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| Nor the melodious harp of my country.</poem> | Nor the melodious harp of my country.</poem> | ||
| {{Col-break}}''Lyrical translation |
{{Col-break}}''Lyrical translation'' | ||
| <poem>:The land of my fathers is dear to me, | <poem>:The land of my fathers is dear to me, | ||
| :Old land where the minstrels are honored and free, | :Old land where the minstrels are honored and free, | ||
| Line 150: | Line 150: | ||
| :Wales! Wales! True am I to Wales, | :Wales! Wales! True am I to Wales, | ||
| :While seas secure the land so pure | :While seas secure the land so pure | ||
| :Oh may the old language endure. |
:Oh may the old language endure. | ||
| :Old land of the mountains, the Eden of bards, | |||
| ⚫ | ==Cultural influence== | ||
| :Each gauge and each valley a loveliness guards; | |||
| ⚫ | ]]] | ||
| :Through love of my country, charmed voices will be, | |||
| :Its streams and its rivers to me. | |||
| :Though foemen have trampled my land 'neath their feet, | |||
| :The language of Cambria still knows no retreat, | |||
| :The muse is not vanquished by traitor's fell hand, | |||
| :Nor the melodious harp of my country.{{col-end}} | |||
| ⚫ | == Cultural influence == | ||
| ⚫ | ]]] | ||
| The Welsh poet ] is often quoted as saying "The land of my fathers. My fathers can have it!" in reference to Wales. However, this is misleading, as it was a villainous character in one of Thomas' short stories that spoke this line. | The Welsh poet ] is often quoted as saying "The land of my fathers. My fathers can have it!" in reference to Wales. However, this is misleading, as it was a villainous character in one of Thomas' short stories that spoke this line. | ||
| ] named his history of Wales ''Land of my fathers: 2,000 years of Welsh history''. It was a translation of the Welsh original, ''Aros Mae''. | ] named his history of Wales ''Land of my fathers: 2,000 years of Welsh history''. It was a translation of the Welsh original, ''Aros Mae''. | ||
| The ] minted in 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000 with a Welsh emblem on the reverse, also bear the edge inscription <small>PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD</small> ("I am devoted to my country"), from the refrain of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitwales.co.uk/about-wales-guide-to-wales-culture-people-and-language/welsh-history/welsh-national-anthem/ |
The ] minted in 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000 with a Welsh emblem on the reverse, also bear the edge inscription <small>PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD</small> ("I am devoted to my country"), from the refrain of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".<ref>{{cite web|year=2012|title=Welsh National Anthem|url=http://www.visitwales.co.uk/about-wales-guide-to-wales-culture-people-and-language/welsh-history/welsh-national-anthem/|access-date=1 July 2012|work=] website|publisher=]}}</ref> The new ] adopted in 2008 features this motto. | ||
| == ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' == | == ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' == | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| A version of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" was written by Lewis Evans, a migrant from Wales to ], a Welsh-speaking settlement in ], South America. The version penned by Evans is called ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' (The New Country of the Welsh). ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' is played to the same tune as "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".<ref>{{cite web |
A version of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" was written by Lewis Evans, a migrant from Wales to ], a Welsh-speaking settlement in ], South America. The version penned by Evans is called ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' (The New Country of the Welsh). ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' is played to the same tune as "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Axtell|first1=William|title="A song for a new Welsh nation": Patagonian Welsh national anthem discovered in 19th century pamphlet {{!}} Culture24|url=https://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art531163-a-song-for-a-new-welsh-nation-patagonian-welsh-national-anthem-discovered-in-19th-century-pamphlet|access-date=14 April 2019|website=Culture24}}</ref> | ||
| The lyrics to ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' are as follows (note that the spelling is not consistent with modern Welsh): | The lyrics to ''Gwlad Newydd y Cymry'' are as follows (note that the spelling is not consistent with modern Welsh):{{col-start}} | ||
| {{col-start}} | |||
| {{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
| === Lyrics === | === Lyrics === | ||
| <poem>Y mae Patagonia yn annwyl i mi, | <poem>Y mae Patagonia yn annwyl i mi, | ||
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| A'i choryn yn 'stafell y wawr: | A'i choryn yn 'stafell y wawr: | ||
| : (chorus)</poem> | : (chorus)</poem> | ||
| {{col-2}} | |||
| === Translation === | |||
| <poem>Patagonia is dear to me, | |||
| The new land of the noble Welsh people; | |||
| True freedom we breathe in our new country, | |||
| Far from the reach of oppression and betrayal: | |||
| :Nation , Nation, I am faithful to my Nation. | |||
| :While the sun rises above the land, | |||
| :Oh! may the Settlement continue. | |||
| The Welsh have been lying broken in scorn, | |||
| Well, thanks to the ''Wladfa'' from dust we're reborn; | |||
| Our language of old we laud and esteem | |||
| While ] flows with shining stream: | |||
| : (chorus) | |||
| Let Welshman submit to the English no more, | |||
| Their oppression is ended, and silenced their roar; | |||
| ''Y Wladfa'' we praise while the great white ], | |||
| With its peak in the chamber of dawn: | |||
| : (chorus) | |||
| </poem> | |||
| {{col-end}} | |||
| ==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
Revision as of 12:12, 2 August 2021
"Old Land of My Fathers" redirects here. For the Breton and Cornish adaptions, see Bro Gozh ma Zadoù and Bro Goth agan Tasow.National anthem of Wales
| English: Old Land of My Fathers | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The earliest version of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" in the hand of the composer, James James, 1856 | |
National anthem of  Wales | |
| Lyrics | Evan James, 1856 |
| Music | James James, 1856 |
| Audio sample | |
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (Welsh pronunciation: [heːn wlɑːd və n̥adaɪ̯]) is the unofficial national anthem of Wales. The title, taken from the first words of the song, means "Old Land of My Fathers" in Welsh, usually rendered in English as simply "Land of My Fathers". The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856. The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales.
