Blogs
Senedd to Debate Petition “Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names ”
By Ceri Shaw, 2021-01-16
Dear ,
The Senedd is going to debate the petition you signed – “Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names ”.
The debate is scheduled for 20 January 2021.
You’ll be able to watch online on Senedd TV
Once the debate has happened, we’ll email you a video and transcript.
Thanks,
The Petitions team
Senedd
You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names ”.
Annwyl ,
Mae’r Senedd yn mynd i drafod y ddeiseb a lofnodwyd gennych – “Deddfu i atal newid enwau Cymraeg tai.”.
Mae’r ddadl wedi’i hamserlennu ar gyfer 20 Ionawr 2021.
Gallwch chi wylio’r ddadl ar-lein ar Senedd TV
Ar ôl i’r ddadl ddigwydd, byddwn yn e-bostio fideo a thrawsgrifiad atoch.
Diolch,
Y tîm Deisebau
Senedd
Rydych chi’n derbyn yr e-bost hwn oherwydd i chi lofnodi’r ddeiseb hon: “Deddfu i atal newid enwau Cymraeg tai.”.
Bryn Yemm in India
AmeriCymru: Hi Bryn and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. When did you first start singing and when did you realise that this was to be your future?
Bryn: As an adopted little boy in Abergavenny Wales the family who took me in were a Salvation Army family and I spent all my formative years being raised in the Sunday School, Sunday morning and afternoon. So the bands and songsters awoke in me a chance to sing. I tried also to learn the cornet, but due to lack of practice I soon lost interest. I was very young and wanted to be down at the river or up the many beautiful mountains which surrounded my home town of Abergavenny. A t that time singing for a living was a million miles away..
AmeriCymru: You were born in Brynmawr but currently reside in Abergavenny. How did you come to live in Abergavenny and what musical background did you enjoy there?
Bryn: I was born in Brynmawr , S.Wales and as I mentioned I was adopted by Ivor and Marie Yemm who lived in Abergavenny, which was about ten miles away and that's where I ended up. We have maintained our home in Wales until the present but due to some minimal success had homes in Cyprus, earlier years, and the in Florida USA. My musical background was influenced by the Salvation Army Bands.
AmeriCymru: When did you release your first album and how many have you recorded over the years?
Bryn: By determination and Faith (Mark9 vs 23) I had my first single (Black is the night) on Columbia records in the late 60s and my springboard to turning professional came about by me writing a song to celebrate the Queens Jubilee in 1977. Since then I have recorded many albums, around 15 plus singles and other popular tracks for special events.
AmeriCymru: You met The Beatles in 1963. Care to tell us a little more about this experience?
Bryn: Meeting and hanging out with the Fab Four.(The Beatles) I built up a solid name for myself in S.Wales and the Beatles came to appear at our local Theatre.The local mayor invited me to the event and I spent most of the day in the dressing room with all four. Plus met and chatted with the bands Manager Brian Epstein who invited me to to visit him in London. As I had no money I didn't take up the offer.
AmeriCymru: In the course of your long career is there any one song or album that you are particularly proud of, or that stands out for you in some way?
Bryn: Over the course of my career , after the success of the Jubilee party I was asked by FW Woolworths UK if I had an album, so I jumped in without delay to present one. With special help from my lifetime friend Kingsley Ward Of Rockfield studios ,Wales we produced "Hello Bryn Yemm" to this day it's one of my favorites, maybe because it was the first album, but over 15 years more followed ,along with TWO lovely DVD's...MY Tribute from Wales the Land of Song and to my utter delight.. "FOOTSTEPS filmed in ISRAEL....and the other favorite "I'll Fly Away" an album that features my wife Ann, daughter Tracy and a dear friend ( deceased) Christina Marlow...one of the UKs top singers ...the girls did all the backing singing and the songs are wonderful. I love it and it holds many great memories.
AmeriCymru: You visited the States in 2003. Care to tell us a little more about that visit? Any plans to return?
