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AmeriCymru: Many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. The Choir will be performing at the 2015 North American Festival of Wales in Columbus, Ohio. Can you tell us how this came about? Have you performed in the USA before?
Alun: Thank you for the opportunity.
We sang at the 2006 NAFOW in Cincinnati, Ohio, and were again invited to sing at this years’ festival for which we are very grateful. In 1979, the choir visited Toronto, Canada and took part in the Canadian World Music Festival in that city.
This will be the choirs’ fourth visit to the USA, for we first visited in 1993, when we celebrated 100 years since the original choirs’ visit to the “World Fair” or “World's Columbian Exposition” that was held in Chicago in 1893. Since then we have undertaken short tours in 2000 and 2006.
During our tours in the USA in the past we have visited New York, Chicago, Boston and Cincinnati as well as Poultney, Vt. and Granville N.Y. where we have made lifelong friends. This will be our first visit to Washington D.C.and Columbus, Ohio.
AmeriCymru: Can you tell us something about the choir's history? When was it founded?
Alun: The original Côr y Penrhyn was formed from a number of members of many smaller choirs who used to meet, and compete against each other. These choirs were made up entirely of men who were working at the Penrhyn Slate Quarry, located here in Bethesda.
Slate was, and still is, quarried using the “gallery” method of quarrying. The galleries are steps in the mountain side, and each gallery had a large number of men working the rock face. The men working the galleries formed small choirs which competed against each other in eisteddfodau (Welsh Cultural Competitions with a history spanning many centuries) and they also had soccer teams which competed against each other.
In the late 1800’s the men decided to form one choir, to be called “Côr y Penrhyn” to represent the area and travel to Chicago to the World's Columbian Exposition. The first eisteddfod held outside of Wales was held at that exposition.
The visit to Chicago is the first recorded concert of ‘Côr y Penrhyn’ and on their return to Wales and to the quarry, the choir split again to smaller choirs. The choir as we know it today was not formed again until 1935.
When the original choir returned to work in the quarry they faced tough working conditions which led to the longest industrial dispute in UK industrial history. In 1900, the then Lord Penrhyn, locked the men out of the quarry when they attempted to set up a union and this “lock-out” lasted for 3 years.
During those three years many families left the area, and dispersed to all corners of the world, some to travel to South Wales to work in the coal mines, some to Australia but several families chose to emigrate to North America, especially the Vermont and Upper New York State area, where they went to work in the slate quarries of that region.
As was mentioned above, Côr y Penrhyn has a long standing friendship with the residents of Poultney, Vt and of Granville N.Y. where we always receive a warm welcome. We are returning to Poultney this year on what will be our third visit to the town.
AmeriCymru: Where in Wales is Bethesda? Care to describe the area a little for our American and Canadian readers
Alun: Bethesda is situated in North West Wales in the County of Gwynedd and right at the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. It is approximately 5 miles south east of the University City of Bangor. The name is of course biblical in origin as are many towns and villages in North Wales for when these places were founded mostly in the 19th century the whole of Wales was in the grip of intense religious revivals and the people turned to the Bible for inspiration.
Welsh is the dominant language in Bethesda (known locally as “Pesda”) and in the 2001 census, 77% of the residents were Welsh speaking.
We have a Welsh language monthly newspaper, Llais Ogwan, established in 1973 http://www.llaisogwan.com/ and which has a circulation of approximately 1500 serving a population of about 4,000 in Bethesda and the surrounding areas.
Bethesda lies in the Ogwen Valley in a compact, mountainous region of Wales, about 6 miles away from Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain, but also just a few miles away from the sea.
AmeriCymru: In addition to your appearance at NAFOW you will be performing at the Washington National Cathedral on August 27th. Can you give us more details about the performance.?
Alun: Our performance at the Washington National Cathedral was arranged when our numerous friends in the USA made enquiries on our behalf as to possible concert venues whilst we were visiting, and the cathedral was put forward as one possible option. Following a meeting with the cathedrals’ Musical Director and his team, we were invited to perform on the 27th August.
