Cyngerdd Dathlu Gareth Glyn

-888

-888

-

-888

-One of the nicest experiences

-I've had in years.

-It's no problem for him - filling

-venues, two or three times over.

-A lot of people warm to his music.

-Professionals, amateurs, Joe Bloggs

-and the man on the street.

-When we see Gareth Glyn's name

-on the copy, we think, "Yes!"

-The musical pieces are difficult

-to master initially.

-You say to yourself, "Oh...!"

-But once you learn a piece,

-you can't help but like it.

-Happy birthday, Gareth Glyn.

-FANFARE

-Over there is Anglesey,

-where I've lived since 1978.

-Since then, I've presented

-Post Prynhawn on Radio Cymru.

-It's five o'clock.

-This is Post Prynhawn.

-Even earlier, I was a composer

-and I still compose.

-Anglesey and its talented people

-have inspired me...

-..to write all kinds of music.

-Dirion Dir is a major piece for

-choirs, soloists and a brass band.

-Here's an extract...

-..for children and brass bands.

-I ranges from the history of saints

-to a time when the bridge was burnt.

-# Saints Seiriol the Fair

-and Cybi the Tawny

-# Many times we hear their story

-# About two saints,

-both from the island

-# The fine island of Anglesey

-# Holy Island in the Irish Sea

-# The sun sets on the horizon

-# Puffin Island in the east

-# At the break of day

-# Saints Seiriol the Fair

-and Cybi the Tawny

-# They will meet according to legend

-# Daily by the fountains of Clorach

-# In central Anglesey

-# When Seiriol starts the day

-# He has his back turned

-on heaven's sun

-# As he returns his back is facing

-# The sun's rays

-# Morning sunshine shining brightly

-into Cybi's face

-# Shining brightly in his face

-# Once again in the afternoon

-# Cybi's face turned golden

-# Seiriol's face stayed ashen

-# This is the story which was told

-# About these two saints

-# I do not know if it's the truth

-# But the message is still true

-# It shows the unequal fate

-of all mankind

-# A man chooses his own way

-# Lurking in the shadows

-# The other has to always face

-# The pressure and warmth of the day

-# The Festival of the Patron Saint

-# Is this year held on Anglesey

-# Many interesting pieces

-# Will be found there

-# Why don't we, happily

-# Attend the festival this year?

-# Come, listen, we will hear

-# The church bell ringing out

-# Calling everyone

-# To come and play their part

-# Let there be a blessing

-# And the Patron Saint Festival

-will continue

-# Where the fair will be each year

-# Full of excitement and song

-# A ballad about two boys

-who set fire to the bridge

-# They didn't fear the lions

-which guarded the bridge

-# They wanted one of the doves

-# Or an egg

-# They wanted one of the doves

-# Or an egg

-# Everywhere was dark

-# Both were very bold

-# A dove was trespassing

-# On the Irish Mail's railway line

-# They didn't carry torches

-# To help them in the dark

-# They had a tiny candle

-# To see the whitest dove

-they'd ever seen

-# They had a tiny candle

-# To see the whitest dove

-they'd ever seen

-# It was never their intention

-# To be so eager

-# The fire lit instantly

-# On one of the fragile planks

-# Soon, there was fear

-# Fire and smoke surrounded them

-# Because of two lads

-# Who misbehaved

-# Because of two lads

-# Who misbehaved

-# What could be done

-without a train over the Menai

-# To transport

-passengers and cattle?

-# Dockers in Caernarfon saw

-# A shadow like a famine

-# Farmers in Ireland

-# Also saw a door close

-# It stopped trade

-between two lands

-# One day, because of two lads

-# It stopped trade

-between two lands

-# One day, because of two lads #

-APPLAUSE

-Erddigan is a piece

-for a solo harpist.

-The title means "music" -

-that's all it means.

-It's been chosen

-because it was commissioned...

-..for the Cerdd Dant Festival

-in Wrexham.

-Near Wrexham, is the Erddig

-stately home. Erddig-gan - Erddigan.

-APPLAUSE

-Three choirs are singing tonight.

-Cor Meibion Taf, Cor Meibion

-Y Traeth and Cor Y Brythoniaid.

-I'm conducting all three choirs

-as they sing Heriwn, Wynebwn Y Wawr.

-It's a challenging piece, the set

-piece at the Ebbw Vale Eisteddfod.

-It's also been a set piece

-at Llangollen.

-It's an ideal composition

-for a male voice choir.

