Mwy o'r Maes - Mawrth Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru

-Following yesterday's rain,

-the Wellington boots were needed.

-But thousands flocked to enjoy

-Tuesday at the National Eisteddfod.

-It was worth making the journey

-to Abergavenny as the sun shone

-on the festival this afternoon.

-A chance to enjoy the fourth day

-of competition and socialising.

-Welcome.

-Plenty of people are still enjoying

-the atmosphere here in Abergavenny.

-I can hear Catrin Finch's

-concert in the background.

-Stay with us over the next hour

-as we take a look back at the day.

-Luned Aaron will show

-us around Y Lle Celf.

-We'll take a look at the second main

-ceremony of the week,

-in which a novelist was honoured.

-We'll also find out who won the TH

-Parry-Williams Medal.

-There'll be plenty of laughs

-with Syr Wynff a Plwmsan,

-as well as the day's

-competitions in the Pavilion,

-including one of the favourites,

-the Pensioners' Choir.

-The competitions began

-promptly at 10:00am.

-And among the first to take

-to the stage were the

-soloists aged 16-19.

-After socialising backstage,

-it was time to compete.

-And the first female competitor

-to go before the judges

-was Manon Ogwen Parry from Penarth.

-# Had I the heavens'

-embroidered cloths

-# Enwrought with golden

-and silver light

-and the dark cloths

-# The blue and the dim

-and the dark cloths

-# Of night and light

-and the half-light

-# I would spread the cloths

-under your feet #

-was Elan Meirion from

-Ruthin, Denbighshire.

-embroidered cloths

-# Had I the heavens'

-embroidered cloths

-# Enwrought with golden

-and silver light

-# The blue and the dim

-and the dark cloths

-# Of night and light

-and the half-light

-# I would spread the cloths

-under your feet #

-And the final competitor

-was Tesni Jones from St Asaph.

-# But I, being poor

-have only my dreams

-# I have spread my

-dreams under your feet

-# Tread softly because you

-tread on my dreams #

-Deborah Rees and Ian Baar.

-Here is the result:

-In third place, Elan Meirion.

-Manon Ogwen Parry came second.

-And victorious today

-was Tesni Jones.

-Now, we turn to the

-boys' competition.

-The adjudicators were

-Ian Baar and Eric Roberts.

-And in third place,

-Gwern Llyn Brookes from Llanrug.

-# Give to me the life I love

-# Let the lave go by me

-# Give the jolly heaven above

-# And the byway nigh me

-# Bed in the bush with stars to see

-# Bread I dip in the river

-# There's the life forever #

-# For a man like me

-And in second place,

-Aron Wyn Parry from Dolgellau.

-# Let the blow fall soon or late

-# Let what will be over me

-# Give the face of earth around

-# And the road before me

-# Wealth I seek not, hope nor love

-# Nor a friend to know me

-# All I seek, the heavens above

-# And the road below me #

-name in the Eisteddfod,

-Rhys Meilyr from Anglesey.

-# Let the blow fall soon or late

-# Let what will be over me

-# Give the face of earth around

-# And the road before me

-# Wealth I ask not, hope, nor love

-# Nor a friend to know me

-# All I ask, the heaven above

-# And the road below me #

-Hi.

-My name is Mei Gwynedd.

-I'm here in the Maes B cafe

-running ukulele workshops,

-so you can drop in between 12.00pm

-and 1.00pm every day.

-# Beside the sea

-their beauty telling #

-There are beanbags

-everywhere

-and if the weather

-is nice we can sit outside.

-We play all kinds of Welsh songs

-and everyone loves it and joins in.

-# Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau #

-I really enjoy it here and I'm

-really looking forward.

-There are a lot of activities

-during the next few days

-so I'm looking forward.

-the Alaw Werin competition for those

-aged between 16 and 21.

-The boys' test piece

-was Ym Mhontypridd Mae 'Nghariad.

-The girls performed

-Mil Harddach Wyt Na'r Rhosyn Gwyn.

-They were also required to perform

-a contrasting piece.

