Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
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| Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau English: Land of My Fathers |
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| National Anthem of |  Wales |
| Lyrics | Evan James, 1856 |
| Music | James James, 1856 |
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (pronounced [heːn ˈwlaːd vəˈn̥adaɨ], usually translated as "Land of My Fathers", (but literally old country of my fathers) is, by tradition, the national anthem of Wales. The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856. The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales.
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[edit] Origins
Glan Rhondda (Banks of the Rhondda), as it was known when it was composed, was first performed in the vestry of the original Capel Tabor, Maesteg, (which later became a Workingmen's Club), in either January or February 1856, by Elizabeth John from Pontypridd, and it soon became popular in the locality.
James James, the composer, was a harpist who played his instrument in the public house he ran, for the purpose of dancing. The song was originally intended to be performed in 6/8 time, but had to be slowed down to its present rhythm when it began to be sung by large crowds.
[edit] Popularity
The popularity of the song increased after the Llangollen Eisteddfod of 1858. Thomas Llewelyn of Aberdare won a competition for an unpublished collection of Welsh airs with a collection that included Glan Rhondda. The adjudicator of the competition, "Owain Alaw" (John Owen, 1821-1883) asked for permission to include Glan Rhondda in his publication, Gems of Welsh melody (1860-64). This volume gave Glan Rhondda its more famous title, Hen wlad fy nhadau, and was sold in large quantities and ensured the popularity of the national anthem across the whole of Wales.
At the Bangor Eisteddfod of 1874 Hen Wlad fy Nhadau gained further popularity when it was sung by Robert Rees ("Eos Morlais"), one of the leading Welsh soloists of his day. It was increasingly sung at patriotic gatherings and gradually it developed into a national anthem.
[edit] First recorded Welsh-language song
Hen wlad fy nhadau was also one of the first Welsh-language songs recorded when Madge Breese sang it on 11 March 1899, for the Gramophone Company, as part of the first recording in the Welsh language.
[edit] National anthem
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau has been established as the Welsh National Anthem by tradition over a hundred years; although in common with other British anthems, it has not been established as such by law. It is recognised and used as an anthem at both national and local events in Wales. Usually this will be the only anthem sung, such as at national sporting events, and it will be sung only in Welsh using the first stanza and refrain. But on some official occasions, especially those with royal connections, it is used in conjunction with the national anthem of the United Kingdom, God Save the Queen. Before BBC Wales television started to broadcast 24 hours a day, the Chorus of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was played at the closedown, followed by the first three lines of God Save the Queen. HTV Wales, on the other hand, played the full verse of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and God Save the Queen before broadcasting 24 hours a day.
The existence of a separate national anthem for Wales has not always been apparent to those from outside the country. In 1993 the newly-appointed Secretary of State for Wales John Redwood was embarrassingly videotaped opening and closing his mouth during a communal singing of the national anthem, clearly ignorant of the words but unable to mime convincingly; the pictures were frequently cited as evidence of his unsuitability for the post. According to John Major's autobiography, the first thing Redwood's successor William Hague said, on being appointed, was that he had better find someone to teach him the words. He found Ffion Jenkins, and later married her.
Versions of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau are used as anthems in both Cornwall, as Bro Goth Agan Tasow, and Brittany, as Bro Gozh ma Zadoù.
[edit] Lyrics
[edit] Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
(Cytgan)
- Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
- Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
- O bydded i'r 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.
(Cytgan)
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
(Cytgan)
[edit] Translations
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The following is a fairly free translation in verse. The land of my fathers is dear unto me,
O land of the mountains, the bard's paradise, For tho' the fierce foeman has ravaged your realm, |
A more literal translation is: The old land of my fathers is dear to me,
Old mountainous Wales, paradise of the bard, If the enemy oppresses my land under his foot, |
Other translations include: The land of my fathers is dear to me,
Old land of the mountains, the Eden of bards, Though foemen have trampled my land 'neath their feet, |
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and: The land of my fathers, the land of my choice,
Old mountainous Cambria, the Eden of bards, My country tho' crushed by a hostile array, |
[edit] Cultural influence
The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas is on record as saying "The land of my fathers. My fathers can have it!", probably in reference to Wales itself, rather than the song.
Gwynfor Evans named his history of Wales Land of my fathers: 2,000 years of Welsh history. It was a translation of the Welsh original, Aros Mae.
The Welsh reverse £1 coins minted in 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000 bear the edge inscription PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD ("true am I to my country"), from the refrain of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".
[edit] Parodies
Swansea poet Nigel Jenkins wrote an English phonetic version of the first verse for the benefit of English speakers[1], said to be largely inconspicuous in chorus as long as one doesn't smile:
- My hen laid a haddock, one hand oiled a flea,
- Glad farts and centurions threw dogs in the sea,
- I could stew a hare here and brandish Dan's flan,
- Don's ruddy bog's blocked up with sand.
- Dad! Dad! Why don't you oil Auntie Glad?
- Can whores appear in beer bottle pies,
- O butter the hens as they fly!
Popular among fans of Bristol City Football Club and England Rugby fans is this parody[2]:
- Whales, Whales, bloody great fishes are Whales,
- They swim in the sea,
- We eat them for tea,
- Oh bloody great fishes are Whales.
[edit] External links and References
- Real Audio sound file
- Midi sound file
- Cantorion - Various arrangements for free download, CC-BY-SA license
- Land of my Fathers, midi file and lyrics
- Madge Breese's 1899 recording (MP3) (National Library of Wales Digital Mirror)
- Spoken MP3 file of the first verse and chorus, from S4C
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