-I can't think of a choir

-that doesn't enjoy singing it.

-It's an opportunity to show

-a choir's power and strength.

-# Many,

-so many are those who maintain

-# That the fire purifies

-# And the flames won't keep burning

-# For long

-# Rumours and murmurs

-# Again and again

-# Of the sun's final setting

-# The body is weary

-# Yet there and still living, a song

-# Doubters will warrant

-that everything dies

-# That even the oak tree

-# Majestic and mighty must fall

-# The spirit of birth regenerating

-# Concealed in the darkness

-# Will grow in the fullness of time

-as tall

-# Winter weighed down

-for years too many to count

-# On the shoots and their growing

-# On spring her yearning desire

-# Now all around us

-the snow disappears

-# It's a dawn that will wake us

-# A sun that will warm us

-# A day that will light us a fire

-# A day that will light us a fire

-# Our hearts swell with song

-# Onward, forward to the morrow

-# Casting all doubting away,

-fiery of spirit

-# For the future's beginning

-# For the future's beginning

-# Beginning

-# For the future's beginning,

-beginning

-# Beginning

-# Today

-# Today #

-APPLAUSE

-.

-888

-888

-

-888

-I live on Anglesey.

-I visit the coast, I've walked

-the coastal path many times.

-The scenery inspired me

-to write Morluniau.

-I wrote Cemaes

-for a string orchestra.

-We're on the beach

-on a summer's day.

-The children are playing and you

-can possibly hear donkeys braying.

-APPLAUSE

-Can Herod is a frightening song.

-It's a "scena", an operatic scene...

-..for a baritone and ensemble.

-It's an amazing song to perform.

-It gives me so much pleasure.

-I hope you can sense the fear.

-# Who on earth

-would choose to be a king?

-# Let me tell you

-# Everyone

-# Everyone wants to be a king

-# Consider me

-# I slaughtered babies

-in my research for this

-# Jewish boys with curly hair

-# Drivelling on their frocks

-and sucking their dummies

-# Yes, Father

-# Did I do that for fun?

-# Could I face even one pair

-of those eyes again?

-# Even in my dreams

-# Not likely

-# But consider this

-# Any one of those little rascals

-could take my crown

-# And use it as a potty

-# Babies are so sweet and cute

-# I agree, I suppose

-# But they're not babies for ever

-# Those little Jew boys

-sucking their thumbs

-# In no time, any one of them

-# Could take a sword

-and plunge it through my heart

-# Just to be Herod themselves

-# And maybe become

-an even worse Herod than me

-# At least, dearest friends

-# I completed the deed cleanly

-# I made sure

-that one wasn't breathing

-# Before moving on to the next

-# And, of course

-# There was this baby

-# How could I have known

-when my counsellors told me

-# That he had been born

-# How could I have known

-that he wouldn't take a swipe at me?

-# I had the power

-# And if you don't know

-what power means

-# Power means striking fear

-# Consider the fear you can strike

-# The only people that fear you

-are innocent women

-# Or a couple of typists

-in a dust-covered office

-# You're aware of how this power

-can frighten you

-# Power can send you insane

-# Consider if you had

-this extreme power

-# The power I had in Canaan

-# And in Lidice

-# And in Budapest

-# And Buchenwald

-# The circumstances, my friends

-# Control our actions #

-APPLAUSE

-Fferm Yr Anifail is another

-of Gareth Glyn's compositions.

-This work appeals to young people...

-..because the message in the song

-is relevant.

-We can empathize with the message

-he's trying to convey.

-It gives us a better understanding.

-# Hear the whispers

-# On the breeze

-# Hear the murmuring

-# In the trees

-# Hear the leaves

-# Speaking the words

-# "Freedom came to stay"

-# Hear the cuffs

-# Hear the bridles

-# Hear the shackles

-# Loosening

-# Hear the sound of feet

-# Hear the breathing

-# The enemy has fled

-# The pressure

-# Has eased

-# There's hope

-# In the soil

-# There's lightness

-# In the headland

-# Celebration

-# On the mountain pasture

-# Hear the cuffs

-# Hear the bridles

-# Hear the shackles

-# Loosening

-# Hear the sound of feet

-# Hear the breathing

-# The enemy has fled

-# Freedom, freedom

-# Sweet the honeysuckle

-# Full of hope

-# Oppression driven out

-# Freedom

-# Hear the chains

-# Cast away

-# Hear the bars

-# Tumbling down

-# Hear the chorus

-# In the fields

-# Today is the wondrous day

-# Hear the cuffs

-# Hear the bridles

-# Hear the shackles

-# Loosening

-# Hear the sound of feet

-# Hear the breathing

-# The enemy has fled

-# Freedom

-# Freedom

-# Freedom #

-APPLAUSE

-.

