Welsh tunes for a memorial service

Subject: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 10:39 AM

My wife is due to play at a memorial service, the deceased and family have Welsh origins, and would like Welsh music. She is looking for some Welsh tunes to play as people are waiting, and as they are leaving. Calon Lan is taken, one of the hymns is set to Calon Lan, and the other is (naturally) Cwm Rhondda. The Ash Grove is one tune, as is Ar Hyd y Nos. Land of My Fathers does not seem appropriate. There are lots of really good Welsh Hymn tunes, but its quiet background music we are looking for. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 10:57 AM

Can you download and read a MIDI file? If so, listen here:

http://www.contemplator.com/wales/

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 11:07 AM

As a practical matter, you will find it easier to locate the sticks & dots for hymns than for folk songs.

Not all Welsh hymns are great and majestic. For example, there's 'Hyfrydol' and the tune for 'Love Divine, all Loves Excelling.' Both are pleasant and delightful.


Ar Hyd y Nos is a nice tune, but everybody will be wondering why you are playing a lullaby.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,Anne Neilson
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 11:33 AM

As a child at primary school in the early '50s -- with no Welsh background at all -- I was VERY taken by a song from our music book of 'Folk, National and Art Songs of the British Isles' (or something similar).

The title was 'David of the White Rock' (from the Welsh section of the book) and the nature of the tune suggested to me, even at that age, that it was possibly an air rather than originally a song.

But I have no idea where you might find musical notation….

(Hope all goes well with finding something suitable and accessible.)

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: Noreen
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 11:47 AM

Myfanwy?

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 11:59 AM

Hyfrodol is certainly a possibility (it is the other set tune in our hymnal for the hymn set to Calon Lan).

Hmm. I don;t read Welsh, but one set of English words for the second verse of Ar Hyd y Nos is:


Star of faith the dark adorning
all through the night.
Leads us fearless t'wards the morning
all through the night.
Though our hearts be wrapt in sorrow,
from the hope of dawn we borrow
promise of a glad tomorrow
all through the night.

Its also the set tune for three hymns in Singing the Faith (current UK Methodist Hymn book), and two in Hymns and Psalms (previous one), including "God that madest Earth and Heaven", which we sang at our last Welsh funeral.

I think the tune you mean for Love Divine is Blaenwern, which is a very good suggestion, there are other tunes to this hymn, none of them as good (except maybe Hyfrodol).

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,dave
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 12:08 PM

She has ordered "Welsh Folk Tunes for Piano" (Schott World Music) from Amazon, hopefully will be here by Saturday. David of the White Rock is in this, but she has that in another book also so thats a good suggestion.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 02:17 PM

"The Rising of the Lark," another tune by David of the White Rock, would be a good leaving tune.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 03:49 PM

I have heard (long long ago) words in English for David of the White Rock. I think the gist of them is that David is asking for his harp to be brought to him so that he can play it once more before he dies. Whether those words were a translation of Welsh words and, if so, whether those Welsh words were attached to the tune from the start, I don't know.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 06:13 PM

Beibl Mam is lovely and hymnlike, and the air to Morfa Rhuddlan fits the solemnity of the occasion. And if anyone is singing, I've always liked Eli Jenkins' Prayer from Under Milk Wood, though it's not traditional. The last line is particularly apt for a memorial service.

Every morning when I wake
Dear Lord, a little prayer I make
O please do keep thy lovely eye
On all poor creatures born to die

And every evening at sundown
I ask a blessing on the town
For whether we last the night or no
I'm sure is always touch-and-go.

We are not wholly bad or good
Who live our lives under Milk Wood
And thou, I know, wilt be the first
To see our best side, not our worst

O let us see another day
Bless us all this night, I pray
And to the sun we all will bow
And say good-bye – but just for now

- Dylan Thomas

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: Splott Man
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 07:50 AM

There's a few here

Splott man

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 07:58 AM

And volumes of tunes here:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Jones,_Edward

The Edward Jones collections, 1782 - you can strip off the harp arrangements and just use the melody lines. He's a much-loved goldmine.

Great page, Splott. I've bookmarked it.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 06:40 PM

I was thinking of David of the white rock as well...and the sentiment is appropriate I think for a memorial.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 07:56 PM

How about "Let Now the Harp" either in Welsh or English. In praise of Wales and a lovely tune. Czech out this version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDTRmHIXujs

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 09:59 AM

If you're googling, it's also known as Pant Corlan Yr Wyn (The Lambs' Fold Vale), and is one of my faves. It goes well followed by Fiddle Faddle, but that tends to bump the tempo up a bit, so it may be a bit jolly for a memorial service. But the first tune on its own would be fine, lyrical and lovely.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 10:55 AM

Watching the White Wheat might work as a melody. Cadir Idris might be another.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 10:55 AM

Watching the White Wheat might work as a melody. Cadir Idris might be another.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 06:17 PM

I have downloaded David of the White Rock, Calon Lan, and several other songs mentioned in this thread from emusic.com. Very reasonable for members and about what downloads cost at other sites if not a member. There is a 30 second preview available.

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 09:23 PM

Be Thou My Vision

Subject: RE: Welsh tunes for a memorial service
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 06:59 AM

Gargoyle, thats Irish. Some tunes claimed to be Irish are not but Slane, the tune to Be Thou My vision most definitely is. There are discussions in here on its origin, it seems to be some descendent of Lakes of Coolfin/Lakes of Shillin.