Bryn: MY first visit to the USA was an invitation by top Welsh businessman John James. John and his Father George owned four Casinos in the UK. John invited us to sing at his Daughters wedding in Fort Lauderdale. Of course we loved the experience , and it fuelled our enthusiasm to spend more time in the States. As things progressed IN 2003 the company in Israel I worked for decided to bring a Cruiseship from Haifa to Cape Canaveral , being the Entertainment Director for them I was invited to join the venture and be Cruise Director and Entertainments manager. After a year we bought a home in Cape Canaveral and loved it. We have now been in the states for twenty years , but never gave up our home there in Wales were our heart is.
AmeriCymru: What are you working on at the moment? Any new recordings in the works?
Bryn: Thanks to the pandemic, I found myself stranded in Wales, when all work closed down for all of us in America and the U.K. It's been a hard time, but as always I found plenty to do like writing a new book which will be my second and also trying hard to get a new U tube channel together with my friends at Ameri-Cymru in Portland Oregon. I am planning a new album when we gather the funds to do it maybe in Charleston Carolina, with my friend Michael Howard's Big Band....hope so.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Bryn: I am very Grateful to Ameri-Cymru for their help and encouragement especially lovely Gaabriel at their studio. The Ddraig Goch..(the Welsh Dragon ) depicts three things NO four! The earth, The Sea, The Sky and the speech of the Cymru.. IT leads the Welsh people in an unending war for the perpetuation of our language......Join us in lifting up Wales and inform the world of the great heritage of our country here and across America...DIolch yn Fawr...God bless Wales...and God Bless America.
Bryn Yemm with Mother Theresa
UPDATE: The Geiriadur search box can also be found at the top of the Welsh Word of the Day tab on the front page here: Welsh Word of the Day
..
Many of our readers will be following Welsh Word of the Day on Facebook, Twitter or AmeriCymru. If not, here are the urls:
BUT how do you access older posts? How do you search for older Welsh Word of the Day entries?
Fortunately the Croeseiriau Cymraeg Geiriadur is now fully searchable from this page:
When you search a term from this page e.g. peryglus-dangerous (as in the screenshot above) you will be taken to a search results page that looks like this:
Clicking on the links above will take you to the relevant wordcard pages for the linked terms. There is a wordcard for the term 'peryglus' itself ( pictured below)
On the wordcard page you will find a sample sentence, help with pronunciation and links to other wordcards, grammatical resources etc.
Furthermore, on the search results pages, you will find links to other wordcards where the search term has been used in the sample sentence . For example hudolus - magical (see below)
The AmeriCymru Geiriadur enables people to study these terms in a number of different contexts. We believe that providing the opportunity for people to thoroughly familiarise themselves with words and phrases that they search will greatly facilitate a more rapid mastery of the language. The search page is an important milestone in the development of our comprehensive Welsh language course: Croeseiriau Cymraeg .
Mwynhewch / Enjoy
"Maent yn ysgrifennu caneuon sy’n llawn dyhead a hud seicadelig cyffrous” - Libertino
Ni fyddai Tacsidermi yn brosiect heb amseroedd ansicr ac anodd 2020! Mae'n ymateb positif i'r blynyddoedd o negatifrwydd a rhoi'r holl egni creadigol mewn i ysgrifennu a recordio caneuon er mwyn dianc.
Ers rhai blynyddoedd, mae Gwenllian Anthony - un o dri aelod y band Adwaith, enillwyr Y Wobr Gerddoriaeth Gymreig 2019 - wedi bod yn jamio ac yn ysgrifennu caneuon gyda Matthew Kilgariff. Teithiodd Matthew fel session musician i Adwaith yn ystod eu taith 'Melyn'. Yn ystod y clo mawr, penderfynodd y ddau ffurfio 'bubble' a chloi eu hun mewn i stiwdio recordio Matthew yng Nghaerfyrddin i ddechrau recordio. Mae 'Gwir' - eu sengl gyntaf yn briodas berffaith o'u dylanwadau. Gyda'i guriadau pop Flaming Lips a grŵf y 90au, mae'r sengl yma'n ddatganiad cyntaf cryf. Mae'r gweadau seicadelic The Brian Jonestown Massacre, a'r curiadau bass wedi'u hysbrydoli gan Breeders yn rhoi teimlad tywyll i'r gân. Mae'r gerddoriaeth yn adlewyrchiad o’r geiriau emosiynol a bregus a pherfformiad hyfryd Gwenllian.
