proud and happy

Subject: proud and happy
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 04:50 PM

Mrs Burl and I(married 43 years) have just returned fom watching our two youngest granddaughters, 10 and 7, performing in the school production of 'Joseph.....Dreamcoat', this being a production in the Welsh language. We are feeling proud and happy and would like to share that with you.

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Kim C
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 04:58 PM

Congratulizations! :)

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:06 PM

Mr and Mrs Burl, I am pleased for you. BTW, where do you live to see the show in Welsh (I am in the North in Llandudno but am not a Welsh speaker)?

Jon

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: mousethief
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:10 PM

Huzzah for the Burl granddaughters! You must be justifiably proud!

Alex

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:20 PM

Oh how I would love to see Joseph Welsh! Congratulations, pround grandparents! Anything that gets young people joyfully singing gets cheers from me!

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 06:33 PM

That is wonderful. Congrats to you and Mrs. Burl and to the BurlGyrls! How about some more details? Costumes, parts, programme, how were the musicians, etc. etc.? Would love to hear more.

Thanks, kat

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Morticia
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:33 PM

I played it in english, would love to hear about it in Welsh.

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Catrin
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:36 PM

And i was born in Wales (but don't speak it) where ARE you? - It sounds wonderful. Please let us know!

Cheers,

Catrin

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Matt_R
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:36 PM

That must be interesting to say the least. I love Joseph to little bits. I bet "Song of The King (Seven Fat Cows)" sounds pretty funny in Welsh.

But then again, didn't we have a thread a while ago called "Elvis Was Really Welsh"? Curiouser and curiouser.

Bop shoo waddoo wah bop bop sho waddoo wah.

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: CarolC
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:21 PM

Congratulations to all of you! Good for you and for the grandchildren.

Carol

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Margaret V
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:55 PM

That's lovely news, and a great accomplishment. Da iawn! Margaret

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 04:38 PM

well folks,it was a school production here in Cardiff. Nothing flash, more a concert of the songs from 'Joseph'with music from a synth and wholehearted singing from the whole school. They have the benefit of an enlightened headmaster, with good staff, who ensure that every child, even the littlest ones, gets to play a part. And don't they love it! Animaterra, you are correct- this gets children singing uninhibitedly and their smiles afterwards show how they enjoy it. Naturally, the audience enjoys it too. Delights in it is probably a better description. Cardiff is not generally known as a Welsh speaking area but there are a few Welsh-only schools here, including those attended by all our four grandchildren. I am as English as cricket but I married a Welsh girl (non-Welsh -speaker)We lived in my home town Nottingham. When our son grew up he came to Cardiff to work in television sound with HTV,S4C,and BBC Wales. He learned the language, married a Cardiff(welsh-speaking) girl, then eventually raised their children to be bi-lingual, Welsh/English, which we are very pleased about because they get the best of two cultures. We came home from the show wearing soppy grins and feeling good head to foot. I was still in that state when I sent the posting. In fact I'm wearing it again! The actions of the Headmaster in encouraging singing for it's own sake reminds me of my own schooldays when the Head introduced English folksongs and started school Morris and Sword dance sides. A great man, one I remember with huge love and respect. Those of you who are teachers, be proud of being in such a profession. I think thats answered all the questions. Apologies for using Mudcat for some family boasting, but it was music that triggered it off, and the high, clear voices of those smiling children.

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Noreen
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 11:44 AM

Don't apolgise, burl, it's lovely to hear. Thank you.

Noreen

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 12:19 PM

"using Mudcat for some family boasting"?

I'd say more like giving us all a chance to share in some of your happiness.

Jon

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 01:45 PM

Don't apologize. This is the first new music thread today.
Congratulations. Lucky grandchildren to have grandparents to share their accomplishments and appreciate them. Enjoy the moment!
Mary

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 01:51 PM

Wonderful. Hope the Welsh keep on singing, it's a beautiful language, and their choirs are second to none. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Grab
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 02:51 PM

So what's Welsh for "Technicolour Dreamcoat"?