-They were also required to perform

-Lowri Jones takes us

-through the competition.

-In the Folk Song Solo 16-21,

-the first to sing on stage

-was Emyr Lloyd Jones

-from Caernarfon, Gwynedd.

-# All the news from the continent

-# The latest from cross the sea #

-The second to perform

-was Ruth Erin Roberts

-singing Mil Harddach Wyt Ti

-and Hen Ferchetan.

-# None would marry

-little Lisa Harris

-# Fol-di-rol-di-rol-lol

-Fol-di-rol-di-ro #

-at the 2015 Eisteddfod,

-Rhydian Jenkins, was

-the last on stage.

-# I have a farm on

-the banks of the Taf

-# O come to me, white-breast #

-to Emyr Lloyd Jones.

-In second place, Rhydian Jenkins.

-Ruth Erin Roberts in third place.

-My name is Emyr Lloyd Jones and I've

-won the Folk Song Solo Under 21.

-I'm very happy to have

-won this prize.

-# A nation's news!

-# The news of the town

-# From Penmaenmawr to

-the lands down South

-# Liverpool, Manchester,

-Birmingham, London

-# Papers!

-Papers!

-# Birmingham papers!

-London papers!

-# The London papers!#

-or vocal and instrumental

-group competition.

-Two groups appeared on stage

-and Sesiwn Caerdydd

-took the second prize.

-# Red and white wine

-# Oh aye oh, oh aye oh

-# Pancakes and bacon

-# Oh aye oh

-Oh aye oh oh aye oh, oh aye oh

-# Oh aye oh

-# You can see us from Porthtywyn

-# Oh aye oh

-# Between the mountains

-and the sea

-# Oh aye oh #

-Tawerin, the instrumental

-group from Neath,

-won the first prize.

-to go to Y Lle Celf yet,

-we'll give you a tour in the next

-part of the programme.

-There'll be plenty of laughs

-with these two in the theatre

-and more highlights from today's

-competitions.

-cleared and you need a break

-from the competing in the Pavilion,

-or the music in the Ty Gwerin,

-maybe you need a space

-where you can relax and think.

-Well, the artist Luned Aaron has

-the perfect place.

-Lle Celf is one of the main

-additions to the Maes,

-it sees up to 20,000

-visitors in a week.

-This year half of the artists

-exhibiting here are doing

-so for the first time.

-and there's a lot of variety here.

-We have work that is

-experimental alongside

-the more traditional works.

-At first glance you may think

-that these are large photographs,

-but, no, these are drawings.

-The winner of the Young Artist

-Scholarship this year is a young

-girl from Ceredigion,

-Gwenllian Llwyd.

-Her work documents chapel goers,

-and questions the decline

-of chapels in Ceredigion.

-She uses videos, photographs

-and sound to create a remarkably

-sensitive piece of work

-that touches the viewer.

-in the Lle Celf this year that don't

-fit neatly into a category.

-One example of this

-is the work of Liam O'Connor.

-Normally he paints portraits,

-but this time he has

-added new elements.

-Every year, there is a special

-exhibition at the Eisteddfod

-about a subject

-relevant to the area.

-This year, the subject is the author

-Raymond Williams, and his famous

-novel, Border Country.

-Here, four of his contemporaries

-in the South look at how Abergavenny

-has changed since the novel

-was written in the '60s.

-It is worth seeing.

-Another artist exhibiting this

-year is Richard Bevan.

-He produced a series

-of unconventional 16mm films that

-include the film projectors

-as a central part of the work.

-The soundless films are definitely

-work a look.

-Lisa Kriegel also wins a medal.

-There are elements of carpentry

-in her work, which is not a surprise

-as she grew up with a carpenter

-father among the tall

-buildings in New York City.

-There is also

-a functionality to her work.

-And winners of the prize

-for architecture are Hall +

-Bednarczyk for the Llandegfedd

-Visitor and Watersports Centre.

-This is an exciting

-local community project,

-where the locality of the building

-has become part of the design,

-as it looks out over

-the water and the mountains.

-The view from the balcony

-is exceptional.

