Perhaps one could add to this fine thread that until c.1600 Welsh Harp and Crwth music had a fine instrumental tradition with scales, structures and forms effectively unknown on the downhill side of Offa's dyke. This tradition, called cerdd dant, (the craft of strings) parallelled cerdd dafod (the craft of the tongue). Together they were the two great genres of bardic art. The first mention of such things seems to be in the time of King Hywell Dda, (10th century). Some of the structures are alleged to have been codified in the 12th century. The music was central to the eisteddfodau of the 15th and 16th centuries. It's only in the last two decades that scholars have really got to grips with the detail of this music.

It's Welsh, unique, and worthy of celebration!

oll an gwella,

Crowdercref