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 04:40 PM

Damn burl....I'm sorry I missed this the first time around. And use the 'Cat to boast all you want. We share enough sadness sometimes and the joys are too few. Sounds like a great time was had by all and I've enjoyed the tale myself! Thanks!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: InOBU
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 04:45 PM

Ah that explains it! The other day, I had the window open, and the wind was blowing from the east... and the strains of singing in Welsh reached us here in New York City, Ah thouse Welsh choirs! It was wonderful Burl! Congradulate the kids from us over here!
Larry

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Greyeyes
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:21 PM

I went to a welsh primary school for a few years, in the north, where they are dedicated Welsh speakers. The head was a genuine welsh bard, so the singing at assembly had to be heard to be believed. When I moved to English schools I found their restrained attitude very peculiar. 30 odd years on, nothing much has changed. I go to weddings and sing with gusto to celebrate the joy of two friends getting married, and people turn round and stare at me.

Give you joy of your grandchildren.

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 06:57 AM

This is the first time I have used Mudcat, and I can't think of a better way to start!

I just wanted to say thankyou so much for your kind interest and comments on our grandchildren's concert. The internet service can be abused - seems that's part of human nature unfortunately, but you folks more than make up for it. The older Mr Burl and I get the more we realise how precious our children and life are. Nothing is more important than love, understanding and appreciating each other.

Thanks again. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

Mrs Burl

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 08:38 AM

Greyeyes, North Wales varies a lot in terms of numbers of dedicated Welsh speakers. It would be quite rare to hear a Welsh conversation in a pub in Llandudno but go into certain pubs in Bangor and you could feel very uncomfortable if you did not speak Welsh...

I think all primary schools have to teach Welsh and when I was in school, Welsh was a compulsory subject up until what is now GCSE level and I would guess that it still is. At primary and secondary level, there are 2 types of schools: "English Schools" where Welsh is taught as a foreign language (as one would learn French) and "Welsh Schools" which are less common where the teaching of all subjects is in Welsh.

I don't know what the situation is at higher levels but I would imagine many colleges do offer courses using Welsh as the teaching meduim. When I started on my HE course, I was given a form to complete which gave me the option of being assessed in Welsh - it would be of no use to me but I wonder if any people do have their lessons conducted in English but produce their assignments and have them assessed in Welsh.

Jon

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: GUEST,Greyeyes
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 08:51 AM

This was on Anglesea Jon, right at the end of the 60s. Lessons were in English, but Welsh was compulsory. I was only there for a couple of years so don't know what happened higher up the ladder. Of the locals pretty much all of them spoke Welsh fluently, and they liked to give the impression that it was their first language, but I suspect that was primarily to make the English uncomfortable.

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 08:58 AM

Burl--
No apologies-- It's really nice to hear about such schools, such teachers, and such wonderful grandchildren. And, by the way, Welcome to Mudcat!
Bill in Alabama

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: bill\sables
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 09:51 AM

Hi Burl, it doesn't seem that long ago when Neil was about six or seven . I remember coming down to Nottingham with you all those years ago and meeting him. Now we old buggers can see our own grandchildren performing on stage and wondering what happened to the years. Have a good Christmas both you and Elaine.
All the Best Bill

Subject: RE: proud and happy
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 10:21 AM

Greyeyes, I know that feeling (and I'm sure it is used that way) but Welsh is likely to have been their first language on Angelsey.

It is funny how times change. When I first moved to Wales in 1967, the village (Bryn Pydew - tiny place about 4 miles from Llandudno) I lived in was predominantly Welsh and the fist language of the kids in the village (except my brothers and I) was Welsh but Welsh seemed to go out of fashion in that area around that time (there seems to be more interest now) and the ones I still know who have kids themselves speak English in the home.

As for the village, that has changed too. When I was a kid everyone knew everyone and it was a real community. I'm not sure to describe it now and perhaps had better not except to say that from being "hick land" it became a desirable village to live in and the price of property (for this part of the UK) shot up.

Jon