Twm Morys: Ofn Cerdd Dant Pethe

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-I've come to the Meifod National

-Eisteddfod with my daughter.

-I'm about to give a public

-performance. I'm scared.

-Dyddgu, it's time for me to die...

-..in front of the nation.

-This is a prop.

-As you know, I never drink.

-I've been performing for years

-as a singer and poet.

-But today's singing

-is very different..

-# Along the winding

-banks of the Tigris #

-I've often wanted to give it a go.

-But I was too chicken to try.

-I'm going to sing Cerdd Dant

-for the first time ever.

-It's alright without the harp.

-I'll perform in front

-of a fierce Cerdd Dant crowd.

-He told me earlier...

-"..I'm shitting bricks."

-LAUGHTER

-Twm Morys!

-# There's the harp and the strings

-# What's the use,

-if no-one plays it #

-Pant yr Hwch Studio,

-Llyn Peninsula, July 15

-I'm not sure of one chord.

-This one.

-HUMS TUNE

-Back to this?

-People have asked me

-to sing Cerdd Dant before.

-I'm a poet. I have a harp.

-They expect me to be good at it.

-What is Cerdd Dant...

-..other than poetry sung

-to the harp's accompaniment?

-Bob Delyn A'r Ebillion,

-the band I sing with...

-..is performing

-at the Eisteddfod too.

-Edwin, Einir and I have to practise.

-But my mind

-is on the other performance.

-I've promised to take part

-in the Cerdd Dant Stomp.

-It's a competition with an audience

-at the Eisteddfod's Ty Gwerin.

-It's light-hearted.

-But the contestants still have

-to sing Cerdd Dant correctly.

-I'm not looking forward to it.

-I'm not looking forward to it.

-

-You'll be fine.

-Einir has sung Cerdd Dant

-since almost before she had teeth.

-You're an old hand at it.

-I've done a bit.

-We're competing against you.

-In the same competition?

-Yes.

-I'm done for!

-I'm done for!

-

-No!

-Good.

-What makes it different

-from the other kind of singing...

-..is that you can't sing

-with the melody.

-No.

-As I understand it,

-the counter melody...

-..must be different from

-the melody, but must go with it.

-It has to fit tidily on it.

-It has to fit tidily on it.

-

-I don't know if I can do that.

-LAUGHTER

-It's like doing this.

-I can't do that either.

-That's the thing with Cerdd Dant.

-The harp accompanies the singer.

-But the harp melody is different

-from the singer's melody.

-To the unfamiliar...

-..it's like expecting

-a squirrel and teapot to get along.

-There's nothing like this craft.

-Very few can do it.

-I don't think I'm one of them.

-July 19

-# When one has lost a loved one

-# Grief is individual #

-I've come to the launch

-of Y Gan Olaf...

-..the late Gerallt

-Lloyd Owen's last book.

-Cor Seiriol sings

-Gerallt's work in Cerdd Dant.

-If anyone can do it, they can.

-# Words will not silence longing #

-HARP PLAYS

-This is the harp melody,

-played on its own at first.

-CHOIR SINGS

-Now the women start

-to sing the counter melody.

-Two different melodies

-interweave perfectly...

-..to transport Gerallt's words.

-# His laughter was fresh air

-# But the wheat darkened

-# And sorrow grew #

-I had to congratulate the choir.

-I found conductor, Gwennant Pyrs...

-..and choir member, Alwen

-Derbyshire, in the bar.

-What struck me was

-the clarity of the words.

-They were possibly clearer

-than a poet reciting his own work.

-They were measured and slow.

-I heard every word.

-I'm glad. That was our intention.

-The words come first, then the

-counter melody on the harp melody.

-That's what you say.

-That's what you say.

-

-The harp melody stays the same.

-The counter melody is different.

-Right.

-It's a kind of dance

-to the harp melody.

-Yes.

-It's important that the harp

-and singer finish together.

-When the counter melody

-marries well with the words...

-..there's nothing better.

-No.

-You don't have to work hard.

-You don't! You know how to do it.

-Hearing the choir was a great help.

-It was a bit frightening too.

-I've seen it in its glory.

-The words were sung better...

-..than some poets

-reciting their own works.

-I'll have to do something similar...

-..in front of the nation...

-..at the National Eisteddfod.

-I'm shit scared.

-The next morning,

-I phone the Stomp's organizer.

-He's a Cerdd Dant star,

-Arfon Gwilym.

-Actually, I just want

-to shout "Help!"

