Pennod 9 Noson Lawen

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-I'm David Oliver.

-Welcome to Noson Lawen.

-I'm sure you can guess

-from my accent where we are!

-Gwilym Bowen Rhys and the folk group

-Alaw are starting us off tonight.

-Welcome

-to the Montgomeryshire Noson Lawen.

-# O Santiana, blow your horn

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# Send fair winds to round the Horn

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# In distant Wales, in distant Wales

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# I love that country

-from where I hail

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# My father's house

-is fine and white

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# The red-rose garden a delight

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# In distant Wales, in distant Wales

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# I love that country

-from where I hail

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# The birds sing in bush and fern

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# My faithful dog awaits my return

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# In distant Wales, in distant Wales

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# I love that country

-from where I hail

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# At the door are Mam and Dad

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# No better country can be had

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# In distant Wales, in distant Wales

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# I love that country

-from where I hail

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# The sails are frozen and forlorn

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# Send fair winds to round the Horn

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# In distant Wales, in distant Wales

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# I love that country

-from where I hail

-# My home is in distant Wales

-# In distant Wales, in distant Wales

-# Ai-o Santiana!

-# I love that country

-from where I hail

-# My home is in distant Wales #

-Thank you to Alaw

-and Gwilym Bowen Rhys.

-Welcome to Llanfair Caereinion.

-We have a fabulous evening in store.

-Sian James, Cut Lloi, Eilir Jones...

-..to name just a few of the artists

-ready to entertain you.

-And there's a surprise at the end,

-but I won't say any more for now.

-Are you fans of rugby?

-Yes!

-I went down for the first time

-last year to Cardiff.

-A gang from Llanfair

-like delinquents.

-We met in the Red Lion in Llanfair.

-We argued a bit, not knowing

-quite how to reach Cardiff.

-We argued among ourselves.

-To settle it,

-we asked the chap behind the bar...

-.."Can you tell us

-the best way of going to Cardiff?"

-"Are you walking or going by car?"

-"In a car," I said.

-"That's the best way," he said.

-We went down. The place was packed.

-It was boiling hot.

-Everyone was there,

-drinking and singing.

-In front of me was on old man

-with an empty seat beside him.

-I didn't like to pry.

-After a couple of pints,

-I asked about the empty seat.

-"Excuse me. I see

-you don't have anyone with you."

-"I bought a ticket for me

-and my wife, but she's dead now."

-"Sorry," I said,

-"sorry to hear that.

-"Have you kept the seat empty

-to remember her?"

-"I tried to sell the ticket

-to some of my friends."

-"Where are they?"

-"They've gone to the funeral."

-We have a stage full

-of happy young faces next.

-Llanfyllin Young Farmers

-have a reason to smile.

-The club's celebrating

-its 80th birthday this year.

-To perform Yma Wyf Innau I Fod...

-..with Catherine Parry conducting

-and Manon Watkins on the piano...

-..please welcome

-Llanfyllin YFC choir!

-# Two are battling it out

-outside the Pendeitsh

-# While the river still spews

-its pain into the estuary

-# The sound of bottles smashing

-as a marriage breaks down

-# And, as usual,

-no-one bothers to ask why

-# Girls without wedding rings

-are lying through their teeth

-# The town seems

-to have fallen over itself

-# But the moon continues to shine

-over these dirty streets

-# Like every amusing town

-in the world

-# It's a riot

-# And there's no star

-# For me tonight above my head

-# I'm a drunken mess but I know

-# That this is where I belong

-# Another new day

-slithers down Pool Street

-# The lads from the far side

-come in droves

-# They're coming to complain

-that there's nowhere better to go

-# Before going to the Harp

-to drink with their granddads

-# They have no dreams,

-or any white ships

-# But they have each other

-# Right from the cradle

-# And the sun still lifts

-the spirits of the locals

-# Like every amusing town

-in the world

-# It's a riot

-# And there's no star

-# For me tonight above my head

-# I'm a drunken mess but I know

-# That this is where I belong

-# The boys with their eagle eyes

-# Fill the air

-with their colourful language

-# They own the pavement

-of every street

-# Every street

-# But they, with their language,

-keep this town alive

-# Like every amusing town

-in the world

-# It's a riot

-# And there's no star

-# For me tonight above my head

-# I'm a drunken mess but I know

-# That this is where I belong

-# It's a riot

-# And there's no star

-# For me tonight above my head

-# I'm a drunken mess but I know

-# That this is where I belong

-# That this is where I belong #

-Thank you to Llanfyllin YFC choir.

