Pennod 2 Ffwrnes Gerdd

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-With a renewed interest

-in traditional music...

-..18 performers

-were invited to Fishguard...

-..to perform their favourite songs

-and folk tunes.

-Traditional music has been created

-over a number of years.

-It's been adapted

-by different performers.

-It really is honed.

-Apart from being great songs,

-some sound like contemporary songs.

-That's when I started singing

-folk songs in panic, thinking...

-.."What if no-one recognises

-these songs in 20 years' time?"

-That's the origin

-of the recent demand...

-..for music created in the land

-and inspired by our surroundings.

-What's the point in writing new

-songs when such beautiful songs...

-..already exist in Wales?

-It's high time

-we celebrated the tradition.

-Gareth Bonello. The song is called

-Can Dyffryn Clettwr.

-I first heard the song on a Julie

-Murphy and Dylan Fowler's album...

-..called Ffawd.

-This was on that album.

-It's one of my favourite

-traditional Welsh folk tunes.

-I've always liked it.

-The story behind the song...

-..is a familiar story

-for traditional Welsh music.

-Someone goes away to work on the sea

-and longs for Wales or a lost love.

-That appealed to me

-and the melody is wonderful.

-I wanted to perform my own version.

-I've been performing regularly

-with Richard James.

-We perform a lot of acoustic music.

-It was a good opportunity

-to perform a folk song together.

-# Yes, I spent some happy times

-# In the school in Llw'r Dwen

-# And by following the fishermen

-# Along the River Clettwr

-# I opposed the academics

-# I became a prodigal son

-# I became an unwed sailor

-# Far from Dyffryn Clettwr

-# On the first night,

-heading to Bristol

-# Sailing on the rough seas

-# I shouted at choppy waters

-# "Return me to Dyffryn Clettwr"

-# The strong winds

-became a gentle breeze

-# The rough waves gave way

-to a calm sea

-# The sailor felt such a longing

-# To return to Dyffryn Clettwr

-# I am fond of old friends

-# Jams Y Fadfa and John Blaen'lawon

-# Sianco the blacksmith

-and Twm the hewer

-# All live in Dyffryn Clettwr

-# The faithful sailor

-# Wanted to return

-from foreign climes

-# Faster than the strongest winds

-# To return to Dyffryn Clettwr

-# He roamed across green meadows

-# And embraced women fair and pure

-# But the sailor would always choose

-# A pure woman from Dyffryn Clettwr

-# A pure woman

-from Dyffryn Clettwr #

-Traditional music has been created

-over a number of years.

-It's been adapted

-by different performers.

-It really is honed.

-It's been crafted

-by a community of musicians.

-The songs haven't been written

-by just one person.

-Katell Keineg.

-I've chosen

-Ym Mhontypridd Mae 'Nghariad.

-I first heard it

-on the Edward H album...

-..Hen Ffordd Gymreig o Fyw.

-I was a pupil at Ysgol Rhydfelen,

-just outside Pontypridd.

-It was nice to hear a traditional

-song written about my locality.

-It's a romantic song.

-I used to imagine a farm

-by the river Taff.

-I like Edward H's version.

-I've always wanted to sing it

-and now I have.

-I've tried to whistle

-the Edward H guitar solo...

-..since I can't play the solo.

-This is my homage to them.

-# My lover is in Pontypridd

-# My intention is in Pontypridd

-# A young man lives in Pontypridd

-# I wish to take him

-before the priest

-# I'll spend today one shilling

-# I'll spend tomorrow two shillings

-# And before I lose

-his mother's son

-# I'll try for the three shillings

-# I have heard many songs

-# I have seen many intentions

-# I have seen many pure young men

-# But none as pure as my love

-# My cottage is near the river

-# I have dairy cattle

-# I have a farm on the banks

-of the Taff

-# Oh, come to me, my love #

-Next...

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-We've been performing together

-for around seven years.

-I was 13 when we met.

-I was 19 or 20!

-That was weird -

-playing with a young boy.

-Angharad Jenkins.

-Patric Rimes.

-We're two members of the band Calan.

-We've started performing

-more music together, as a duet.

-It's nice being able to concentrate

-on the two violins.

-I'm really enjoying it.

-The experience of performing

-with the same person for so long...

-..has helped us both

-adapt our style.

-We perform quite well together now.

-I've always enjoyed

-playing the guitar.

-I've started playing

-more acoustic guitar music.

-I took a keen interest in picking

-the strings as opposed to strumming.