Our performance at the cathedral is going to be in the form of a multi-media presentation rather than a formal concert. In addition to being conducted by our young, talented Musical Director, Owain Arwel, we will be joined by the famous Welsh actor, John Ogwen who will be our narrator, and by a brilliant young harpist, Glain Dafydd, who, in conjunction with our accompanist Frances Davies, will be contributing to the presentation. The performance will also include a visual aspect in the form of a video backdrop.
https://www.cathedral.org/events/sms20150827.shtml
AmeriCymru: What is your repertoire? Is there a particular piece that you all enjoy performing more than others? Do you have a signature piece or one that's more often requested by audiences?
Alun: We have a varied repertoire, alongside hymns and old favourites such as “Myfanwy”, which reflect the non-Conformist tradition with which male voice choirs were first associated, today’s repertoire includes perhaps even more challenging pieces.
One recently commissioned work combines words by one of Wales’ most gifted poets, Ieuan Wyn, with music by Welsh composer Gareth Glyn. In a lighter vein, there are Welsh and English pop song adaptations as well as ever popular spirituals and opera choruses as well as choruses from musicals made popular on the London and New York stage. “Anthem” our latest CD, gives a taste of that diversity.
The most often requested piece, and one which is famous in male choir repertoires is the hymn tune “Gwahoddiad” (Invitation) which includes a rousing “Amen” ending.
AmeriCymru: Where can people buy recordings of the choir online? What CD's are available?
Alun: We have quite a few videos on You Tube, especially from our concert at the Chicago Cultural Center where we performed at the Myra Hess concerts on two separate occasions.
“Anthem”, our latest CD is available for purchase on our website www.corypenrhyn.cymru
AmeriCymru: You'll be in Ohio this year but what's next for the Penrhyn Male Voice Choir. Any new recordings or tours in the pipeline?
Alun: We have a busy schedule in 2015 -16 with concerts all around the UK.
No major foreign tours have yet been planned, although we would always endeavour to be available for concerts in the USA, if invited. We are always being urged to sing in various Celtic festivals in France and Ireland and there is a standing invitation for us to return to Germany, but we have to decline many such invitations because of our full programme of commitments at home.
AmeriCymru: Do you have any final comments for the attendees and organisers of the North American Festival of Wales?
Alun: We are very grateful to the organisers of the NAFOW for their kind invitation, and we are very much looking forward to meeting friends, old and new, and especially to performing at the concert on Saturday and the Cymanfa Ganu on Sunday.
We hope that the attendees will be delighted by our “new” concept of a multi-media presentation, which will make up half of our concert but which will, of course, be combined with a more “traditional” first half concert.
'From the Horse’s Mouth: Dr Wynne’s Diaries' To Be Launched At The Royal Welsh Show
By AmeriCymru, 2015-11-23
Internationally renowned Welsh pony and cob expert launches his long-awaited autobiography
From the Horse’s Mouth: Dr Wynne’s Diaries will be launched at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Pavilion at the Royal Welsh Show on Tuesday, 21st of July from 2pm. One of the best-known names and respected figures in the world of Welsh ponies and cobs will launch his autobiography at the Royal Welsh Show this year. Co-owner of Ceulan Stud, breeding and showing these beautiful animals is in Dr Wynne Davies’ blood. In his long-awaited autobiography – From the Horse’s Mouth: Dr Wynne’s Diaries – he offers a fascinating portrait of several generations of his family and their connection to ponies and cobs, as well as his life story, which is inextricably linked to the horses.
From Dr Wynne’s early life at Ceulan Stores, Tal-y-bont, to teaching in the Rhondda and the eventual relocation of Ceulan Stud, we follow every step in the life of a man so committed to his field that he was awarded the MBE in 1995 for long-standing dedication to Welsh ponies and cobs.
The book includes over a hundred photographs of Dr Wynne’s family, friends, ponies and cobs. Photos include wonderful moments from the family album, handlers, participants and notable successes at various shows, international travel and a rich collection of Ceulan’s stock.
In her foreword to the book, The Hon Dame Mrs Shân Legge-Bourke says, “When I read Dr Wynne’s first book, I realised that there was very little mentioned as to how or why he got so involved with the Welsh Pony. I am delighted that this interesting and amusing diary has come to fruition, which reveals so much of his life, passion, interest and success over the years.”