-One of the best-known faces

-in the Welsh folk scene is next.

-Montgomeryshire blood

-flows through her veins.

-Sian was born and raised

-in Llanerfyl.

-She's made a priceless contribution

-to her area.

-The first song I'm going to sing

-is Fflyff Ar Nodwydd.

-I haven't sung it for many years.

-It's a song I wrote

-with a very dear friend...

-..the late Angharad Jones.

-We wrote many songs together

-in the '90s...

-..but this is my favourite.

-It's great to have Patrick

-with me too.

-# There are many tracks on my record

-# Some are tuneful,

-some are tuneless

-# But from all the tracks and tunes

-# You're the one

-# Oh, who lights up my world

-# You're the needle

-that goes through the tracks

-# Like a crack on slate -

-leaving a mark

-# I'm stuck with the same tune

-# Boring, useless

-# It almost overwhelms me

-# It's not fair,

-but that's how it is

-# You're the groove in my heart

-# The rest is noise,

-you're melodious

-# And me?

-# I'm just fluff on your needle

-# Fluff on a needle hanging on

-# Like the wool of an old sheep

-stuck in the drain

-# Good for nothing,

-wanting to fly free

-# Stuck in the thorns

-# Oh, night and day

-# The days of the record

-are like your days

-# They're numbered

-with the dawn of the CD

-# Fluff on a needle spoils the sound

-# I'd better change,

-I'd better change

-# I'd better change the machine

-# And move on

-# I'd better change,

-I'd better change

-# I'd better change the machine

-# And move on #

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-Subtitles

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-Welcome back.

-Ysgol Pontrobert is the only

-Welsh school in the Vyrnwy Valley.

-It's a musical school.

-This next group was successful...

-..at the recent Urdd Eisteddfod

-in Bridgend.

-Coached by Catherine Parry

-and with Haf Watkin accompanying...

-..get ready to be scared

-in Grandma's house!

-Here are Ysgol Pontrobert.

-# An angry scarecrow

-with the shadow of a giant

-# All spirits, large and small

-# Disappear before dawn

-# A long face just like a witch

-# Scratches the small window

-# Outside Nain's house

-# Outside Nain's house

-# By the small window

-# An angry scarecrow

-with the shadow of a giant

-# All spirits, large and small

-# Disappear before dawn

-# A squeaky door from a bygone age

-# Skull shapes in the dark

-# In Nain's house

-# In Nain's house

-# A skull in the dark

-# An angry scarecrow

-with the shadow of a giant

-# All spirits, large and small

-# Disappear before dawn

-# A bat's shadow on the wall

-# A large rat that's not been caught

-# In Nain's house

-# In Nain's house

-# A bat on the wall

-# An angry scarecrow

-with the shadow of a giant

-# All spirits, large and small

-# Disappear before dawn

-# Before dawn

-# Before dawn

-# Ooh #

-Thank you, Ysgol Pontrobert.

-We have a famous face

-of Welsh comedy next.

-Sit back and get ready to laugh

-so much it hurts.

-Please give a Montgomeryshire

-welcome to Eilir Jones.

-Thank you, Llanfair Caereinion,

-for the welcome.

-It's nice to be in the countryside.

-I love the countryside.

-I live in the countryside myself.

-Someone said they thought...

-..that the countryside

-was like the Third World.

-I don't know.

-One's full of uncivilized people...

-..and the other's in Africa

-and places like that.

-I was glad to hear

-that people from around here...

-..care about the less fortunate.

-An old woman

-from Llanfair Caereinion...

-..left a fortune in her will...

-..to the needy, the poor,

-the uncivilized...

-..to people who lived in huts.

-And d'you know what?

-A party was thrown

-when the money was received...

-..by the people of Cefn Coch.

-I live in a village

-called Llansannan.

-Llansannan is a small village,

-but it's larger than Meifod.

-What I like about Meifod is

-on the way in...

-..you find out how many people

-live there and what they're like.

-It says on the tarmac - 30, Slow.

-A man from Birmingham

-has moved to Llansannan.

-He said recently that

-nothing happened in Llansannan.

-Nothing happens?

-In the winter in Llansannan,

-there's plenty to do.

-We have whist drives and funerals.

-The Welsh word for a funeral

-around here is 'cligeth'.

-Both are similar.

-You get a bad deal in both.

-Spades are handy in both too.