-888

-888

-

-888

-APPLAUSE

-Llanrwst, the solo for a tenor

-with piano accompaniment...

-..is one of the most familiar

-and well-known pieces.

-It's been sung many times

-by different tenors.

-It's a very simple song.

-The music came almost instantly

-after reading my father's words.

-It was written the year he died.

-There's a sad and bitter-sweet

-emotion in the words.

-The words convey a longing

-and I sense a longing for my father.

-# No night did pass across this vale

-# When I was not a bead of dew

-# Desiring the cool spring of dawn

-# Over blades of grass

-abroad the vast expanse

-# No summer

-slipped through the keyhole

-# That I wasn't grateful for it

-# To recall the lake

-between Geirionnydd and the town

-# And the sun's colour is reflected

-# The mountain's backdrop

-# Lies between me and the grey town

-# Where the prospect of summer

-shades behind the gate

-# And the bridge

-dips its toes in the river

-# As lovers meander across it #

-APPLAUSE

-We're singing an anthology

-from the musical Branwen.

-Gareth Glyn composed it

-with his wife.

-I was fortunate to be

-in the original production...

-..with Anglesey Youth Theatre.

-It's a privilege to sing it tonight

-on the composer's birthday.

-His son, Peredur,

-is singing with the choir.

-He plays the part of Efnisien.

-Look out for him.

-It's some performance!

-# We often have feasts in Aberffraw

-# But this was the greatest of all

-# Any minor excuse will do

-for feasting

-# But we had good reason

-for this celebration

-# An important visitor

-came with the fleet

-# And in the court,

-he'll receive a warm welcome

-# He asks for the hand

-of our princess

-# This is going to be a big night

-# We'll celebrate, we'll drink

-# We'll sing

-through the night until dawn

-# The meat is roasting,

-the mead is flowing

-# Everyone's welcome at the feast

-# At the feast

-# At the feast

-# That's it, it's all over,

-let's return to Ireland

-# Our king feels let down

-so go with heads bowed

-# We won't stay any longer,

-we won't stay any longer

-# You have insulted us

-# Listen to me, it's all over,

-let's return to Ireland

-# You have shamed our King,

-go home disappointed

-# You have shamed our King,

-go home disappointed

-# You have insulted us

-# Oh, my dearest horses

-# They have all been slaughtered

-# I can never replace them

-# I'll never find horses like these

-# What happened? Are you insane?

-# This is a massacre

-# You should wise up -

-why did you do this?

-# On the day of my wedding

-# What came over you?

-Are you insane?

-# I didn't do it, it's not my doing

-# I didn't touch them,

-I didn't harm them

-# I didn't do it, it's not my doing

-# Don't wrongly accuse me

-# I didn't do it, it's not my doing

-# I didn't touch them,

-I didn't harm them

-# I didn't do it, it's not my doing

-# Don't wrongly accuse me

-FOUR SOLOISTS REPEAT THEIR LINES

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# Across my back to the other side

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# To the greatest victory of all

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# Across my back to the other side

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# If you want to be a leader,

-be a bridge

-# The greatest victory of all #

-APPLAUSE

-.

-888

-888

-

-888

-Hedydd Yn Yr Haul

-was the first piece I composed.

-I had just started at university

-at the time, back in 1970.

-I admired the work of my father,

-T Glynne Davies...

-..as a poet and novelist.

-I selected sections of

-Hedydd Yn Yr Haul...

-..one of his long poems...

-..to be performed by a narrator

-and chamber orchestra.

-Here's an anthology of the poem.

-The "hedydd" - the young man, and

-the "clacwydd" - the chapel deacon.

-They have different views

-of Sunday afternoon worship.

-This was my Wales.

-A Wales full of chatter.

-As if everyone's fate

-was to cry and suffer in pain.

-As if everyone

-had to fight for light.

-As if everyone had to pay a penny

-for a college brick.

-As if everyone had a conscience

-about other people's sins.

-My Wales was full of little people.

-In navy blue suits.

-Talking of traditions, drunk

-on heritage which was only wind.

-A nation that gathered outside

-the gate after the service.

-A cigarette, prohibited for an hour,

-at their lips at last.