Ceulan has a proud tradition of breeding show-winning Welsh ponies and cobs and their success has been on an international scale as many have been sold to breeders all over the world. The legacy continues with the next generation as Dr Wynne’s son, David, has joined his father at Ceulan.
A native of Ceredigion, Dr Wynne Davies has been a member of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society since 1948 and has worked as their publicity officer since 1978. He is a prominent and familiar figure at the Royal Welsh Show, having been the Grand Parade commentator since 1976 and Main Ring commentator since 1980. A prolific and enthusiastic author, he is a recognized authority on Welsh Ponies and Cobs and has written many books on the subject.
From the Horse’s Mouth: Dr Wynne’s Diaries will be available from all good bookshops and online retailers.
For more information, please visit www.gomer.co.uk
About Dr Wynne Davies
By profession, Dr Wynne Davies was Head of the Chemistry section at the South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education, which became the University of Wales Institute Cardiff.
He has been a member of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society since 1948, a member of Council, was President of the Society in 1984 and Publicity Officer since 1978. He was elected Honorary Life Vice-President in 1991 for his 37 years of service on Council and received the M.B.E. at Buckingham Palace in October 1995 for his services to Wales and to the Welsh Pony and Cob Society.
Dr Wynne Davies has been Grand Parade commentator at the Royal Welsh Show since 1976 and Main Ring commentator since 1980, he has contributed articles and Show reports to various UK and overseas magazines since 1952 and reported the Royal Welsh Show for Horse and Hound every year between 1954 and 2012. He has written many publications on the Welsh breeds, including The Welsh Cob (J.A. Allen, 1998), The Welsh Mountain Pony (J.A. Allen, 1993), An Introduction to Welsh Ponies and Cobs (Whittet Books, 1993), Welsh Ponies and Cobs (J. A. Allen, 1980) and Welsh Ponies and Cobs: Ceredigion Champions (Gomer, 2010).
Royal Welsh Agricultural Show Ground, Llanelwedd
From the wikipedia:- Royal Welsh Show "The Royal Welsh Show (Welsh: Sioe Frenhinol Cymru) is the biggest agricultural show in Europe. It is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904, and takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales. The first show was held in Aberystwyth in 1904, and its success led to the development of the permanent showground at Llanelwedd, first used in 1963."
From NAFOW (the North American Festival of Wales, Sept. 3-6, 2015, Columbus, OH)
By AmeriCymru, 2015-11-23
We will have six competitions in singing and poetic recitation, all offering cash prizes, on Saturday, September 5 , at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. For recitation, two competitions (Adult and Welsh Learner's) involve reciting a poem from memory in Welsh, and English Language Recitation is on offer as well. Hymn Singing involves singing one hymn of your choice in Welsh, while Solo Voice involves singing two pieces, at least one of which must be in Welsh.
Our signature competition (Solo Voice/Semi-Professional) offers the David G. Morris Memorial Award, a generous cash scholarship for travel to compete in the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. This competition is for singers (residents of the Americas) with some professional training but whose income is derived only partially from performing; many of our winners have gone on to great success in competing in Wales.
All of our competitions involve highly qualified adjudicators who provide a very friendly and supportive atmosphere in which to display and develop your own talent in recitation or singing. You will make wonderful new acquaintances, and everyone leaves with the satisfaction of maintaining a great Welsh tradition on behalf of all of North America!
The NAFOW Eisteddfod entry form, including further details on all competitions, is available here: http://www.nafow.org/WNAA_NAFOW/PDFs/Forms/forms2015/eisteddfod_2015.entry.pdf .
The deadline for entering all competitions is August 20, 2015 .
Please contact us directly (email: eisteddfod@nafow.org / phone: 412-215-9161 ) with any additional questions... and we'll see you in Columbus!
AmeriCymru Hi Neil and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. What can you tell us about the forthcoming US Tour? Has the Band toured the US before?
Neil: Thanks Ceri for taking an interest and sharing this with the Americymru community. The planned tour will take place between 12th February until 21st February 2016 and with the current proposed scheduled cover the five States of Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. We have five confirmed concerts at present and are in discussions for another potential booking. We are delighted to be working alongside several Universities and Brass Bands in America to host and promote our tour. This is an historic tour for the Cory Band as it will mark 40 years since our last visit to America when the band represented Wales as part of the Bicentennial celebrations in 1976.