Mae David Newington (Boy Azooga) yn chwarae'r dryms ar y trac a chafodd y trac ei gymysgu gan Matthew Evans (KEYS).
Disgwyliwch fwy o gerddoriaeth gan Tacsidermi yn fuan yn y flwyddyn newydd.
"They write songs full of explorative psychedelic wonder and emotional yearning” - Libertino
Tacsidermi could only have come to fruition as a project during the strange and uncertain year that was 2020!! It’s a positive reaction to all of the years negativity by simply channeling boundless creative energy into writing / recording songs to inhabit and escape within.
Gwenllian Anthony from the ‘Welsh Music Prize’ winning band Adwaith has been jamming and writing on and off over the last few years with Matthew Kilgariff. Matthew toured as a session musician with Adwaith during their post ‘Melin’ tours. It took lockdown for them to decide to form a bubble and move into Matthew’s studio in rural Carmarthenshire and start recording. ‘Gwir’ their debut single is a perfect marriage of both of their influences. With its 90s baggy grove and Flaming Lips twisted popness this is a bold first statement. The Brian Jonestown Massacre psychedelic textures, dancing along to a low-slung Breeders inspired driving bass brings a darkness to the song. It mirrors the uncertainty and emotional vulnerability of the lyrics and Gwenllian’s beautiful restrained delivery.
‘Gwir’ was supported by David Newington (Boy Azooga) on drums and mixed by Matthew Evans (KEYS).
Expect new Tacsidermi material to follow quickly in early 2021.
Links Tacsidermi:
https://twitter.com/tacsidermi
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
https://www.libertinorecords.
Near-deserted lanes mid way up low hills
the sodden escarpments of unfashionable zones
unvisited by most who know of their existence
in this interlude when a shadow cajoles our attention
the damp hushed houses of this year’s departed
dust on shelves weeds between paving slabs
awaiting tidying up and reinvigoration
and the lengthy sigh of a decision reached
(starling darlings lingering watch unwatched)
among the personal effects in those corners
not accessed in a period compromised
by the seizing up of bones
and the disorder of failing and forgetfulness
an antique from the top of a wedding cake but whose?
two figures a bride and her groom
he minus his head his sacrifice
making them equal in height
(can mementos metamorphosize into voodoo dolls?)
how had he come to lose his head?
how was he relevant to the widower
in whose former home it was found?
who and when did they represent?
what I am to do now that this imperfected tribute
this broken inheritance is in my possession
the only one that has raised its head to me?
On the 4 th of December HMS Morris will be releasing an EP called ‘Pastille’ - 5 songs recorded and released in 2020. The collection represents a fairly coherent period, when circumstances required a particular mode of composing, producing and being. This EP sums up all the band’s 2020 feels.
‘Pastille’ features an extended version of ‘Partypooper’ and an exclusive track ‘Marshmallow’ and will be available on a Ltd Edition 12” Pastel Blue Vinyl limited to 100 copies – you snooze you lose.
Here’s the story behind Pastille EP, which will be released on December 4th on Bubblewrap Records:
Pastille is a collection of 5 songs we’ve written (or at least finished off) during 2020, and as such is a chronicle of our experience of one of the most significant years in living memory. There’s been plenty of time to think seriously about our life choices, as well as much pondering of superficial silliness. We’ve reacted to political turmoil first with a call to arms, and then with lots and lots of samba-charged escapism.
Even the method of Pastille’s release is a reflection of 2020. This year signifies the end of the old-school music industry, which has been on life support ever since CD sales stopped pumping at the turn of the century. Ever more dependent on touring income, the industry faces a bleak future as the ban on live music events lingers on.
One bright point has been the growing profile and importance of Bandcamp. The platform has long been the most direct way of turning fans’ money into musicians’ lunches, and this year they’ve stepped up their support even further by waiving their fees on the first Friday of every month. It’s in recognition of Bandcamp’s role in the emerging 21st century music industry – and in recognition that we need to eat! – that we are releasing Pastille exclusively as a vinyl package on that platform.
We realize that asking fans to pay directly for our music might seem cheeky, presumptuous, or be annoying for people who already pay a subscription for a streaming service, so we’ve worked hard to make Pastille as special as possible, a package that’s infinitely better than just streaming the tunes.