-Hello.

-Hi.

-Yes, the poster has arrived.

-My name is on it.

-It's second on the list...

-..between Ffion Dafis

-and Trefor and Eleri.

-They have very Cerdd Dant-ish names.

-I'll have to do it now.

-There's no escape.

-So I go to meet the Cerdd Dant guru

-at his workplace.

-His voice resounded in the car.

-# Do not be sorrowful,

-with tearstained cheeks #

-KNOCKS ON DOOR

-Hi.

-Hi.

-

-How are you?

-Fine. You?

-Of course,

-I know what Cerdd Dant it.

-How could someone like me not know?

-Exactly. It's in your ear and head.

-The rhythms.

-The rhythms.

-

-Exactly.

-It's one thing to talk about it,

-another to do it.

-Many think there's

-a mystique about Cerdd Dant.

-People worry about rules.

-In essence, it's quite simple.

-Listen to this.

-It will cheer you up.

-OLD RECORDING OF HARP MELODY

-# The world is in trouble,

-everything is wrong

-# The shadow of wars

-on villages and towns #

-This is Edith Evans,

-Harpist Of Snowdonia.

-It was recorded

-at Corwen Pavilion in 1976.

-It was a tribute to Nansi Richards.

-That's a totally different type.

-It's exactly what we want

-in the Stomp, humour.

-If we listened to it all, almost

-every verse has the same setting.

-She sings the first notes

-that come into her head.

-My plan is to sing my own work.

-They're Englynion about

-the black and white stuff, Guinness.

-First, I have to find

-a suitable harp melody.

-Let's try Cainc Y Datgeiniad.

-Come in at seven.

-We'll see what happens.

-HARP MELODY

-Four, five, six, seven.

-"From Wil's house in Alltwalis

-"Along the winding

-banks of the Tigris

-"From the mist on the Pyrenees

-"To the foot of Cadair Idris"

-The melody is still going.

-Unless you start much later...

-..this melody is too long.

-Here's another example.

-Bedw Gwynion is a melody by

-Dafydd Roberts, Harpist Of Mawddwy.

-HARP MELODY

-Four, five, six.

-"From Wil's house in Alltwalis

-"Along the winding

-banks of the Tigris

-# From the mist on the Pyrenees

-# To the foot of Cadair Idris #

-It isn't a funeral.

-What about this one?

-Mwynder Llinos,

-one of Llyfni Huws's melodies.

-Let's try this.

-One, two, three, four, five.

-"From Wil's house in Alltwalis

-"Along the winding

-banks of the Tigris

-# From the mist on the Pyrenees

-# To the foot of Cadair Idris #

-That's ideal.

-That's ideal.

-

-Is it better?

-# In Trelew and Rhydlewis

-# Anglesey

-# And Minneapolis

-# In Nanhoron, in Paris

-# Crewe, Peru and Dumfries #

-I like "Crewe, Peru and Dumfries."

-It fits.

-I've chosen the melody.

-Thank God for that.

-There's only a week to go.

-Good luck.

-Good luck.

-

-See you in Meifod. Maybe.

-The Eisteddfod and Stomp

-are looming.

-I'll practise every second

-of every minute of every hour.

-Will I do it?

-Turn the TV down, children!

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Hello. How are you?

-Hello. How are you?

-

-Very well.

-Ready to sing?

-Ready to sing?

-

-I don't know about that.

-For some reason, I've promised to

-compete in the Cerdd Dant Stomp...

-..at Meifod National Eisteddfod.

-I'll be singing to an audience

-of Cerdd Dant enthusiasts.

-The next step is to compose

-the counter melody for the words.

-It's different from the harp melody.

-We can change the pitch.

-Gwenan Gibbard

-is a Cerdd Dant aficionado.

-She'll be accompanying me.

-What about the order of the melody?

-Did you do that with Arfon?

-We came in when the melody starts,

-and finished when it ends.

-I thought that was a good idea.

-Right! What about the two parts?

-Are there two parts?

-Are there two parts?

-

-Yes.

-Here's the first part of the melody.

-The second part is different.

-GWENAN SINGS MELODY

-Normally, the two parts are used.

-Rather than sing the first part

-for seven verses...

-..we change to the second part

-for some verses.

-Do you want to try

-the first englyn...

-..to see if it flows?

-I'll sing,

-because it comes naturally to me.

-Say the words with me.

