invited me to join them, so I

-went one Wednesday and that's that.

-I haven't looked back since.

-For someone like me,

-who is a farmer...

-..this part of Wales

-is a heartland for agriculture.

-There's good land here.

-I've learned an awful lot

-about tractors and Texel sheep here!

-I didn't know anything

-when I arrived.

-How many of you lads are farmers?

-Dear me!

-Well, that is a nice thing to see.

-# To the promised son

-# To the promised son

-# To the promised son

-# The promised son #

-# Oh holy night!

-# The stars are brightly shining

-# It is the night of the dear

-Saviour's birth #

-I'm at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

-I'm quite nervous.

-I'm about to meet another choir

-member, Aled Lloyd Morris.

-He's part of the maternity unit.

-# For yonder breaks

-a new and glorious morn #

-How many weeks are you now?

-I'm 39 weeks and 3 days.

-When did the pains start?

-It became painful last night.

-That was for about four hours.

-Aled Lloyd Morris, this is the first

-time I've been on a maternity ward.

-Really? There we are.

-Is this where the babies are born?

-Some of them are born here.

-Some are born in the

-midwifery-led unit.

-Some are born on this ward,

-the labour ward.

-How long have you been here now?

-I've been a doctor for about

-three and a half years now.

-I've been at Ysbyty Gwynedd

-for most of those three years.

-I've worked in the family health

-unit too. I plan on becoming a GP.

-That will be interesting for you.

-That will be interesting for you.

-

-Yes, it will.

-Particularly

-the ones who speak Welsh.

-It's important to have doctors

-who can communicate with you.

-Sometimes, it's imperative to keep

-the Welsh language alive at work.

-Do you work five days a week?

-It varies. There are some days

-on-call where we work long hours.

-On those days,

-we work until about 9.00pm.

-Going to the choir

-is a nice break for you, then.

-Yes, it's hard

-to get there sometimes.

-But when I do get the chance to go,

-I really enjoy going there.

-It's not just the singing.

-They're a good bunch of lads.

-We have a good time.

-# To be our friends

-# He knows our need

-# Our weakness is no stranger

-# Behold your King

-# Before him lowly bend

-# Behold your King

-# Before him lowly bend #

-Over the year, the choir raises

-money for different charities.

-At Christmas time...

-..where better to sing carols

-than the streets of Betws-y-Coed?

-In the wonderful sounds

-of Hogie'r Berfeddwlad...

-..may I wish you a Merry Christmas.

-From the Cefn Gwlad crew

-and Hogie'r Berfeddwlad...

-..Merry Christmas!

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.