Welsh Music
The Welsh are musical people whose traditions go back hundreds of years. Their greatest joy and strength is choral singing and the national instrument – as in Ireland – is the harp, a symbol of the druidic tradition of ballads sung to a harp accompaniment.
Wales has given us many famous opera singers such as Sir Geraint Evans and Dame Gwyneth Jones (famous for her Wagner roles) and today, Bryn Terfel, the leading baritone of his generation who is an exponent of Verdi and Wagner too. In the popular vein there are Sir Tom Jones and Dame Shirley Bassey, appreciated for their powerful voices and stage presence.
Every summer there is the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen (Eisteddfod means festival) where music and poetry are performed in recital and in competition. Many people probably think this is an ancient tradition but it was only begun in 1903 as part of a wave of nationalistic feeling. The Druids (ancient celtic priests) were recreated as part of this celebration of the Welsh spirit although, in truth, it can seem to a non-believer to be a faintly ridiculous spectacle. Luciano Pavarotti appeared at Llangollen when he was a young man as the member of the choir of his home town of Modena. He never forgot this experience and returned thirty years later as an operatic superstar and was feted by the festival goers.
The Welsh harp (the triple harp) is different from its Irish cousin and to the modern concert instrument and produces a delicate sound. The best known Welsh harpist of modern times was Osian Ellis who was an internationally famous soloist.
Amongst serious composers the best known are Alun Hoddinott who has written many symphonies, William Mathias, composer of a lovely harp concerto, and Grace Williams. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a leading symphony orchestra and St. David’s Hall in Cardiff is one of the best concert halls in the U.K. The Welsh take their music seriously and long may they continue to do so!