-# From Wil's house in Alltwalis

-# Along the winding banks

-of the Tigris

-# From the mist on the Pyrenees

-# To the foot of Cadair Idris #

-You've started to do

-the arrangement!

-# In Krakow, in Caernarfon #

-Gwenan is teaching me

-how to compose the counter melody.

-It isn't easy.

-Even Gwenan sometimes

-finds it difficult.

-Oh!

-Once again.

-# In Trelew and Rhydlewis

-# Anglesey and ... #

-Sorry. I started in the wrong place.

-It can be done.

-# In Trelew and Rhydlewis

-# In Anglesey and Minneapolis

-# In Nanhoron

-# In Paris

-# Crewe, Peru and Dumfries #

-I like that!

-That's fine like that.

-What happens if I break the rules?

-Do the police get involved?

-You'll be burnt at the stake!

-There are rules, of course.

-Like any rule,

-perhaps with Cynghanedd too...

-..it's interesting to be

-creative within the rules.

-It's easy to break the rules.

-But is it as fulfilling?

-Before composing

-the counter melody...

-..I'll have to know the harp melody.

-I recorded Gwenan playing it.

-# HARP MELODY, MWYNDER LLINOS #

-I listened and listened

-and listened.

-I drummed the melody into my head.

-I started to think

-about the counter melody.

-# From Wil's house in Alltwalis

-# Along the winding banks

-of the Tigris #

-Where's the iPad?

-Where's what? Where's the iPad?

-It goes without saying that

-the children are very supportive.

-Ha ha ha.

-I retreated to the shed

-for some peace and quiet.

-The counter melody began

-to fall into place.

-# And Arthur insisted

-it should be black and white #

-But oh, the Eisteddfod is here.

-Meifod National Eisteddfod, August 6

-# From Wil's house in Alltwalis #

-I'm still at it

-on the morning of the Stomp

-# The winding banks of the Tigris #

-I'm rehearsing

-as I approach the lion's den.

-# To the foot of Cadair Idris #

-Years ago,

-they used to hang bad men.

-Thousands of spectators came.

-Look at the thousands queuing

-to get in to see Dad dying!

-I'm glad so many have come.

-I hope

-your expectations are not too high.

-Stomp is a competition.

-There were harsh critics present.

-Will it be thumbs up,

-or thumbs down?

-LAUGHTER

-# An old, old snail with rheumatism

-# Slithered along in hesitant steps

-# Her movements

-were slow, slow, slow

-# But she was still faster

-than Arwyn Groe #

-The humour went down well.

-But the Cerdd Dant

-has to be correct.

-# Awesome, I'm sure

-# Amazing, I'm sure

-# And no-one hassling us

-# Hassling? Who's hassling you? #

-It's taking ages for my turn.

-I'm having cold feet again.

-People worry about the accents.

-Finishing together is what counts.

-The accents aren't a problem.

-It's keeping up with the harp.

-The hour finally came.

-Well.

-Tom Morys!

-As you know...

-..I was born in the Sun Temperance

-Hotel, Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant.

-I was taught the song

-by my mother, Nansi Richards.

-To the black and white stuff,

-or this.

-# From Wil's house in Alltwalis

-# Along the winding banks

-# Of the Tigris

-# From the mist on the Pyrenees

-# To the foot of Cadair Idris #

-That was OK.

-# New Zealand, Ellis Island

-# And Lahore

-# In Ffor and Paris

-# On Aran and the Canaries

-# In Lourdes and Los Angeles

-# In Krakow, in Caernarfon

-# In Milan

-# In Plwmp and Memphis

-# They bless the month

-# Arthur Guinness was born #

-I haven't finished yet.

-# Guinness, we all sing

-# Below the great rainbow,

-hear the chatter

-# It's amazing that Arthur insisted

-# To do it all

-# In black and white #

-And that was it. I made it off stage

-alive. That's something.

-I don't care about the vote.

-I had a little applause.

-And do you know what?

-I've caught the bug.

-And maybe, maybe

-I'll come back next yet.

-Can you teach me?

-Of course.

-I won't be so stressed.

-And maybe next time,

-I won't be terrified.

-I will be an old hand by then.

-I did it...

-..to the biggest Cerdd Dant audience

-in the universe.

-I didn't die after all.

-Gwenan Gibbard, my accompanist,

-and I...

-..are going

-to collaborate from now on.

-I'll give her Cynghanedd lessons.

-She'll teach me about Cerdd Dant.

-A crow starts out as a blackbird.

-A donkey starts out as a hare.

-That's it.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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