Banjo Johnny, I don't suppose, as individuals, the Welsh are any better singers than anyone else, but they've been raised in a communal mind-set which values singing, and music in general, so they're more supportive than some cultures ... perhaps? For instance, in our county (pop. 169,000) I couldn't begin to tell you how many choirs we have (three, plus brass band in my town alone) but the junior schools (ages 6-11) recently held the county music service concerts and fielded a 90 piece string orchestra, a 130 piece woodwind orch., plus a hybrid 30-piece harp/guitar/recorder group. The seniors (high-school-ish) did another concert series with similar numbers plus an 80 voice mixed choir. This in addition to the stuff that the schools do individually.

However, the schools (and churches / chapels) have also played a role in discouraging a lot of singers. Probably since Wesley, there's been a mind-set which demands the pearly tones of Western European pseudo-classical song. I know a lot of people who enjoy singing but won't because some teacher told them they weren't good enough. The problem then arises that you get less and less good singers with a traditional Welsh style. There's also evidence to suggest that we've lost a whole tradition of modal singing which, to the classical ear, sounded like an off-tune Dorian scale. Unfortunately, it had pretty well died out prior to the introduction of the phonograph, so I don't think we have any real evidence for reconstruction...

And Sophocleese, I wonder what you'd make of another Welsh tradition only found in far West Wales - Canu Pwnc (Text Singing). Congregations in one particular non-conformist denominations, set a text from the Bible which *everyone* learns (and I mean, like, entire chapters); then they come together on one particular Sunday and ... well ... chant the text. I've only heard recordings ... but they make your hair stand on end ...

sian