So thanks in advance for your support, and take care everyone x (Heledd/Sam)
Tracklist: HMS Morris 'Pastille'
01. Partypooper (5:23)
02. Poetry (4:28)
03. Babanod (3:53)
04. Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol (4:05)
05. Marshmallow (3:26)
Pastille EP features an epic extended version of Partypooper, an exclusive track, Marshmallow, and re-mastered versions of Poetry, Babanod and Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol. It comes on a limited edition 12” pastel blue vinyl (download code included), and will be available to pre-order from November 6th on HMS Morris’ bandcamp page:
or direct from Bubblewrap Records:
bubblewrapcollective.co.uk/shop-bubblewrap/
The standard package will include a disk, download code and enamel pin-badge, while the deluxe package also includes a t-shirt. All artwork and merch has been created in collaboration with Ceredigion artist Mari Elin Jones, who generally showcases her creations here: www.instagram.com/mari.melyn/
It will be available to pre-order alongside some new merchandise on November 6 th from the following websites - https://hmsmorrisband.
All 2020 merch and artwork has been a collaboration between HMS Morris and the artist Mari Elin. We thank her for all her imagination and we thank you for all your support during a turbulent time for artists and makers.
Standard Package – Vinyl, Enamel badge and digital download code, £20.00
Deluxe Package – Vinyl, Enamel badge, T-Shirt and digital download code, £35.00
Gadewch i ni roi terfyn i’r flwyddyn ddomllyd yma gydag ychydig o newyddion da!
Ar Rhagfyr y 4ydd fydd HMS Morris yn rhyddhau eu EP ‘Pastille’ – 5 cân welodd golau dydd yn 2020. Mae’r casgliad yn cynrychioli cyfnod cyson a ddigyfnewid pan oedd amgylchaidau yn gofyn am ffordd go benodol o gyfansoddi, cynhyrchu a bod. Mae’r EP yma yn crynhoi holl deilmladau 2020 y band.
Mae ‘Pastille’ yn cynnwys fersiwn estynedig o ‘Partypooper’ a trac ecsgliwsif o’r enw ‘Marshmallow.’
Fydd yr EP ar gael ar finyl 12’’ glas golau – 100 copi yn unig – peidwich bod yn gysglyd.
Fe fydd ar gael i’w rag-archebu ar y 6ed o Dachwedd yngyd â chrysau-t a bathodynnau o’r gwefannau canlynol - https://hmsmorrisband.
Mae holl waith celf 2020 y band wedi bod yn gyd-weithrediad a’r artist Mari Elin! Diolch iddi am ei holl dychymyg a diolch i chi i gyd am eich cyfnogaeth yn ystod cyfnod go gythryblys i artistiaid a gweithwyr creadigol.
Pecyn Sylfaenol – Vinyl, Bathodyn enamel a côd lawrlwytho, £20.00
Pecyn Ffansi – Vinyl, Bathodyn enamel, crys t a côd lawrlwytho, £35.00
Hi from North Wales
I hope that you’re all keeping safe and well.
I’ve got a special offer to share with you – perfect for a few enjoyable hours.
Audible have given me codes that allow FREE downloads of the audio version of my Inspector Drake novels. The great thing is that you DON’T need to have a subscription to Audible to enjoy the audio books.
I only have a LIMITED number of codes and they are only for the US and the UK so if you’re in Canada or Australia or elsewhere my apologies.
Some of you may have taken up the offer of codes for Brass in Pocket the 1 st Inspector Drake novel narrated by the super talented Richard Elfyn.
Now I’ve got FREE code for Worse than Dead the second Drake adventure. If you’d like one, then click on the link below.
I always enjoying hearing from my readers so do please get in touch.
Regards / Hwyl fawr
Stephen .
Deann recently joined AmeriCymru as A Fairy House Studio , where she creates unique, one-of-a-kind mixed media sculptures.
AmeriCymru: How would you describe what you do?
Deann: I make sculptural fairy houses from selected natural, botanical materials. Some of them include jewelry or small figurines or other things in them and they all include fairy lights. Each one is completely unique.
AmeriCymru: How did you start making fairy houses?