-Chatting about those who used

-to talk about right and wrong.

-"You should remember so-and-so...

-"..who put the world

-to rights in an instant."

-Everyone convinced that their own

-was the good life.

-This life gave meaning to

-the constant drone of the universe.

-Then a general chat

-about the seasons and the weather.

-"It would rain tomorrow

-which was good for the garden"...

-.."And how terrible

-people could be."

-People...

-..were objects.

-They preferred bingo,

-prostitutes and a pint.

-They refused everlasting hope

-in a chapel...

-..an eisteddfod, a harmonium,

-family life and Irish tenors.

-Not like us...

-..with heritage

-coursing through our veins.

-Tradition sprung roots

-under our soft feathered hats.

-The chapel gate after a service

-was the place to be.

-"True enough, my son.

-"It was like that during your time.

-"You made glory sound like a sin."

-Think about it.

-Twilight towards the end of summer.

-The nights drawing in.

-A chill in the air outside.

-Enough daylight to attract flies.

-We would be out, in navy blue suits,

-if you insist.

-Out come the smokes and the stories.

-A trip down memory lane.

-The preacher and his preaching,

-his text and his sermon.

-Before returning home for supper

-and a sing-song at the piano.

-Before bedtime.

-True enough.

-It was good to be

-one of the disciples...

-..for a day.

-APPLAUSE

-I'm singing Bwydo'r Adar...

-..a story of the singer

-feeding the birds.

-The birds return

-after the snows of winter.

-I describe the little birds

-as they come to search for crumbs.

-# When the snow comes with the dawn

-# To cover lawn and chimney

-# No bird will suffer any need

-# We'll give them food aplenty

-# A spade becomes the robin's perch

-# And in the birch a sparrow

-# Two blue tits quarrel by the door

-# One more stands by the window

-# Magpies and jackdaws

-join the crowd

-# And starlings loudly chatter

-# It seems that every single bird

-# Has heard about our larder

-# And on those green and easy days

-# When springtime pays a visit

-# The joy of birdsong's

-heard all day

-# The joy of birdsong

-# The joy of birdsong

-# The joy of birdsong's

-heard all day

-# They're paying for their banquet #

-APPLAUSE

-We're singing Dryw Bach Drwg

-by Gareth Glyn.

-In the song...

-..the wren makes up a story

-about a fire in the forest.

-It tells all the forest's

-inhabitants and they all leave.

-The lion hears about the story.

-It doesn't like what he's heard and

-knows there's no fire in the forest.

-It doesn't kill the wren...

-..but punishes it by forcing it

-to live in the brambles.

-# Early one morning

-the wren complained

-# "Indeed, indeed, life is boring!"

-# He dropped from the branch

-down next to a rabbit

-# And said in her ear,

-"Did you hear?

-# "Hush!

-# "There's a fire in the forest!

-# "Great raging flames

-are spreading through the trees

-# "It's coming this way,

-go, run at once

-# "There's a fire in the woods,

-the worst fire ever!"

-# Off went the rabbit,

-like lightning through the woods

-# "Why are you running?"

-said a spiky hedgehog in amazement

-# "Oh, come on!" said the rabbit,

-"Look lively

-# "There's a fire in the woods,

-the worst fire ever!"

-# The hedgehog became a spiky ball

-and it rolled after the rabbit

-# The rumours about fiery flames

-spread among all the animals

-# And everyone fled - the fluffy

-little bunny, the big fat elephant

-# The bear and the turkey

-and the eagle

-# And all the birds

-# And the camel and the tiger,

-who roared ferociously

-# The clever little monkey,

-the fat buffalo

-# And the King - the lion!

-# Said the lion authoritatively

-# "I demand to know

-who made up this story?

-# "We must question him thoroughly

-# "Then punish him!"

-# The answer came from the buffalo

-and the clever little monkey

-# And the bull and the camel

-# And the eagle and the turkey

-# The bear and the elephant

-and the fox and the hedgehog

-# The story was traced back

-# To a fluffy little bunny

-and silly little bird

-# Everyone listened to hear

-what the lion would say

-# What punishment

-would the king mete out?

-# After pausing a moment,

-he closed one eye

-# And an idea came to him

-# "Silly little wren!

-There's no point killing you

-# "I like to hear your song

-in the morning

-# "So you shall live,

-if you really are sorry

-# "But you must spend

-your time wisely

-# "And live among brambles

-for the rest of your life!"