-Amongst the main prizes

-are the Ivor Davies Award

-and the Tony Goble Award,

-and it's lovely to see the public

-being allowed to make a decision

-with the Josef Herman

-People's Choice Award.

-I wonder who will win

-them this year.

-Remember to call in.

-It is certainly worth seeing.

-It is time now to return

-to the stage to enjoy

-the Dialogue competition.

-3rd were Elen and Sioned performing

-a piece from DJ Fawst

-by Elinor Wyn Reynolds.

-Don't think so, mate.

-You people can be so

-forgetful sometimes.

-I don't understand.

-Do you know me?

-Darling, I wouldn't mistake your

-cute little face for another.

-I heard, I arrived,

-I healed.

-Simple.

-Oh, get out of here.

-Think again, brother.

-Take the strain.

-Second were Rebecca Hayes

-and Aron Cynan performing

-a translation of Consellations

-by Nick Payne.

-Do you want me to leave?

-Please.

-Did I do something wrong?

-No.

-Have I done something to upset you?

-I thought we had a nice evening.

-Yes, we did.

-It was your idea to come back here.

-I know, but after considering...

-You asked me if I wanted to come in.

-I know, but now I've

-changed my mind.

-I'm allowed to change

-my mind, aren't I?

-Yes, if I'm allowed to ask why.

-I'd rather not talk about it.

-Are you at least going to tell

-me if it's my fault.

-I just...

-I don't many specifics,

-just in general if it's me.

-I'm going through

-a lot at the moment.

-And in first place, Gwion

-and Math with an excerpt

-from Angels in America.

-That's just a burst blood vessel.

-Not according to the best

-medical authorities.

-What?

-Tell me.

-KS, baby.

-Lesion number one.

-Look.

-The wine-red kiss from

-the angel of death.

-I'm a lesionaire.

-The Foreign Lesion.

-The American Lesion.

-Lesionnaire's Disease.

-Stop!

-My troubles are lesion.

-Don't you think I'm handling this

-well I'm going to die.

-If you want to laugh this week,

-the advice is simple -

-come and see this pair.

-Syr Wynff and Plwmsan,

-welcome to the Eisteddfod.

-Hello, everyone.

-Hiya!

-We are Syr Wynff and Plwmsan.

-Thank you.

-You need a lot of energy

-for that performance.

-This is a preview of

-the show we will be doing

-at the end of the year.

-It's going to be a half-hour show.

-I'm sure we will be match fit

-by the end of the year.

-Going round the place,

-scaring people like us.

-Well done, my faithful little

-soldier.

-you are about to start rehearsing

-with the Bara Caws company.

-Have you also been working

-with the originals?

-Yes, Ellis Owen and Mici Plwm wrote

-the script and the first draft

-is on the table right now.

-So we're performing

-on the Maes today at 2pm

-and on Thursday at 3pm.

-And then we'll be touring the full

-show in November and December.

-It's a show for the entire family.

-Plenty of fun for everyone,

-plenty of physical energy

-and plenty of explosions!

-We also have another show

-on the Maes for Bara Caws.

-As one of Wales' most

-famous double acts, it's

-As one of Wales' most

-important to get it right.

-You have to get

-the characters right.

-It is difficult because they are

-such iconic characters.

-Everyone remembers them.

-The children who grew up

-with them are now parents.

-So it's a big pair of shoes to fill.

-Syr Wynff and Plwmsan,

-thank you very much.

-And thank you very much too!

-and time for the recitations

-to begin on the stage.

-Cerrigydrudion was the set piece

-for the Solo Recitation

-for those aged 16-21.

-Lois Angharad Williams

-won third prize.

-I went to Sioe Cerrig

-on my own this year,

-to try to lift my spirits

-after losing my mother.

-She was a great farmer

-and everything I saw that day,

-I saw through my mother's eyes -

-the stock and all

-the produce on show.

-She loved to judge the eggs,

-the poultry

-and the blackcurrant jam.

-In second place was Nest Jenkins

-from Lledrod in Ceredigion.