Deann: I’ve been an artist of some kind for most of my life. I was a dancer, a multimedia sculptor and I just like to make things. Years ago, I had a serious heart attack and afterwards my physical activity was really limited. My doctor told me to take long walks to help heal and build up my stamina and I did that.
On my walks, I spent a lot of time in the woods and along nearby marshes and rivers and for fun imagined fairies living in these places, just out of sight, and what would their homes be like? I started looking for material on fairies, where did they come from, etc, and found first British fairy stories and then that there were Welsh fairies. I can’t remember where I read this but I did read something that described at least some of them as what we often think of today as fairies, tiny women with wings, like Peter Pan’s Tinkerbell, and houses for them seemed to be what I wanted to make.
AmeriCymru: Where do you get the inspiration for your houses?
Deann: I mostly get my inspiration from my materials, find an interesting branch, some interesting leaves or lichen or moss or a flower I want to dry, and those things eventually inspire the house I want to put them in. Inspiration can also come from a piece of costume jewelry or a small figurine of some kind or as I collect things, all of a sudden they fit together and then I start working on something new. I love to make beautiful things and see people take pleasure in them, that’s what fulfills me.
I also include a string of fairy lights with a battery pack so they can be lit in the dark and present a completely different appearance than they do during the day. Each house is completely unique and gets its own name.
AmeriCymru: They’re very beautiful , they look like they take a long time to make and aren’t particularly for children.
Deann: No, they’re not and they’re not for placement outside. The materials on them are real - dried roses, dried mosses and ferns, dried leaves, acorns, bark and other elements, attached with adhesives but still fragile. They’re definitely a display piece you have indoors and don’t handle. People have talked about them as meditation aids, Pagans and Wiccans have used them as religious shrines, but I think for most people they’re something beautiful to enjoy looking at, especially in the evening with their lights on.
AmeriCymru: What’s been the response to your work?
Deann: So far, everyone who’s seen them has said they’ve loved them, they get a lot of attention online. I think right now people are looking for things that give them joy, that are calming and pleasant.
AmeriCymru: I see that you’ve got a house with a Welsh name, what’s your connection to Wales?
Deann: Mainly two things, I have some ancestors from different parts of southeast Wales. When I started making these houses I went looking to see if there were Welsh fairies, and of course there are, and found first British fairy stories and then that there were Welsh fairies. Yes, I made one house named after the Tylwth Teg and I want to do some more Welsh-themed houses as I find out more about those stories.
AmeriCymru: I hope we'll get to see more of your work and more fairy houses?
Deann: Thank you, yes! Right now I’m just going to keep making fairy houses. They’re the thing that’s most inspiring me.
AmeriCymru: Any message for AmeriCymru readers?
Deann: Ha, buy my houses? Seriously, though, I hope people like looking at them and find the something that makes you happy, I suppose? Making these and looking at them makes me happy. I hope they make other people happy.
Youth Transatlantic partnership consolidated - despite Covid-19
A ground-breaking partnership to remind young people on both sides of the Atlantic of the lethal perils of racism will press ahead this winter despite the major challenges of lockdown.
Urdd Gobaith Cymru (youth organisation in Wales, UK (www.urdd.cymru/en ) and the students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have come together to create a virtual gospel choir to celebrate their new partnership and both Choirs will sing together in Welsh for the very first time!
Wales, known as the land of song, has an unequivocal strong and longstanding history with music and that shared passion was an obvious link when Siân Lewis, Chief Executive at Urdd Gobaith Cymru met with Patrick Evans, Chair of the UAB College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music, on a visit arranged by the Welsh Government to Alabama last autumn.
Welsh ties with the African American community in Birmingham, Alabama were formed in the immediate aftermath of the vicious bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church by the Klu Klux Klan more than half a century ago when the people of Wales donated a stained-glass window to the church in solidarity. A formal visit by Sian Lewis, CEO of the Welsh youth Movement, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, and Welsh Minister for Education Kirsty Williams to the University of Alabama last year strengthened these ties.
Tour arrangements for the UAB Gospel Choir to visit Wales and the Urdd National Eisteddfod for 2020 were being finalised when Covid-19 swept across the world and plans were put on hold. Keen not to let the challenges scupper the opportunity to bring the young people together, a virtual choir was formed.
