Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, Chris!

I watched the video, and the only difference I could hear was that the (Cwmbach?) boys sang, "golchi'm puraf" (wash me purer) instead of "canna f'enaid" (whiten my soul). I think the latter is far more often heard; in fact, I can't think of too many occasions when I've heard "golchi'm puraf".

I've also looked in some of the Welsh denominational hymn books and they don't have the chorus at all. It first appeared in Wales in Ieuan Gwyllt's "Swn y Jiwbili, neu Ganiadau y Diwygiad" (1876) and later in Haydn Morris' "Sw^n y Jiwbili". Lewis Hartsough (Ithaca, NY) wrote the tune which is sometimes known as "Calvary" as well as the words; Ira D. Sankey said they were first published in "Guide to Holiness" and he included them in "Sacred Songs and Solos". In "Tonau a'u Hawduron" (Tunes and their authors), Huw Williams says that, "the tune, along with the original chorus, found it's way into Sacred Songs and Solos, and later into Alexander Hymns". So why the chorus got detatched in at least some hymnals is up for further research. Maybe the Methodist and Baptist publishers thought choruses were a bit too frivolous? Didn't stop the congregations from singing them, it seems.

My guess is that the minor differences in words have something to do with denominational politics; which denominations sang what hymns, or versions of what hymns, used to be very specific.

That's all I've got, anyway!

Hope your service went well.

sian