-I stood there terrified of the giant

-bird of prey weighing heavily

-on my outstretched left arm.

-The owl's beak and talons demanded

-to be shown respect.

-I looked at its big eyes, worried

-about exactly how hungry it was.

-"Don't be afraid", Islwyn said.

-"You'll get used to it.

-Touch it".

-was Cai Fon Davies from

-Talwrn, on Anglesey.

-Huge congratulations to him.

-Its bones were fragile,

-its skin thin and its heart beat

-softly under my finger.

-I held what I was

-afraid of and stroked

-the immaterial and intangible.

-I touched its soul.

-all of the winners.

-And we will have more in part three.

-We'll be speaking to the winner

-of the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize

-and meeting another

-of the Eisteddfod's

-characters and enjoying

-the Osborne Roberts Memorial prize.

-in Tuesday's main ceremony

-at the National Eisteddfod, and yes,

-there was a worthy winner

-for the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize

-this year.

-There were nine in the

-competition this year.

-There was a lot of variety when it

-came to the material and standard.

-There was a lot of work to read

-and re-read these because many

-were quite long novels.

-I'd like to congratulate the nine

-authors on their perserverance.

-There is a way of coupling a strong

-storyline that was required

-with deep writing, but many failed

-to do both.

-That made one suspect that some

-authors just wanted to write a novel

-rather than respecting the craft

-or a passionate need to say

-something important.

-Ymbelydredd by 246093740.

-This is a novel about a young man

-from Gwynedd as he follows

-a radiotherapy course in Manchester.

-This is the author who has

-the strongest vision

-and he or she deserves

-to win this year.

-of the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize

-at the Monmouthsire

-and District National Eisteddfod

-2016 is Guto Dafydd,

-who now lives in Pwllheli.

-something in the novel,

-that they hopefully saw that

-I was true to the experience

-and also tried to create something

-innovative with the novel.

-You talked about your

-personal experience.

-Was it difficult to write about?

-Yes.

-It was difficult.

-The tumour was a painful nuisance.

-I was hoping the radiotherapy

-would heal it, but it was

-a six-week experience.

-10 minutes at a time.

-Having to travel to Manchester.

-The treatment damaged my skin.

-It was painful.

-I am glad I was able to come up

-with something creative,

-something that will last much longer

-than the pain.

-Yes.

-Your pseudonym was very interesting,

-the row of numbers.

-Yes.

-I used my NHS number

-because you feel like you lose your

-identity when you receive

-treatment like that.

-I wanted to convey the fact that

-I felt like a number.

-This isn't your first novel,

-but having won a competition such

-as this, it almost gives

-you a certainty that

-the book will sell well.

-It was one reason I chose

-this competition.

-It's a different novel.

-I think a lot of

-people will enjoy it.

-There are stong elements to it

-and I hope it's very readable.

-I hope people enjoy it.

-I'm looking forward to reading it.

-Thank you.

-It's difficult to believe it's been

-a year since Veritas won

-the Daniel Owen Memorial Medal.

-Mari Lisa was the winner.

-Do you have fond

-memories of that day?

-Oh, definitely.

-I remember walking around

-the Maes and thinking,

-"I've had a good

-breakfast, I'm fine now".

-I walked into the Pavilion

-and I was concerned I'd be

-so nervous, but I wasn't.

-It was a truly wonderful experience.

-And since then, it's the book

-sales that are important.

-And the Medal more or less

-secures good sales.

-Yes, definitely.

-It's sold amazingly well.

-There's been such a wide

-range of people who say

-they've enjoyed the book.

-From people in their late 90s

-to people in their early teens.

-And Elwyn, as chief executive

-of the Welsh Books Council,

-can you confirm that these

-winning books sell well?

-Definitely.

-I think it incentivises the writers

-and gives them something to aim for.

-And the publishers are very glad

-that competitions such as these,

-including Book of the Year,

-inspire authors and create

-an interest in books.

-We know the adjudicators praised

-the novel very highly last year.

-They said it was a real page-turner.

-And that also encouraged readers.