-We have a little shop in Llansannan.

-It's very small.

-A jockey could hit his head

-on the door as he walks in.

-It's narrow,

-there's not much room for manoeuvre.

-If you bought a Curly Wurly,

-you'd walk out with it...

-..pointing towards the door in case

-it took something off the shelves.

-They used to sell French sticks

-but they were too long.

-Some fool bought a French stick

-and put it under his arm.

-As he turned, he knocked over

-30 worth of Ty Nant water.

-That's two bottles to you and me.

-There was water everywhere

-on the floor.

-A woman came in thinking

-she'd reached Cantre'r Gwaelod.

-Between the water

-and the tears of the shopkeeper...

-..seeing her profit disappearing,

-it was like a tsunami.

-The woman who'd walked

-into the shop slipped...

-..and landed on her back

-in the fruit and vegetable display.

-She was a large woman.

-It took four people

-a quarter of an hour to lift her...

-..and another two to

-pull a courgette from her backside.

-It was awful.

-No-one ate ratatouille

-in Llansannan for a month after.

-"Would you like ratatouille?"

-"No chance!"

-I live in an old house

-in the countryside.

-How can I tell

-I live in an old house?

-Is it on tithe maps?

-I don't know.

-Can I see on the deeds

-the age of the house?

-No. No idea.

-How do I know it's an old house?

-Because it costs a fortune

-to warm the place!

-I remember going as a child,

-not much smaller than I am now...

-..to Nain and Taid's house.

-That really was a cold house.

-Blimey!

-They didn't have a fridge.

-It was cold enough in the house.

-If they did have a fridge, everyone

-could go there to keep warm.

-Nain and Taid's bedroom

-was really cold.

-Do you know what?

-In 1912, before World War I,

-who came to stay for two weeks...

-..but Scott of the Antarctic -

-so he could acclimatize.

-He'd have stayed longer...

-..but the polar bear that was him

-developed frostbite.

-Goodness me, it was cold!

-The first thing Taid did

-after getting up in the winter...

-..was break the ice

-on the pee-pee pot.

-Nain would de-ice their spectacles.

-Do you know what was colder

-than Nain and Taid's bedroom?

-The toilet.

-The toilet.

-You'd go to the toilet.

-It would turn into icicles

-before you finished.

-In the olden days,

-people would be too embarrassed...

-..to have toilet paper on display.

-What would they do?

-They'd buy a dolly.

-A dolly with a ballgown.

-It would be put on top of the toilet

-paper to hide the toilet paper.

-When I was ten years old...

-..I wanted to know

-what the dolly had under her skirt.

-I got up one day

-and do you know what she had?

-Thermal knickers!

-The toilet paper itself! Ugh.

-Izal - medicated toilet paper.

-You could rub

-for a quarter of an hour...

-..and there'd be no marks on it.

-It was like Teflon.

-You might as well have rubbed

-your backside with a frying pan.

-It was awful. Useless.

-So Nain and Taid

-occasionally used the Daily Post.

-The trouble with the Daily Post

-is that it left a mark.

-The ink came off.

-I walked into the bedroom once.

-Nain was bent over like this...

-..with Taid behind her

-looking at her backside.

-I got a fright.

-"What are you doing?" I said.

-Taid turned round and said,

-"Shush, I'm reading the obituaries."

-Thank you very much! Goodnight.

-Thank you. I told you you'd laugh!

-Next is a young tenor...

-..who's in his final year at the

-Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

-He was raised in Llanfyllin.

-He was a keen member of the

-Young Farmers when he was younger.

-I've sang once before

-on the Noson Lawen stage...

-..at the 2015 Meifod Eisteddfod

-as part of Tri Tenor Trefaldwyn.

-I've performed

-at the Millennium Centre.

-I've just done a concert

-at Cadogan Hall in London.

-Home isn't far from here, it's

-about 15 minutes from Llanfyllin.

-It's always nice to come home

-to sing to a local audience.

-But it brings, what's the word,

-more pressure.

-He's going to perform one of

-the most beautiful solos in Welsh...

-..Bugail Aberdyfi.

-Please welcome one of your own,

-Robert Lewis.

-# I will venture now to sing a song

-# To woo you back, my sweet love

-# To your rocking chair by the fire

-# On Aberdyfi mountain

-# Why, my sweet maiden, why

-# Did you leave me

-and your perfect children?