The are 34 members in the virtual choir and Urdd members between the ages of 18 – 25 years old will form the voices of Wales. Mared Williams, a former Urdd Member and star of “Les Miserables” in the West End in London and UAB Gospel Choir Director Reginald James Jackson take the lead as soloists while Music Director Richard Vaughan brings the voices together.
Meanwhile it will be a new experience for members of UAB Gospel Choir too as not only will they be singing virtually with their partners across the Atlantic, but they will also sing in Welsh for the very first time – a translation of ‘Every Praise’ by Hezekiah Walker – “Canwn Glod”
Siân Lewis, Urdd CEO said,
“Music, and gospel music, has long been known to provide comfort and hope during troubling and testing times. This year has seen its fair share of challenges thrown our way, not only as individual nations but collectively as world citizens.
“We are delighted that despite the pandemic, we have been able to develop our partnership and give our members the opportunity to learn more about gospel singing from our inspirational friends at UAB. Together, we have recorded a truly uplifting performance – a true beacon of hope as we look forward with positivity.”
Patrick Evans, UAB Chair of the Department of Music, added
“The coming together of these young voices marks the beginning of a positive relationship between our students and the young people of Wales. Singing in Welsh for the first time was a challenge for the choir members, however they embraced the challenge and we are looking forward to visiting Wales when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, we hope that our virtual collaboration will spread a little joy during these hard times.”
Kirsty Williams, Minster for Education at the Welsh Government said:
“I am delighted that we continue to strengthen links between Wales and Alabama. This initiative between the Urdd and the University of Alabama at Birmingham ensures that a new generation will take our relationship forward. By uniting students through the power of song, our transatlantic friendship will continue to flourish, despite the distance between us.”
As the Urdd approaches its centenary in 2022 it has ambitious plans to ensure Wales makes a positive impact, to ensure that more people know about Wales, offer international experiences for young people and celebrate the cultural richness of Wales as well as share good practise with international contacts in the success of increasing confidence use and enjoyment of a minority language. Since its establishment in 1922, the Urdd has nurtured over 4 million young men and women to be proud of their country, open to the world and living embodiments of our language and culture, along with the universal values which we cherish in Wales.
The video is published to coincide with Thanksgiving in the USA and will be available on the Urdd Youtube Channel here from 0800 GMT 26 November 2020.
What is the Urdd?
Urdd Gobaith Cymru ( www.urdd.cymru) is a National Voluntary Youth Organisation in Wales, UK with over 55,000 members between the ages of 8 – 25 years. The Urdd provides opportunities through the medium of Welsh for children and young people in Wales to enable them to make positive contributions to their communities.
The Urdd has nurtured generations of young men and women to be proud of their country, open to the world and living embodiments of our language and culture, along with the universal values which we cherish in Wales. Over 4 million children and young people have been members of the Urdd since its beginning back in 1922. The significance of the institution in Wales cannot be over-emphasised. Its contribution to generations in Wales, to the lives and confidence, and mental health of our young people over the years has been immense.
Atgyfnerthu partneriaeth ieuenctid Drawsatlantig – er gwaethaf Covid-19
Bydd partneriaeth arloesol i atgoffa pobl ifanc o ddwy ochr Môr yr Iwerydd o beryglon dinistriol hiliaeth yn bwrw ymlaen y gaeaf hwn er gwaethaf heriau sylweddol y cyfnod clo.
Mae Urdd Gobaith Cymru a’r myfyrwyr ym Mhrifysgol Alabama ym Mirmingham ((University of Alanama – Birmingham - UAB) wedi dod at ei gilydd i ffurfio côr rhithiol i ddathlu eu partneriaeth newydd a bydd y ddau gôr yn canu gyda’i gilydd yn y Gymraeg am y tro cyntaf erioed!
Mae gan Gymru, gwlad y gân, hanes hir a chref gyda cherddoriaeth ac felly roedd yn gyswllt amlwg pan gyfarfu Siân Lewis, Prif Weithredwr Urdd Gobaith Cymru, â Patrick Evans, Cadeirydd Adran Gerddoriaeth Coleg Celfyddydau a Gwyddorau UAB, ar ymweliad a drefnwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i Alabama y llynedd.