-And as a result of that,

-Mari, is there a second

-novel on the cards?

-Yes, there is.

-There's nothing on paper,

-but there is a second novel

-on the cards that will be published

-sometime in the future.

-That's good news.

-Most definitely.

-Both publishers and readers

-are delighted when there's

-a sequel to a popular novel.

-Readers enjoy reading about a set

-of characters and knowing

-they can follow them

-on to another novel.

-Hopefully, the series will continue.

-Thank you both very much.

-is a significant change this year.

-There are competitions

-for individual voices.

-After those competitions,

-the adjudicators will choose

-the best to go forward

-into the Osborne Roberts Prize

-on Thursday.

-In the bass or baritone solo,

-Emyr Lloyd Jones, Steffan Lloyd Owen

-and John Ieuan Jones

-reached the stage.

-Baritone Steffan Lloyd Owen

-from Anglesey took first prize.

-# In its home in the glen

-# In the evening it dreams

-# Dreams of himself

-# Of himself #

-# Of himself #

-Next on stage, the Sopranos.

-Heulen Cynfal, Ffion Edwards

-and Erin Gwyn Rossington

-faced the judges.

-And Heulen Cynfal from Bala,

-Gwynedd, was victorious.

-# The nightingale aright

-# She doth warble in the day

-# Doth warble, warble, warble

-# Doth warble in the night. #

-# Doth warble, warble, warble

-# Doth warble in the night. #

-My name is Gwyn Jones.

-I am the stage manager

-for the National Eisteddfod.

-That means I look after the Pavilion

-between competitors and competitions

-throughout the day.

-We're a happy crew

-who work well together.

-Ian in the corner over there looks

-after the computerised elements,

-he sends information

-out on the internet

-like the names of the winners.

-Then the stage crew who are always

-full of life and busy moving chairs

-Then the stage crew who are always

-and pianos on and off the stage!

-We're really enjoying

-working here this week.

-at times on the Maes today,

-but in the Pavilion,

-we witnessed the winning performance

-in the Solo Recitation

-from the Scriptures.

-Taking first place was

-Elin Fflur Davies from Llandeilo.

-Just then a man came up

-to Jesus and asked,

-"for someone who is rich to enter

-the kingdom of heaven.

-"Again I tell you, it is easier

-for a camel to go through the eye

-"of a needle than for someone

-who is rich to enter

-the kingdom of God."

-When the disciples heard this,

-they were greatly astonished

-and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

-Jesus looked at them and said,

-"With man this is impossible,

-things are possible."

-Roberts will receive the TH

-Parry Williams Memorial medal.

-And a chance to enjoy two

-of the favourite competitions,

-the hymn singing for those aged over

-60 and the Pensioners Choir.

-returning to the competitions

-in the Pavilion shortly,

-but on the stage this

-lunchtime, the Eisteddfod,

-as it does every year,

-honoured a very special individual.

-It is my pleasure to ask

-the President of the Eisteddod

-Court, Gary Nicholas,

-to come forward to present

-Mair Carrington Roberts with the Sir

-TH Parry Williams medal.

-This year's TH Parry Williams Medal

-went to Mair Carrington Roberts

-for her contribution to the world

-of Cerdd Dant in particular.

-It's difficult to reflect her

-contribution over the years.

-So many children have benefited

-from her leadership and experience.

-What has driven you on through all

-the years, the practicing

-to arrive at this level?

-Well, it's in my blood.

-Music is in my blood

-as I'm sure you know.

-It's not something you can just

-retire from an do nothing.

-I've kept contacts outside my

-work over the years.

-That's been a real benefit to me

-because I've had a really

-pleasant retirement.

-Of course, when I first moved

-to Anglesey I wasn't totally sure

-how thing were going to go.

-I believed that I had

-a contribution to make,

-and there was already such a lot

-of talent on the island.

-I got to train with so many talented

-people and I enjoyed their company.

-I've caught up with

-lots of them this week.

-And I believe the name

-TH Parry Willams means

-something to you personally?

-It does.

