0:00:00 > 0:00:00- *
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Today we visit a chapel...
0:00:02 > 0:00:06- ..where our greatest hymnwriter - of all worshipped.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08- From Soar, Tynewydd, Cilycwm...
0:00:08 > 0:00:11- ..welcome to - Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:17 > 0:00:22- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:25 > 0:00:30- # Soli Deo gloria #
0:00:42 > 0:00:46- On today's programme, - we visit the Pantycelyn farmhouse...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49- ..where our foremost - hymnwriter lived.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55- We speak to two people who do - a lot of musical work in the area.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- We'll hear performances - by a musical couple...
0:00:58 > 0:01:01- ..who've both won - the Blue Ribband...
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- ..and Cor Cyswllt Cilycwm.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11- Our first hymn - was written by Dafydd William.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14- "O Arglwydd, dyro awel, - A honno'n awel gref
0:01:14 > 0:01:18- "I godi f'ysbryd egwan - O'r ddaear hyd y nef."
0:03:03 > 0:03:08- Our most prolific hymnwriter - was William Williams Pantycelyn.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- During his lifetime, - he wrote 3,000 hymns...
0:03:13 > 0:03:17- ..and contributed greatly - to the Methodist Revival.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20- His home was situated - on the outskirts of Cilycwm...
0:03:20 > 0:03:25- ..where his descendant, - Cecil Williams, currently lives.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27- You were born here, Cecil?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- You were born here, Cecil?- - Yes, I was born here.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32- The family's lived here - since William's time.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37- As you can see, - the house remains exactly the same.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- It's old and it's the same size - as it was in William's day.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46- Windows have been replaced - but other than that, it's unchanged.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- I'm a direct descendant - of Williams Pantycelyn.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- He wasn't born here...
0:03:51 > 0:03:56- ..he was born at his father's home - in Cefn-y-Coed nearby.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Pantycelyn was his mother's home.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- This is where - he wrote his greatest work.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- He married Mary Francis - from Llansawel...
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- ..who he affectionately called Mali.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- They had eight children.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- Two sons and the rest were girls.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- The boys didn't have any children...
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- ..but we're the offspring - of their sister, Sara.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- I'm a sixth generation Williams.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30- For most of his life...
0:04:30 > 0:04:35- ..Williams lived in the rural parish - of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn...
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- ..a few miles from Cilycwm.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43- William Williams travelled - a short distance over the hill...
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- ..to the village of Cilycwm.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- The first meeting - was held in Dygoedydd...
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- ..in 1742...
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- ..followed by - the second in Llwyn Berllan.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01- Shortly afterwards, Tynewydd chapel, - as it stands today, was built.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- He, his wife and maid - would hold services there...
0:05:08 > 0:05:12- ..in the upper room, - according to local sources.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- Lloyd George - came here in August 1913...
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- ..when he held the post - of Chancellor.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- People come here - from all over the world.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- From America, Korea, Patagonia, - and Wales, of course.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35- The record book - listing visitors' names...
0:05:35 > 0:05:37- ..was introduced in 1905...
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- ..and the sixth book is almost full.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02- Many of you will be familiar - with the couple performing next.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- They unite North and South Wales - quite literally!
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- Aled Edwards - is a farmer from Cilycwm...
0:09:09 > 0:09:11- ..while his wife, Eleri, - is from Llangernyw.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- They will perform - another of Pantycelyn's hymns.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- This is O Llefara Addfwyn Iesu.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27- # Speak, I pray Thee, gentle Jesus
0:09:28 > 0:09:34- # O, how passing sweet Thy words
0:09:34 > 0:09:40- # Breathing o'er my troubled spirit
0:09:40 > 0:09:46- # Peace which never earth affords
0:09:47 > 0:09:53- # All the world's - distracting voices
0:09:53 > 0:10:00- # All th'enticing tones of ill
0:10:00 > 0:10:06- # At Thy accents mild, melodious
0:10:06 > 0:10:13- # Are subdued and all is still
0:10:16 > 0:10:22- # Not all the delights of nature
0:10:22 > 0:10:28- # Nor its sweetness of all
0:10:29 > 0:10:35- # Will ever compare with the speech
0:10:35 > 0:10:41- # Pleasant, pure, forgiving of grace
0:10:42 > 0:10:48- # Let me hear the sound of Thy words
0:10:49 > 0:10:55- # From authoritative words of heaven
0:10:55 > 0:11:00- # From within creating delight
0:11:01 > 0:11:07- # Nothing will ever compare
0:11:14 > 0:11:20- # Tell me Thou art mine, O Saviour
0:11:21 > 0:11:26- # Grant me an assurance clear
0:11:27 > 0:11:33- # Banish all my dark misgivings
0:11:33 > 0:11:39- # Still my doubting, calm my fear
0:11:40 > 0:11:46- # O, my soul within me yearneth
0:11:46 > 0:11:53- # Now to hear Thy voice divine
0:11:53 > 0:11:59- # So shall grief be gone for ever
0:11:59 > 0:12:04- # And despair no more be mine
0:12:06 > 0:12:12- # O, my soul within me yearneth
0:12:13 > 0:12:19- # Now to hear Thy voice divine
0:12:19 > 0:12:25- # So shall grief be gone for ever
0:12:25 > 0:12:32- # And despair no more be mine
0:12:33 > 0:12:44- # And despair no more be mine #
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- Eleri and Aled Edwards, - a husband and wife from Cilycwm...