Ffurfiwyd perthynas rhwng y Cymry a’r gymuned Affro Americanaidd ym Mirmingham, Alabama dros hanner canrif yn ôl yn dilyn ymosodiad terfysgol gan y Klu Klux Klan ar Eglwys y Bedyddwyr, 16th Street. Fel arwydd o gefnogaeth ac undod rhoddwyd ffenestr lliw i’r eglwys gan bobl Cymru. Bu i ymweliad swyddogol Siân Lewis, Prif Weithredwr yr Urdd, a Gweinidog Addysg Cymru, Kirsty Williams â Phrifysgol Alabama y llynedd gryfhau’r berthynas hon.
Roedd trefniadau taith Côr Gospel UAB i ymweld â Chymru ac Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd Sir Ddinbych 2020 yn cael eu cwblhau pan fu’n rhaid gohirio’r cyfan wrth i Covid-19 ledaenu ar draws y byd. Yn awyddus i beidio â gadael i’r sefyllfa atal y cyfle i ddod â’r bobl ifanc at ei gilydd, ffurfiwyd côr rhithiol ar cyd rhwng Côr Gospel UAB ac aelodau o nifer o aelwydydd yr Urdd ar draws Cymru.
Bydd 34 o leisiau yn dod at ei gilydd i greu’r côr rhithiol yn gynrychiolwyr o Gôr Gospel yr UAB a thua hanner ohonynt yn aelodau o rai o gorau aelwydydd yr Urdd o Hafodwenog, Penllys, JMJ, Pantycelyn a’r Waun Ddyfal. Cyn aelod o’r Urdd a seren “Les Miserables” yn y West End, Mared Williams a Chyfarwyddwr Côr Gospel UAB Reginald James Jackson fydd yn canu rhan yr unawdwyr tra bod y Cyfarwyddwr Cerdd Richard Vaughan yn gyfrifol am ddod â’r lleisiau at ei gilydd.
Bydd yn brofiad newydd i aelodau Côr Gospel UAB hefyd, nid yn unig y profiad o uno i greu rhith gôr ond dyma fydd y tro cyntaf iddynt ganu yn y Gymraeg – addasiad o ‘Every Praise’ gan Hezekiah Walker, ‘Canwn Glod’.
Meddai Siân Lewis,
“Mae gan gerddoriaeth, a cherddoriaeth gospel yn enwedig, y gallu arbennig i gynnig cysur a gobaith mewn cyfnodau anodd a chythryblus. Mae eleni wedi bod yn flwyddyn heriol a dweud y lleiaf, nid yn unig i genhedloedd unigol ond i ni gyd fel dinasyddion y byd.
“Rydym mor falch ein bod wedi llwyddo i ddatblygu ein partneriaeth a rhoi’r cyfle i’n haelodau ddysgu mwy am ganu gospel oddi wrth ein ffrindiau ysbrydoledig yn UAB, er gwaetha’r pandemig. Gyda’n gilydd, rydym wedi creu perfformiad sydd wirioneddol yn codi calon – gwir esiampl o obaith wrth i ni edrych ymlaen yn bositif i’r dyfodol.”
Ychwanegodd Patrick Evans, Cadeirydd Adran Gerdd UAB,
“Wrth ddod â’r lleisiau ifanc yma ynghyd rydym yn nodi cychwyn ar berthynas gadarn rhwng ein myfyrwyr a phobl ifanc Cymru. Roedd canu yn y Gymraeg am y tro cyntaf yn her i aelodau’r côr ond fe wnaethon nhw groesawu’r sialens ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at ymweld â Chymru pan fydd hi’n ddiogel i ni wneud. Yn y cyfamser, gobeithio bydd ein rhith gôr yn creu tipyn o lawenydd yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn.”
Meddai Kirsty Williams:
“Rydw i wrth fy modd ein bod yn parhau i gryfhau cysylltiadau rhwng Cymru ac Alabama. Mae’r fenter hon rhwng yr Urdd a Phrifysgol Alabama ym Mirmingham yn sicrhau fod cenhedlaeth newydd yn bwrw ymlaen â’r berthynas. Wrth uno myfyrwyr drwy rym cerddoriaeth, bydd ein cyfeillgarwch trawsatlantig yn parhau i ffynnu, er gwaethaf y pellter rhyngom.”