-I remember being in the Sixth Form

-at school and beig inroduced to TH

-Parry Williams and becoming hooked.

-But you remember him

-as a person too?

-Yes.

-I regularly used to see him

-and Emiah Parry-Williams

-walking along the prom.

-If he saw someone he knew

-he would raise his hat to them.

-No one wears a hat these days.

-But that was very pleasant.

-It's a different era.

-Congratulations once again, Mair.

-And now we move on to the results

-of the Cerdd Dant Solo for those

-aged between 16 and 21.

-Y Rhosyn a'r Gwynt, by

-Mererid Hopwood was the set piece.

-In third place was Dafydd Wyn Jones

-from Llanrhaeadr in Denbighshire.

-# I stooped one night

-to speak to the wind

-# My heart was beating

-faster and faster

-# We spoke for a second

-about everything and nothing

-# My soul was listening,

-its breath was swift

-Taking second place, Cai Fon Davies

-from Talwrn on Anglesey.

-# I stooped one night

-to dance with the wind

-# My heart was beating

-faster and faster

-# We moved for a minute

-without moving far

-# My soul could hear its rhythm

-But impressing the adjudicators

-most, and winning his second

-competition of the day,

-Rhys Meilyr from

-Llangefni on Anglesey.

-# I'll stoop tonight,

-my head to the ground

-# My heart will know for sure

-# Despite losing my petals,

-I'm whole at last

-# The love of the wind

-has lifted me up #

-I'm thrilled to have won

-the Cerdd Dant after already

-the Cerdd Dant after already

-winning the Boys Solo.

-I wasn't expecting it.

-And from the young performers to

-some of the more mature performers.

-There were two choirs competing

-in the Pensioners Choir

-competition, Cantorion

-Porth-yr-Aur and Hen Nodiant.

-were going for their 7th title

-in the Pensioners Choir Competition

-for those aged over 60.

-But were a choir from

-Caernarfon able to stop them?

-Apparently not this year

-as Porth-yr-Aur came

-second in the competition.

-were victorius under

-the leadership of Huw Foulkes.

-today, Mari Pritchard,

-questioned the use of

-the word 'pensioners',

-these are a talented

-mixed choir, who, yes,

-who are a little bit older,

-but we should celbrate older people

-leading as an example

-to young people.

-Hymn Singing for those over

-60 was next on stage.

-David Mayburry from

-Maesteg came 3rd.

-# You did this might deed

-Oh, Christ, God's son

-# You gave me joy

-anew the race to run

-# Your spirit held

-and guided me along

-# Forever more I'll

-sing the glorious song

-Second, was Gwynne Jones

-from Llanafan, Ceredigion.

-# I turn my face, dear Jesus

-# From everywhere to you

-# In the world's angry

-turmoil and plague

-# Your face brings me peace

-And the winner of the first prize

-crossed the border to compete,

-Glynn Morris from Manchester.

-# Thou didst save a myriad myriads

-# I will push in with them

-# And cry, save even me

-# Remember my

-transgression no more.#

-It is difficult to believe we are

-halfway through the festival.

-We

-have already seen two winners of the

-main ceremonies this week, and we

-can congratulate Guto Dafydd for his

-winning novel. Tomorrow the Gosford

-will be back to welcome the proles

-medallist. It will be lovely to

-enjoy that ceremony in its fold.

-Coverage starts here at 4:30pm. But

-we are competing throughout the day

-on Wednesday. Coverage starts at

-10am. Thank you for your company. I

-leave you with this.

-# When the night begins

-# And the day comes to an end

-# The sound of the guitar keeps us

-warm

-# We sing the old songs

-# Some longing in my heart

-# On a late night with

-a bonfire in the summer

-# The fire's crackling and the smoke

-fills the air

-# In the company

-of a full moon and the stars

-# We can escape

-to some magical dream

-# Addicted to the melody

-and its spell

-# As long as the flames

-remain in the fire song

-# I will still sing my song

-# As long as the fire warms me

-with its heat

-# I can feel you move you closer

-# Moving closer

-# If the flame goes out when dawn

-breaks

-us down. #