Words by Evan James, tune by James James
The words to this song were written by Evan James and the tune by his son James James, both of Pontypridd, in 1856. It was originally known as Glan Rhondda and was in 6/8 time for dancing to a harp accompaniment. Glan Rhondda was part of a collection of unpublished airs that won an Eisteddfod competition at Llangollen in 1858, and was then published with its current title in an 1864 collection that sold widely across Wales. Its popularity increased again when it was sung at the Bangor Eisteddfod in 1874 and soon after that became a favourite at patriotic gatherings and sporting events and became accepted as the Welsh National anthem, replacing God Bless The Prince Of Wales.
The tune is also used for the national anthems of Cornwall, Brittany and Y Wladfa (Welsh settlement in Patagonia in Argentina/Chile started in the 19th century in response to the decline in Welsh in Wales, and still having linguistic and cultural links to Wales). Here are the words of the first verse of the Wladfa anthem Gwlad Newydd y Cymry.
Y mae Patagonia yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad newydd y Cymry mwyneiddlon yw hi;
Anadlu gwir ryddid a gawn yn y wlad,
O gyrhaedd gormesiaeth a brad.
Gwlad! Gwlad! pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad,
Tra haul y nen uwchben ein pau,
O bydded i’r Wladfa barhau.
Patagonia is beloved to me,
The new land of the noble Welsh people it is;
True freedom we can breathe in the country,
Out of reach of oppression and betrayal.
Land! Land! partial I am to my land,
While the sun above is over our land,
O may Y Wladfa endure.
Evan James (Ieuan ap Iago) (1809-1878) was a weaver and poet born in Caerphilly. He ran a weaver’s business in Pontypridd with a mill on the bank of the River Rhondda.
James James (Iago ap Ieuan) (1832-1902) was born at the Ancient Druid Inn, Hollybush, south of Tredegar in the Sirhowy valley (between the Rhymney valley and Ebbw Vale). He assisted his father Evan James in the weaver’s business. He is buried in Aberdare cemetery. There is a memorial to the two of them in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd.
R. Maldwyn Price
When singing the National Anthem in harmony we use the arrangement by Richard Maldwyn Price (1890-1952). Price was the first student in Wales to achieve a Doctorate of Music. He became organist and choirmaster at St Mary’s Church in Welshpool and remained in this position until 1933. Price taught at schools in Redhill and Malvern, and conducted and composed.
Sources
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen_Wlad_Fy_Nhadau
Evan James: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_James_(poet)
James James: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_James
R. Maldwyn Price: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Maldwyn_Price
Words
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Gwlad! Gwlad! Pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoffbau
O bydded ein hen iaith barhau.
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i’m golwg sydd hardd
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad dan ei droed
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
Translation
The old land of my fathers is beloved unto me
A land of poets and singers, famous ones of renown;
Her brave warriors, patriots so virtuous
For freedom they shed their blood.
Land, Land, partial I am to my land.
While the sea is a wall to the pure, favourite region,
O may the old language endure.
Old mountainous Wales, paradise of the bard
Every valley, every cliff, to my sight is beautiful
Through patriotic feeling, so charming is the murmur
Of her streams, rivers, to me.
If the enemy oppressed my land under his foot
The old language of the Welsh is as alive as ever.
The muse was not deterred by the atrocious hand of betrayal,
Nor is the melodious harp of my land.
Translation source: http://www.angelfire.com/in/gillionhome/Lyrics/Caneuon/HenWlad.html