Wrth i’r Urdd agosáu at ei ganmlwyddiant yn 2022 mae gan y mudiad strategaeth ryngwladol uchelgeisiol i sicrhau fod mwy o bobl yn gwybod am Gymru, yn cynnig profiadau rhyngwladol i bobl ifanc yr Urdd ac yn dathlu cyfoeth diwylliannol Cymru yn ogystal â rhannu arfer da gan gynyddu hyder a mwynhad yn yr iaith Gymraeg. Ers ei sefydlu yn 1922 mae'r Urdd wedi meithrin 4 miliwn o ddynion a menywod ifanc i fod yn falch o'u gwlad, yn agored i'r byd ac yn ymgorfforiadau byw o'u hiaith a'u diwylliant, ynghyd â'r gwerthoedd cyffredinol yr ydym yn eu gwerthfawrogi yng Nghymru.
Mae’r fideo yn cael ei rannu ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol i gydfynd â dathliadau diwrnod Diolchgarwch (Thanksgiving) yn yr UDA.
Bydd y fideo ar gael yma i chi lawr lwytho am 15:00 dydd Mercher 25ain o Dachwedd mewn pryd i’w gyhoeddi i’r cyhoedd am 08:00 dydd Iau 26 Tachwedd. Mae modd gwrando ar ddarn bychan o’r gan o flaen llaw yma (dim i’w rannu/ gyhoeddi).
Am ragor o wybodaeth neu i drefnu cyfweliadau, cysylltwch â Sioned Wyn, Swyddog Marchnata a Chyfathrebu yr Urdd sionedwyn@urdd.org neu Shannon Thomason, UAB Office of Public Relations, thomason@uab.edu
Author David Jones is most insistent that this is a 'people' book. A brief perusal of the Contents list reveals how accurate his assessment is. We are introduced to a cast of characters whose challenging and inspirational experiences are recounted in sections on Personal Histories, Family Histories and Covid-19 Heroes. Overall the book is a tribute to the small Welsh community of Cwmbwrla in Swansea and chronicles its response to the 2020 pandemic. There are also contributions from local artists and poets, and Jeff Phillips original drawings of Old Brynhyfryd are particularly evocative and memorable.
Consider the case of Circus Eruption, the UKs first integrated circus project. Based in Cwmbwrla since they purchased the old St Luke's Church building in 2018 their mission is to teach youngsters (11-19) circus skills. Their work and commitment has provided local youth with a much needed break from the misery and tedium of lockdown:-
"The building is a proving to be a perfect base for outreach work, and on the final day of 2020’s unusual summer the Cwmbwrla Community Events team saw at close quarters just how effective Circus Eruption are at engaging young people.
'Among the highlights of an August Bank Holiday event in Cwmbwrla Park were a series of workshops teaching skills in juggling and plate spinning, as well as a range of team-focused games. The mission of Circus Eruption, as we saw very clearly on that sunny Monday afternoon, is to build confidence and spread joy. So far it’s mission accomplished.'
At the Manselton Surgery we find Corinna Evans and her colleagues standing by no matter what the personal cost:-
'Sister Corinna Evans has worked at this surgery since 2005 and it’s difficult to imagine anyone being a more dedicated public servant. On the day I spoke with her, she hadn’t slept. During a night of heavy rain, a leak in her roof had kept her awake. She was clearly exhausted, but she still came to work. She always comes to work.'
It would be so easy (not to mention, a pleasure) to go through this book cherry picking the wonderful tales of dedication and commitment contained therein. But that would be unfair to the many contributors I would have to omit AND to you dear reader because I know you will want to read this book so, the fewer spoilers the better.
David Jones has provided us with an invaluable record of a tragic year. We owe him and everyone else who collaborated on this project a debt of gratitude. And, hopefully, this magnificent effort will inspire others to follow suit. Personally I don't care what lies Boris Johnson peddled in the Commons this morning, even though his penchant for buffoonery occasionally makes his performances entertaining. The guardians of community are our REAL leaders for they are the guardians of the human race. This is REAL history.
BUY IT HERE: Circling the Square: Cwmbwrla, Coronavirus and Community