AmeriCymru The Cory Band is one of the oldest and best known Brass Bands in the world. Care to tell us something about it's history?
Neil: The band was formed in 1884 as the Ton Temperance Band in Ton Pentre, Rhondda less than two miles from where the band are based today. In 1895, the ‘Ton Temperance Band’ was invited to play at the official opening of Gelli Colliery Library in Ystrad. Sir Clifford Cory, the highly influential son of John Cory performed the ceremony. He was so impressed by the standard of the Band’s performance that he offered to provide financial assistance and provide suitable employment to enable the Band to engage a first class conductor. The ‘Ton Temperance Band’ changed its name to reflect the generous financial assistance from Sir Clifford Cory and his family business, ‘Cory Brothers’. Consequently, from 1895, the Band became known as ‘Cory Workmen’s Band’
In Cardiff on 19th July 1923, the Cory Workmen’s Band also took part in what is believed to have been the first radio broadcast of a Brass Band. By the mid 1950’s Cory Band had notched up an impressive two hundred and fifty (250) BBC Broadcasts.
Robert Childs became MD in 2000 and immediately made an impact. During that year they won both the British Open and the National Championships and made history in taking the British Open Shield home to Wales for the first time in the contest’s 148-year history. This triumph was repeated in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011 when the band won their fourth British Open title. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 the band achieved a historic hat-trick of European Brass Band Champion titles.
The current Musical Director Philip Harper was appointed in June 2012. 2013 saw the band regain the European title, undertake a 10-concert tour of Australia and become the Champion Band of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall.
The band has been ranked the number one Brass Band in the World for the last 8 consecutive years.
AmeriCymru: Many people will be familiar with the Welsh choral tradition. How important have Brass bands been in the history of Welsh valleys society?
Neil: Brass Bands have been a proud rich tradition of Welsh valley life for generations and are a cultural movement strongly linked to the Coal Mining Industry in Wales. The Mines are now long gone but the bands play on. Learning to play a Brass instrument has been part of the education system within schools in Wales for many years and community bands have supported this development by providing opportunity to use these musical skills and provide a social outlet for young people and also older people who continue to play after leaving school. A Brass and Voices concert, generally with male choirs is a regular favourite in Wales bringing our rich musical traditions together.
After reading the rest of this article, let us transport you for a few minutes to the green green grass of home where you can watch us on Youtube performing alongside a modern famous Welsh choir, Only Men Aloud.
AmeriCymru: For the uninitiated can you describe the typical composition of the band or of Brass bands in general? How many musicians will be on the tour?
Neil: The Brass Band repertoire is varied and not just marches or orchestral transcriptions although these still can form part of a concert. There are now many wonderful original Brass Band compositions which are firm favourites with Brass Band audiences around the World. Add to that a mix of jazz and popular music and you soon see that a Brass Band is really diverse in its capabilities. A total of 30 players will be travelling to perform this tour, 30 flights for people, luggage and instruments doesn't come cheap!
AmeriCymru: You have launched a Kickstarter appeal to cover some of the costs of the tour. Can you give us some idea of the logistical problems involved in arranging a tour like this?
Neil: There are many logistical problems in arranging a tour like this, luckily we have a member of ours called John Southcombe who was Tour Manager for us in 2013 when we went to Australia who is working on this tour again for us. Now that the majority of the schedule has been fixed and flights reserved, the next major cost and logistical work is arranging the required VISAs to enable us to perform in America, at the moment this is endless telephone calls and emails to seek advise on the exact requirements but at this stage it looks like we need to get all our players to London for individual interviews to obtain the VISAs required. After this we will be working on developing and recording a specific tour CD and merchandise to give our audience in America a truly unique Cory experience. After this we will have to finalise and pay for UK Coach Travel, Flights, Coach Travel in Amercia and Hotels but most importantly we will be working on our concert performances and brand new repertoire for the tour as well as developing masterclasses to inspire students and members of the brass bands in America to be the best that they can be. All in all we've got a busy few months ahead before we even get to February when the fun really begins!
AmeriCymru: Of all the many titles and honours the Cory Band has earned over the years are there any in particular that stand out? What, for you, is the bands proudest moment?