-I started looking for inspiration.

-I found Bob Dylan, Martin Carthy and

-all the performers from the '60s.

-Bert Jansch,

-John Renbourn, John Fahey.

-I've been enchanted

-ever since I heard them perform.

-I enjoy playing the guitar.

-There's something about folk tunes

-that suits my voice and personality.

-I'm very comfortable

-performing folk music.

-The song is called Gwen Lliw'r Lili.

-I found the song in a collection

-of Maria Jane Williams's songs.

-It was published

-in the 1838 Eisteddfod.

-Many traditional Welsh songs,

-such as Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn...

-..are part of that collection.

-I haven't heard anyone

-sing this one before.

-# Good day to lilywhite Gwen

-# Today, I happened to see you

-# You are the one I desire the most

-# From all the women of the world

-# Where are the promises

-# And the love

-that was once between us?

-# Expressed to me was the colour

-# Of the star that shone above

-# The cuckoo is in full voice

-# It can be heard across the meadows

-# Happiness all around us

-# On this fine summer's day

-# Poetry in lush green fields

-# The land will always inspire

-# Stories of happiness in our lives

-# The sweet melody of song #

-The two melodies I've chosen...

-..are Mwynen Merch

-and Gwyngalch Morgannwg.

-I'm fond of Mwynen Merch - it's a

-song that works well on the violin.

-It's incredibly simple.

-Gwyngalch Morgannwg

-is far more lively.

-I like performing jigs -

-they're my favourite types of tunes.

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-I don't usually perform

-other people's songs.

-This was a challenge for me.

-Richard James.

-The song is called Y Bachgen Main.

-I found it in a book, a collection

-of songs chosen by Roy Saer...

-..in 1994.

-Gareth Bonello taught me the song.

-It's a song about a young man.

-His lover's mother

-doesn't want her daughter...

-..to be with him because he's poor.

-It's all about

-how that relationship plays out.

-# As I was walking in the winter

-# It was Tuesday,

-the last of the year

-# In the quiet woods, in a low place

-# I heard two women talking there

-# And as I approached them

-much closer

-# And as by that place drew near

-# Who was it talking, there together

-# With her mother was my own dear

-# Dear daughter, here you are

-# With me, your hands free

-# Pure of beauty and attractive

-# I am going to find you a lover

-# Mount the horse, my girl

-# A respectable man to find

-# And worldly goods of yellow gold

-# And shining silver shall be yours

-# If I should have

-all silks of India

-# Persian satins and gold of Peru

-# I'd still like the boy

-of my choosing

-# And I wish to remain true

-# If that 'tis your intention

-# You can lie on a bed of thorns

-# Believe me,

-my words will grow bitter

-# If you go with the slender lad

-# With the slender lad

-I'll surely wander

-# I will tell you what is true

-# I will leave the rest to misers

-# I will venture

-with the flower of my youth

-# For his face

-and hair's the fairest

-# On his cheeks the roses charm

-# Oh, blessed is the girl

-# Who will be sleeping in his arms

-# My lover sailed across the seas

-# And left me on the shore

-# The good Lord gave him

-safe passage

-# As he went on his way

-# I won't cry or fret for him

-# No tears as he goes

-# If he one day returns to me

-# I will be waiting for him

-# In his handwriting,

-I received a letter

-# On its back a seal of wax

-# Nothing would break my heart more

-# But I read it day and night

-# At the bottom, three letters

-# That took away my hopes and dreams

-# He will never return to see me

-# These will send me to his grave #

-The melody I've chosen

-is Diddanwch Gruffudd ap Cynan.

-I was playing this melody

-and I had no idea what it was...

-..or how I knew it.

-Mam was in the other room.

-"How do you know that?"

-"I don't know."

-Mam used to perform with a group

-and they performed that song.

-Through a process of osmosis

-and being around the music...

-..I've learnt it somehow.

-I never sat down

-to try and learn it.

-Gwenan Gibbard.

-I've chosen to perform

-Adar Man y Mynydd.

-It's a song

-from the Ffestiniog area...

-..that was chronicled at

-the beginning of the 20th century...

-..by John Morris.

-In the song,

-a bird is sent as a messenger.

-I'm very fond of the song.

-I've been singing it for many years.

-I'm glad I can sing it for you.

-# The nightingale and the lark

-# And the little birds

-of the mountain

-# Will you carry a message

-to a fair one

-# Who is suffering some new fever?