-# Little Arthur

-calls for his mother

-# His heart is near breaking

-# The two orphaned lambs

-lie in the grove

-# And the children

-play with the lambs

-# Oh, return

-# My sweet love

-# To Aberdyfi mountain

-# This is how I venture

-to sing a song

-# To woo you back, my sweet love

-# To sit again by the fireside

-# On Aberdyfi mountain

-# I remember your pure voice singing

-# But neither you nor anyone else

-# Can ignore

-a small child's prayer

-# Who wants to see his mother

-# Saying farewell

-was just child's play

-# We will forgive each other

-# And reconcile

-# Come, return

-# My sweet love

-# To Aberdyfi mountain #

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-Welcome back

-to the Montgomeryshire Noson Lawen.

-It would be hard not to hold an

-evening here without our next group.

-The enjoyment they have

-when singing...

-..is a lovely part

-of their performances.

-To perform Ddaw Hi Ddim,

-conducted by Sian James...

-..please welcome Parti Cut Lloi.

-# I have a friend

-whose habit is borrowing money

-# Although this fair lad

-never thinks of paying it back

-# About a month ago,

-I met him on the way to the fete

-# And the fair lad asked to borrow

-three shillings and threepence #

-Well!

-# Said I #

-You're welcome to the money...

-..but the way people

-talk about you...

-# I think that

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# If I look rather foolish

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# Not so foolish

-# Come she won't

-# For a year or so, I've been

-on the brink of marrying a girl

-# Before reaching the altar

-at the village church

-# I proposed to the maid

-in the following way

-# I have a mother and four sisters

-who are very dear to me

-# Will their urgent begging

-secure them a place in our home? #

-Well.

-# Said I #

-I'm sure that living

-with your in-laws is...

-# Noble #

-I know not everyone

-should live with their...

-# Mother-in-law #

-But under current circumstances...

-# I think that

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# If I look rather foolish

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# Not so foolish

-# Come she won't

-# A friend told me he knew of a girl

-# Who would be perfectly suited

-to me

-# I would become

-the object of her affection

-# A widow with a plentiful hoard

-# And childless

-# She had two drawers full of cash

-# And was only fifty years of age #

-Plenty of money, you said?

-# Very good #

-No children?

-# Even better #

-But she's fifty. She's old.

-Old?!

-How old are you?! She isn't old!

-No!

-# I think that

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# If I look rather foolish

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# Not so foolish

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# If I look rather foolish

-# Come she won't

-# Come she won't

-# Not so foolish

-# Come she won't #

-Thank you very much

-to Parti Cut Lloi.

-A group of young farmers

-went out one Saturday.

-One of the lads

-slept under a tree in a park.

-He was blind drunk.

-He began thinking

-of how he'd find his way back.

-He found a path

-along the River Banwy.

-A christening was taking place.

-The minister saw the boy

-and said, "Come to us, sinner.

-"Would you like to be part

-of the service?"

-"Yes, why not?"

-He grabbed the boy

-and put his head underwater.

-He said to him,

-"Have you found Jesus Christ?"

-"No."

-"Right, we'll try again."

-He grabbed him

-and put his head underwater.

-"Sinner,

-have you found Jesus Christ?"

-"Well, no,

-I haven't found him at all."

-"Right, one more chance."

-By this point,

-the minister had had enough.

-He kept his head underwater

-for a couple of minutes.

-He lifts him out and says, "Sinner,

-have you found Jesus Christ?"

-"No," he said. "Are you sure

-this is where he fell in?"

-The next three women

-come from a very cultured lineage.

-They're a well-known family in this

-area - the Moeldrehaearn family.

-Angharad

-teaches at Ysgol Penweddig...

-..Caryl is in her second year

-at Cardiff University...

-..and Manon is in her final year

-at Caereinion High School.

-We're two sisters,

-Caryl and Angharad.

-Manon is our cousin.

-She's the daughter of Dad's brother.

-We've been singing as a family

-for years.

-Informal concerts.

-Plygain services.

-It's only fairly recently

-that we've sang as a trio.

-We'll happily sing

-with any family member!

-They're going to perform

-Chwarae'n Troi'n Chwerw.

-Please give a very warm welcome

-to Triawd Merched Moeldrehaearn.