Neil: One of the greatest contest achievements that Cory achieved prior to 2000 was achieving a hattrick of wins at the National Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in London (1982,83,84) under the musical direction of Major Arthur Kenny.
Since the year 2000 the band has enjoyed the most successful period in its long history, and this sustained period of success has enabled the band to maintain the position as the number one ranked band in the World for the last eight consecutive years. The stand out achievement during this period was becoming Double Champions in 2000, which means winning the National Championship of Great Britain and also winning the British Open contest in the same year. The British Open win was the first time that this had been won by a non-English band in the 148 years that the contest had been in existence.
There are so many proud moments that I can think of during my 20 years performing with the band, but I think being chosen as the band to represent Wales at the Queens Jubilee Celebrations in London in 2002 and also for me personally being part of the band that toured Australia in 2013 was a great experience. Many past players of the band have shared some great experiences of their tour of America in 1976 and that was definitely a proud moment in our history and it's fantastic that we now have an opportunity to take that same musical voyage 40 years later.
AmeriCymru: How would you describe your repertoire? What kind of musical experience can audiences expect at your forthcoming US dates?
Neil: For our tour our repertoire runs through stirring British classics to favourite movie themes and classical music. Want a touch of Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust, followed up by the theme from James Bond, a flirtation with Star Wars and a little space travel with Holst’s Planets Suite? Yep, we do that. This brass band from the Welsh Valleys will send you into orbit with its extraordinary virtuosity, showmanship and heartfelt emotion.
AmeriCymru: What is your most recent recording? Where can readers go to buy your music online?
Neil: One of our most recent recordings which I'm sure your readers will enjoy is Cory in Concert Volume 5. This will provide a good example of the vast and varied repertoire that a band such as Cory can perform. Visit www.worldofbrass.com to purchase or visit our Youtube page to view some live performances www.youtube.com/thecoryband1884
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Neil: First of all thank you for taking the time to find out more about us, please say hello on Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you think and please share this with your friends, family and communities. We really do want to make this a tour a success and are busy currently with a Crowdfunding campaign to raise the required funds to pay for those expensive transport costs. If you can help in any way we would really appreciate it and there are some excellent rewards if you do get involved, please visit our Crowdfunding page
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/772364903/get-the-no1-brass-band-in-the-world-from-the-welsh
We hope to see lots of you in February but for now you can say Hello on:
www.facebook.com/corybandwww.twitter.com/coryband
www.coryband.com
Rugby Mania: A Quiz Book For Fans by Tomos Morse
Rugby Mania – A Quiz Book for Fans is available from all good bookshops and online retailers
For more information, visit www.gomer.co.uk
About the author
Tomos Morse is originally from Tonteg, near Pontypridd, and now lives in Cardiff with his wife and their three children. He is a producer with the BBC, and in his spare time, he’s a cinema and biography buff. But his favourite pastime is going down to Sardis Road to watch his beloved Pontypridd play.
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There had been no sound whatsoever ever since a solitary crow had given up its unashamed, tuneless mockery; his final thoughts on the day fade-echoing into evening. There had been no movement to mention either, save the almost swirl of mist and the occasional bovine coming briefly into sleepy focus before browsing back into the ambient haze. With the final glimmerings of day, you wouldn’t have been sure, and the eventide might have been playing tricks on your senses–the locals would have said it was the Tylwth Teg , the Welsh elves again–but the hint of a frail, grey, hooded figure seemed to flow as lightly as a light, late, evening breeze, ghosting in, out and under the canopy of leaves and encroaching undergrowth along the forest edge. Then the wraith would dissolve into nothingness, only to reassemble, all the while sidling obliquely for the manner. But … maybe not, the whole vision–trees, mist, house et al–quickly and silently faded to moonless indigo then black; only a halo of pale lantern light next to the ivy-shadowed door suggested any kind of responsive life at all.
John and Alys were sitting near a cheerful, reassuring fire that scattered red, yellow and gold fingers of light onto their concerned faces; the lively, crackling wood and flickering flame in deep contrast to their studied silence ...
.......to be continued. Check back on Glyndwr Day (September 16th) for the full story.