-# And that was the end

-of the hullabaloo

-# Of the silly little bird

-who told lies #

-APPLAUSE

-.

-888

-888

-

-888

-Mabinogi was written

-for a chamber ensemble.

-It's based on the four branches

-of the Mabinogion...

-..and depicts the stories

-in instrumental music.

-Pwyll, Pendefig Dyfed

-reflects the story...

-..of Pwyll

-trying to capture Rhiannon.

-Even though she's riding slowly

-and he's racing at a canter...

-..he is unable to capture her.

-The music portrays his frustration.

-APPLAUSE

-We're singing a song

-called Ffair Machynlleth.

-It's one of Gareth Glyn's

-most recent compositions.

-It tells of the hustle and bustle

-of Machynlleth Fair.

-The different stalls

-and places to eat.

-There's a section in the middle

-with a lot of chatter.

-It's a challenging piece

-but we enjoy singing it.

-# It doesn't matter where you go

-# I know you'll never find

-# A place like

-# A place like Machynlleth Fair

-# Stalls line the high street

-# Everyone poking thumbs and fingers

-# In the vegetables,

-fruit and picture frames

-# In china and crockery

-# Nuts and ointments and bedlinen

-# Games, puzzles and petticoats

-# Petticoats

-# You can buy axes,

-dog food and buckets

-# And bright curtains for your home

-# Batteries for watches,

-necklaces and marbles

-# And bibs for babies

-# Locks, nails, honey and sweets

-# Charming treasures

-# And cakes

-# Cakes

-# Cakes

-# I'll have a great time

-on the dodgems

-# Which whizz right by

-# I'll have a ride

-on the merry-go-round

-# I'm bound to feel dizzy

-# The helter-skelter makes me scream

-# As I slide all the way down

-# Looking for love from a lucky lad

-# Or a cuddle from a lucky lady

-# Standing and chatting

-next to the Indian food stall

-# Standing and chatting

-next to the Indian food stall

-# Standing and chatting

-# And a stolen kiss in the dark

-# The excitement grows

-# As night falls

-# But that's another story

-# Stalls line the high street

-# Everyone poking thumbs and fingers

-# In the vegetables,

-fruit and picture frames

-# In china and crockery

-# Nuts, ointments and bedlinen

-# The games, puzzles,

-batteries for watches

-# Necklaces and marbles,

-locks, nails, honey and sweets

-# Charming treasures

-# And cakes

-# It doesn't matter where you go

-# I know you'll never find

-# A place like

-# Machynlleth Fair #

-APPLAUSE

-The next piece is an anthology

-of a collection for a harp soloist.

-It's called Chwarae Plant.

-This piece is not child's play

-for the harpist.

-The title refers to toys children

-used to make for themselves.

-APPLAUSE

-All the performers gather

-at the end of the concert...

-..to sing Iesu Yw.

-Male voice choirs, mixed choirs,

-children's choirs, youth choirs...

-..ensembles, organ,

-soloists and brass bands.

-It will be a great finale.

-Somehow or other...

-..it combines everything we love

-as a Welsh nation.

-There's something inherently Welsh

-in the performance.

-Everyone sings together - amateurs,

-children and professionals.

-# Soundly sleeps Judea

-# Deep in tender dreams

-# Only gentle breezes

-# And softly flowing streams

-# Break the perfect silence

-# On this holy night

-# Murmuring glad tidings

-# As their song takes flight

-# As their song takes flight

-# Praise be given

-# He is come!

-# Sound the trumpet

-# Strike the drum

-# Soul, take wing

-# Loudly sing

-# Born this night is Christ the King

-# Wise men bring their treasures

-# To the lowly stall

-# Shepherd kneel in wonder

-# Before the Lord of all

-# Kings and lowly vassals

-# Join the swelling throng

-# All as one united

-# Praising Him in song

-# Praising Him in song

-# Praise be given

-# He is come!

-# Sound the trumpet

-# Strike the drum

-# Soul, take wing

-# Loudly sing

-# Born this night is Christ the King

-# Brightly dawns the sunrise

-# On this day of days

-# Sending out the good news

-# In a dazzling blaze

-# And all who hear the anthem

-# Add their joyful voice

-# Let the song redouble!

-# All the world rejoice!

-# All the world rejoice!

-# Praise be given

-# He is come!

-# Sound the trumpet

-# Strike the drum

-# Soul, take wing

-# Loudly sing

-# Born this night is Christ the King

-# Christ the King #

-APPLAUSE

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

-.