-# I have no gifts

-# Or expensive jewels to send

-# To bring to mind

-the one who loves you

-# Just a pair of white gloves

-# The little birds departed

-# They flew on their long journey

-# And beside Gwen's bed

-# They sang high up on a branch

-# Fair Gwen said

-# "What is that bird?

-# "That sings so sweetly

-# "And I'm so weak"

-# "Truly, we are messengers

-# "From the one who loves you

-# "He wants to know how you are

-# "And whether you

-are getting better"

-# "Oh, tell him quietly

-# "That I will not live long

-# "Before the end of summer, sadly

-# "I'll be buried in the earth" #

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-Brychan Llyr.

-My sister, Rhian, and I spoke about

-how the dynamics of melodies change.

-Whether they are in a minor

-or major key.

-We discussed different melodies.

-We finally hit upon Calon Lan.

-We changed it to a minor key...

-..and suddenly, when it was sung

-in the right time it was a hymn...

-..but it turned

-into a Russian polka.

-Another strange thing happened.

-The lyrics state

-that a pure heart...

-..is better than earthly riches

-and pearls.

-When it was adapted

-to a minor key...

-..it almost questioned

-this statement.

-Are earthly riches better

-than a pure heart?

-I didn't want it to sound

-too much like a Russian polka.

-I then started singing it

-in 3-4 time, almost

-When I sing it, you'll notice

-I'm singing it on the off beat.

-This permits a lot

-of rhythmic room within the song...

-..and you can add aspects

-from your own imagination...

-..to the images created,

-if you can call sound an image.

-I think you can - why not?

-# I seek not

-life's ease and pleasures

-# Earthly riches, pearls nor gold

-# Give to me a heart made happy

-# Clean and honest to unfold

-# A clean heart

-o'erflow'd with goodness

-# Fairer than the lily white

-# A clean heart forever singing

-# Singing through the day and night

-# If I cherish earthly treasures

-# Swift they flee and all is vain

-# A pure heart enriched with virtues

-# Brings to me eternal gain

-# A clean heart

-o'erflow'd with goodness

-# Fairer than the lily white

-# A clean heart forever singing

-# Singing through the day and night

-# Morn and evening my petition

-# Wings its flight to heaven in song

-# In the name of my Redeemer

-# Make my heart

-clean, pure and strong

-# A clean heart

-o'erflow'd with goodness

-# Fairer than the lily white

-# A clean heart forever singing

-# Singing through the day and night

-# A pure heart

-# A pure heart

-# A pure heart

-# A pure heart

-# A pure heart

-# A pure heart

-# Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh #

-I always used to sing

-and get on everyone nerves.

-My family and friends would say,

-"There's something wrong with her."

-Every time I'm happy -

-I just sing a lot.

-Lisa Jen.

-I was forced,

-like many young Welsh children...

-..to sing in eisteddfodau

-when I was a young girl.

-I hated it. I wasn't very good.

-Every adjudicator would say...

-.."Nice voice

-but her breathing's all wrong."

-That made me feel very angry

-as I look back on my childhood...

-..when I was in my 20s.

-Why wasn't I

-supposed to breathe there?

-I used to sing these songs

-quite often...

-..Lisa Lan and the type,

-on nights out.

-Or after being out

-and returning home...

-..and boring everyone with my songs.

-I realised that many of my friends

-weren't familiar with folk songs.

-"Don't you know

-'Yr Eneth Gadd ei Gwrthod'?"

-I decided to do something about it.

-I didn't want a whole generation

-not knowing these songs.

-That's when I started singing

-folk songs in panic, thinking...

-.."What if no-one recognises

-these songs in 20 years' time?"

-What's the point in writing new

-songs when such beautiful songs...

-..already exist in Wales?

-It's high time

-we celebrated the tradition.

-# I travelled the world

-# Its length and breadth

-# When I was young and foolish

-# There will be grass over my paths

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# Before I might return to Wales,

-my friend

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# There will be grass over my paths

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# If we can have wings of the dawn

-# I'll fly to the hills

-of my homeland

-# To see the big red roses

-# On the cottage

-of my Mother and Father

-# Before I might return to Wales,

-my friend

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# There will be grass over my paths

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# Farewell, Father, farewell, Mother

-# Bolt the door tonight

-# Farewell to the pure little girl

-# Who weeps at the seaside

-# Before I might return to Wales,

-my friend

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# There will be grass over my paths

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# Before I might return to Wales

-# Ooh-ooh-ooh

-# Ooh-ooh-ooh #

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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