AmeriCymru spoke with Mari Griffith author of 'Root of the Tudor Rose' BUY THE BOOK HERE "Immensely readable and compelling…Highly recommended!" Alison Weir, bestselling author of The Six Wives of Henry VIII
“A stunning first novel…this new treatment of Catherine de Valois’ story will be a delight to lovers of historical fiction.” Bernard Knight CBE author of the ‘Crowner John’ historical mysteries
AmeriCymru: Hi Mari and many thanks for agreeing to this interview.
Mari: My pleasure. It's good to have the opportunity to put the record straight about the origin of the Tudor dynasty which is the backdrop for my novel. English writers have had it their own way for too long because despite films, books and television series which would have you believe otherwise, the Tudors weren't an 'English' dynasty. Well, not entirely. Their roots are in France ... and in Wales. And not a lot of people know that!
AmeriCymru: So what's the Welsh connection?
Mari: The original Tudor, the one who gave his name to the best-known royal dynasty in British history, was from Penmynydd in Anglesey. He was Owain ap Maredydd ap Tudur who Anglicised his patronymic Welsh name to become Owen Tudor. He was related either by blood or marriage to three of the ancient royal houses of Wales, the 'Uchelwyr' as they were known. He could claim descent from the families of Ednyfed Fychan (who was chief advisor or 'seneschal' to Prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth), also to the Deheubarth dynasty of South Wales and the Powys dynasty. In fact, his grandmother's sister was Owain Glyndŵr's mother. Are you still with me?
AmeriCymru: Yes, just about! So how was it that a young man from North Wales gave his name to this so-called 'English' dynasty?
Mari: Well, so many of his family had supported their kinsman Owain Glyndŵr in his heroic battle to save his people from the English invader, that they were naturally devastated by defeat. Then, with an astonishing degree of arrogance, the English king offered a 'pardon' to Glyndŵr's family which, when offered a second time, was finally accepted by Glyndŵr's son Maredydd who then went to London and entered the service of King Henry V, probably as a sergeant-at-arms. There's no written record to support my theory but I think it very likely that Owen had followed his cousin's example in going to London because he certainly went into the service of the English royal family, eventually becoming Clerk of the Wardrobe to Queen Catherine.
AmeriCymru: That doesn't sound like very much of a job!
Mari: No, it doesn't, does it? But actually, it was. He would have been in charge of her seamstresses, laundresses and tiring women and would have dealt with suppliers like her cordwainer (Ed: Her who? MG: Her shoemaker). When Her Highness travelled, her Clerk of the Wardrobe would have been responsible for the safety of her jewellery, her personal cutlery and plate as well as her gowns, both formal and informal. And, of course, he would have overseen the accounting ledgers for all the expenditure involved. Quite a responsible job!
AmeriCymru: But that doesn't found a dynasty, surely?
Mari: No, it doesn't. What happened was that King Henry V, in the interests of bringing France under English rule, had married the Princess Catherine de Valois, daughter of the French King Charles VI. Then, when King Henry died, Catherine was left a widow at the age of twenty. Her baby son inherited his father's title and became King Henry VI. He was just ten months old and needed all his mother's love and protection so, naturally, Catherine remained at the English court where she was regarded by many with deep suspicion simply because she was French and therefore not to be trusted. Very vulnerable, Catherine had few friends except one - her Clerk of the Wardrobe who was also an untrustworthy 'foreigner' to English eyes.
AmeriCymru: Ah ... I'm beginning to see the connection!
Mari: You've got it! Yes, the two gravitated towards each other and became friends, ultimately falling in love and embarking on a clandestine affair which was enormously dangerous. Though Catherine was the Dowager Queen of England , she was little better than a kitchen wench in that she had been got with child by a servant! They had to keep it a secret at all costs, otherwise Catherine would be sent to a nunnery and Owen would almost certainly lose his head.
AmeriCymru: Dramatic stuff! Have you always known the story? Were you a fan of history at school?