Origins
Glan Rhondda (Banks of the Rhondda), as it was known when it was composed, was first performed in the vestry of the original Capel Tabor, Maesteg (which later became a working men's club), in either January or February 1856, by Elizabeth John from Pontypridd, and it soon became popular in the locality.
James James, the composer, was a harpist who played his instrument in the public house which he ran, for the purpose of dancing. The song was originally intended to be performed in 6/8 time, but had to be slowed down to its present tempo when it began to be sung by large crowds.
Popularity
The popularity of the song increased after the Llangollen festival of 1858. Thomas Llewelyn of Aberdare won a competition for an unpublished collection of Welsh airs with a collection that included Glan Rhondda. The adjudicator of the competition, "Owain Alaw" (John Owen, 1821–83) asked for permission to include Glan Rhondda in his publication, Gems of Welsh melody (1860–64). This volume gave Glan Rhondda its more famous title, "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", and was sold in large quantities and ensured the popularity of the anthem across the whole of Wales.
At the Bangor Eisteddfod of 1874 "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" gained further popularity when it was sung by Robert Rees ("Eos Morlais"), one of the leading Welsh soloists of his day. It was increasingly sung at patriotic gatherings and gradually it developed into a national anthem.
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" was also one of the first Welsh-language songs recorded when Madge Breese sang it on 11 March 1899, for the Gramophone Company, as part of the first recording in the Welsh language.
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" was the first national anthem to be sung at the start of a sporting event. In 1905 the Welsh national rugby team hosted New Zealand's first touring team, who started every match performing a Haka. As a response, Wales player Teddy Morgan led the crowd singing the anthem. Although crowds often sang anthems during games, there was no precedent for an anthem to be sung before a match.
In 1978 for their Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau album, Geraint Jarman a'r Cynganeddwyr recorded a version of the anthem using electric guitars, inspired by Jimi Hendrix's rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Jarman's version, played by Welsh guitarist Tich Gwilym is one of the most famous modern versions of the song.
Usage
Tradition has established "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" as an unofficial Welsh anthem since 1905, when it was first sung by fans at rugby games, although the official anthem at the time was "God Bless the Prince of Wales". "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" slowly established itself as the more popular anthem over the next four decades, and was sung along with "God Bless the Prince of Wales" and "God Save the Queen" before sporting events until 1975, when sports officials decided that "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" should be sung alone. Like other British anthems, it has not been established as a national anthem by law, but it has been used as a national anthem at official governmental ceremonies, including the opening of the Welsh Parliament / Senedd Cymru (formerly Welsh Assembly), and at receptions of the British monarchy since the 1970s. It is recognised and used as an anthem at both national and local events in Wales.
All Black captain Dave Gallaher's remark on experiencing the Welsh singing their anthem for the first time."Imagine some 40,000 people singing their national anthem with all the fervour of which the Celtic heart is capable. It was the most impressive incident I have ever witnessed on a football field. It gave a semi-religious solemnity to this memorable contest, intensely thrilling, even awe-inspiring. It was a wonderful revelation of the serious spirit in which the Welsh take their football."
Usually this will be the only anthem sung: only the first stanza and chorus are usually sung (and in the Welsh language). "God Save the Queen", the national anthem of the United Kingdom, is sometimes played alongside "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" during official events with a royal connection.
The existence of a separate national anthem for Wales has not always been apparent to those from outside the country. In 1993 the newly appointed Secretary of State for Wales John Redwood was embarrassingly videotaped opening and closing his mouth during a communal singing of the national anthem, clearly ignorant of the words but unable to mime convincingly; the pictures were frequently cited as evidence of his unsuitability for the post. According to John Major's autobiography, the first thing Redwood's successor William Hague said, on being appointed, was that he had better find someone to teach him the words. He found Ffion Jenkins, and later married her.
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" has been adapted to the anthems of Cornwall (Bro Goth agan Tasow), Brittany (Bro Gozh ma Zadoù), and Y Wladfa (Gwlad Newydd y Cymry, see below). These adaptions share the same tune as "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" and have similar lyrics.
Lyrics
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Gwlad!, GWLAD!, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i'm golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i fi.
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
Translations
|
Verse translation by A.P. Graves O Land of my fathers, O land of my love,
|
Verse translation by W.S. Gwynn Williams The land of my fathers is dear to me,
|
A more literal translation: The old land of my fathers is dear to me,
|
Lyrical translation
The land of my fathers is dear to me,
 The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas is often quoted as saying "The land of my fathers. My fathers can have it!" in reference to Wales. However, this is misleading, as it was a villainous character in one of Thomas' short stories that spoke this line.  A version of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" was written by Lewis Evans, a migrant from Wales to Y Wladfa, a Welsh-speaking settlement in Patagonia, South America. The version penned by Evans is called Gwlad Newydd y Cymry (The New Country of the Welsh). Gwlad Newydd y Cymry is played to the same tune as "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".
Footnotes
References
Learn to read, pronounce, sing perform Welsh National Anthem; New App published by the National Library of Wales published. https://itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.woa/ra/ng/app/908469898 External links
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