-# Your life is very pleasant

-# You're happy with your lot

-# But something

-in the back of your mind

-# Is gnawing away at you

-# You fall into the trap

-# Knowing full well

-what you're doing

-# But there's nothing left

-but a foolish notion

-# That it'll all turn out alright

-# But it all falls apart

-# The wine becomes sour

-# The smile turns to tears

-# And the thrill turns to pain

-# And if you are somewhere

-# Listening to my song

-# Don't forget it'll all fall apart

-if you play with fire

-# And then, little by little

-# The pieces fall into place

-# You start to learn how to get

-# The best of both worlds

-# It becomes easier to tell lies

-# That sound as if they're true

-# And you know

-that your cup is full

-# And that the way ahead is clear

-# But it will all fall apart

-# The wine becomes sour

-# The smile turns to tears

-# And the thrill turns to pain

-# And if you are somewhere

-# Listening to my song

-# Don't forget it'll all fall apart,

-when you play with fire

-# Life is too short

-# We run out of time

-# You're fighting

-your own conscience

-# But you're unwilling to compromise

-# You try to ignore

-# The voices in your head

-# They touch the truth

-# Hidden behind the screen

-# You try to close your eyes

-# On what, how and who

-# You know that it's all true

-# And the truth always hurts

-# But it will all fall apart

-# The wine becomes sour

-# The smile turns to tears

-# And the thrill turns to pain

-# And if you are somewhere

-# Listening to my song

-# Don't forget it'll all fall apart,

-when you play with

-# Fire #

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-Welcome back

-to the Montgomeryshire Noson Lawen.

-Robert is waiting eagerly for us.

-To perform L'alba Separa,

-please welcome back Robert Lewis.

-# L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra

-# E la mia volutta dal mio desire

-# O dolci stelle

-# E l'ora di morire

-# Un piu divino amor

-# Dal ciel vi sgombra

-# Pupille ardenti

-# Oh voi senza ritorno

-# Stelle tristi

-# Spegnetevi incorrotte

-# Morir debbo

-# Veder non voglio il giorno

-# Per amor del mio sogno

-# E della notte

-# Chiudimi oh Notte

-# Nel tua sen materno

-# Mentre la terra

-# Pallida s'irrora

-# Ma che dal sangue mio

-# Nasca l'aurora

-# E dal sogno mio breve

-# Il sole eterno

-# E dal sogno mio breve

-# Il sole eterno #

-Thank you to Robert Lewis.

-Like the wind, an hour's passed.

-I hope everyone's had a good time.

-We've had a feast.

-Sian and Parti Cut Lloi

-will play us out.

-Thank you

-for being such a warm audience.

-For the final time,

-please welcome Patrick Rimes...

-..Parti Cut Lloi and Sian James.

-Goodnight.

-Thank you.

-Thank you for the warm welcome

-we've all received tonight.

-In 2015,

-at the Meifod Eisteddfod...

-..I had the honour of working

-with Penri Roberts, Linda Gittins...

-..and youngsters from

-Cwmni Theatr Ieuenctid Maldwyn...

-..on a show about Nansi Richards.

-It was a real pleasure.

-I'm going to sing

-one of the songs from that show...

-..Pennant Melangell.

-The wonderful lyrics

-are by Nansi herself...

-..which makes the song

-even more special.

-But I have a surprise for you.

-Someone's going to be joining me

-to sing the song.

-Please give a warm welcome

-to Rhys Meirion.

-# Take me back

-# To Montgomeryshire

-# The journey

-# Isn't long

-# My soul is already there

-# Preparing

-# For the journey's end

-# The breath of her land

-# I can smell it

-# The path

-# Await my footsteps

-# My name

-# Was written in the books

-# Before I took my first steps

-# My grave

-# In Pennant Melangell

-# Will be five feet

-and one inch long

-# The grouse and pheasant

-will come to my side

-# And so will the shy moorhen

-# And I'll know for sure

-# When the time comes

-# I won't sleep too soundly

-# I'll hear

-the Nant Ewyn stream singing

-# Its solo

-# To the Blaen Cwm waterfall

-# Aah-aah-aah

-# Aah-aah-aah

-# Ooh-ooh-ooh

-# Aah-aah-aah

-# The graveyard in Pennant Melangell

-# Is like a sonnet

-# You can't put a sonnet on a map

-# If you walk there

-# My love

-# Remember to take off your cap

-# Remember

-# To take off

-# Your cap #

-Very good.

-I brought Nain out for a spin!

-Excellent.

-Cut Lloi and the trio, Angharad,

-Caryl and Manon, were fantastic.

-Rhys Meirion at the end.

-And Sian too. Very good.

-The pupils from Ysgol Pontrobert.

-For such young singers,

-they were great. Superb.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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