0:12:52 > 0:12:56- ..with their rendition - of O Llefara Addfwyn Iesu.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01- Next is a hymn written by - another local hymnist, Morgan Rhys.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06- This is Helaetha Derfynau Dy Deyrnas - A Galw Dy Bobol Ynghyd.
0:15:17 > 0:15:23- Often, founding a choir in a rural - area brings a community together.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28- That's precisely what Mared Williams - and Aled Edwards have done.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33- We're on top of a hill, - looking out over Mynydd Mallaen...
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- ..and looking down - on the small village of Cilycwm.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- It's a close-knit community - of 400 residents.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46- It's a typical Welsh-speaking - agricultural community...
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- ..though there are - fewer speakers and farmers nowadays.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55- Farms are getting bigger and - we're seeing more incomers nowadays.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00- We feel it's important to retain - Welsh chapel traditions in the area.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05- To a large degree, that's why - the choir came into being.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07- It was formed seven years ago...
0:16:08 > 0:16:13- ..for a special celebration to - celebrate Mared's father's birthday.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- It was a reunion - of Young Farmers' choir members...
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- ..who had - enjoyed success in the 1980s.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- 25 years later, - we had the reunion...
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- ..and decided - to resurrect the choir...
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- ..now we're older and more mature.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- I'm the accompanist - and Aled's the conductor.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- We haven't given him a baton - in case he throws it at me.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41- It's too risky!
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- I'm a real softy - when it comes to conducting.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- I have to admit, I enjoy - the coaching experience more.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- But our main purpose is to have fun.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- Many families - are involved in the choir.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- My father, mother, - two sisters and husband Aled...
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- ..all sing in the choir.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- Other families - make up the choir too.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters. - We're all related!
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- Each of them - has a connection with Cilycwm...
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- ..which is why they're in the choir.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- First and foremost, - it's social and it's Welsh.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- Music is the by-product of that.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27- # O, gentle heavenly Lamb
0:17:27 > 0:17:33- # Excelling earthly things
0:17:33 > 0:17:39- # Whose praise the host of heaven
0:17:39 > 0:17:44- # Continually sings thy grace
0:17:45 > 0:17:50- # Thy gifts, and thy dear love
0:17:50 > 0:17:53- # Fill all the earth
0:17:53 > 0:17:58- # And heaven above
0:18:08 > 0:18:14- # O, mighty source of peace
0:18:14 > 0:18:19- # O, sea without a shore
0:18:20 > 0:18:25- # That in itself contains
0:18:25 > 0:18:30- # An endless, loving store
0:18:31 > 0:18:37- # Thine is the praise, accept it now
0:18:37 > 0:18:45- # From all in heaven, - and earth below
0:18:55 > 0:19:00- # Let all obeisance make
0:19:00 > 0:19:05- # And name the gentle Lamb
0:19:06 > 0:19:11- # The greatest name of all
0:19:11 > 0:19:17- # Were e'er pronounced by man
0:19:17 > 0:19:23- # Let honour, glory, praise and fame
0:19:23 > 0:19:31- # Be ever given to his name
0:19:32 > 0:19:39- # Let honour, glory, praise and fame
0:19:39 > 0:19:47- # Be ever given to his name
0:19:51 > 0:20:00- # Amen #
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- "Let us shout joyfully - to the Rock of our salvation.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- "Let us come before His presence - with thanksgiving.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27- "Let us - shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29- "For the Lord is the great God.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31- "And the great King above all gods.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37- "In His hand - are the deep places of the earth.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40- "The heights of the hills - are His also.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43- "The sea is His, for He made it.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- "And His hands formed the dry land.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49- "Oh come, let us worship - and bow down.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- "Let us kneel - before the Lord, our Maker."
0:20:57 > 0:20:59- We've reached - the end of the programme.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- I hope you've enjoyed our visit - to Cilycwm.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- We end with - one of our nation's greatest hymns.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- The hymn tune is Buddugoliaeth.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13- "Yn Eden, cofiaf hynny byth, - Bendithion gollais rif y gwlith."
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- Until next time, goodbye.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:24:27 > 0:24:27- .