Hi Chris.

I've got enough stuff on Plygain here; trying to think of where a succinct explanation can be found is the challenge. I'm seeing Rhiannon Ifans on Saturday and she'll be able to tell me where to look; heck, she's probably written it herself somewhere. Difficult to generalize of course as the traditional developed; carols of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries all have their own characteristics. Like in the West Gallery carols, there's fugueing (how is that spelt?) in the late 18th C ones. Earlier ones use old carol tunes. Some have what you might call 'call-and-response'. There are more Plygain carols with passing notes than is common in Welsh folk songs in general, I think. Verses can be long, and lots of them. Like - REALLY lots. Truly authentic ones are supposed to go, literally, from Cradle (Manger) to Grave (and, of course, beyond). Complicated verbage.   

I'll see what I can find.

The good thing about Plethyn is that they were singing in their specific local tradition. Great stuff. Wish they'd continued.

Suibhne Astray, Siwsi would have been singing "Myn Mair". It was a bit of a 'signature piece' of hers. Happy days. Still miss her.

sian