Mari: No, absolutely not. I was a complete dunce. I hated history in the way it was taught to me. It seemed to be little more than a string of boring facts and dates. If only I'd been told the stories behind the facts, I'd probably have loved it. But, no, I failed my History exam gloriously, not once but three times. I've come to History as a subject since I've retired and realised what an important part Wales and the Welsh played in British history of the 15th century. Certainly, many members of the Tudor dynasty would have had a good grasp of the Welsh language - Henry VII was brought up by his uncle, Jasper Tudor (one of Owen and Catherine's sons) in Pembroke Castle and, two generations later, the chief among the ladies in attendance on Queen Elizabeth I was a Welsh woman by the name of Blanche Parry. Yes, there were plenty of us around - and that's only the tip of the iceberg.
AmeriCymru: So, given all these fascinating facts, might you be thinking about a sequel to this book, featuring any more of the Welsh Tudors? What's next for Mari Griffith?
Mari: Well, there is another book in the pipeline though it doesn't continue where this story leaves off, it's more an offshoot of it. The Duke of Gloucester persecuted poor Owen Tudor mercilessly and the next book is about his 'comeuppance'. The Duke's wife, the Duchess Eleanor, had an associate called Margery Jourdemayne who was strongly rumoured to be a witch. Not the broomstick-riding kind, more a village 'wise woman' with ideas above her station. But those who were of a mind to undermine the Duke's authority chose to do so by accusing his wife and her associates of treason and thus bringing him down by association. The sensational trial at which they were accused was the biggest cause célèbre of the fifteenth century and I'm in the final stages of committing it to paper.
AmeriCymru: Well, good luck with that! Have you any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Mari: Yes, of course - I really hope you enjoy reading Root of the Tudor Rose and I'd be delighted to hear your comments. As for the next book, it's to be called The Witch of Eye . It's already commissioned, again by Accent Press, and should be available early next year. And I promise that my friends at AmeriCymru will be among the first to know the publication date! In the meantime, I'll leave you with some links you might like to follow:
Call-and-response is the rhythm of this world. Songbirds call out to one another in the trees; warm weather invites the blossoming of roses; a mother coos in response to her baby’s gurgles. And, for the most part, hymns are a response to the call of God on the human heart.
During the Welsh revivals that ebbed and flowed through the centuries, men and women heard the invitation to draw close to the Spirit. Their response was to compose text and tune. Itinerant preachers called miners, farmers, and apprentices to the chapel for prayer and worship. Crowds thronged to sing with heart and soul.
As “revival” means “restoration of life,” so each wave of revival brought refreshment and “living water” to parched corners of Wales. Today’s Gymanfa Ganus reach into the storehouses for the fruit that came from those seasons of harvest to celebrate hymns once a year. Gymanfas connect us to a rich and fertile past.
Occasionally a Gymanfa will offer something new. Hymns of yesterday mingled with hymns of today in this year’s 80 th annual Gymanfa Ganu in Beavercreek, Oregon. Held on June 28 th , 2015 in Bryn Seion Welsh Church (built in 1884, it is the last active Welsh church on the West Coast of the U.S.A.), this year’s two afternoon gatherings included hymns birthed centuries ago and those recently penned, to the delight of visitors from Wales, Canada, Alaska, and surrounding states.
The chairman of the Gymanfa Ganu, Tad Davis, welcomed all. Geneva Cook was at the organ. Nerys Jones (born in Llanfair Caereinion, sang with the Seattle Opera and the English National Opera, and studied in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) directed us with a voice of beauty and power. She briefly taught us the tonic sol-fa method of sight-reading, including hand motions.
The Festival Chorus of the Welsh Society of Portland came forward to sing four original pieces, directed by Dr. Jamie Lynn Webster (PhD in Musicology and Ethnomusicology from University of Oregon) and accompanied by accomplished musician, Mary Reese. Dr. Webster had asked Christopher Wicks (University of Montreal and Marylhurst College) to submit a new arrangement of “Calon Lân”; a complete version was emailed to her by the next morning! The second original was a new arrangement of “Lisa Lân” by choir member Jeff Lewis. The final new pieces were hymns written by (my father) Dr. Idris Evans: “Grow With God” (“Tyrd Gyda Duw”) and “Catch the Spirit” (“Dal Yr Ysbryd”), arranged for choir by Jeff Lewis.
John Owen, visiting from Boise, Idaho, sang a solo with feeling and strength, inspiring an enthusiastic standing ovation. We then raised the rafters with beloved standbys like “Diadem,” “Rachie,” “Blaenwern,” and “Cwm Rhondda.” The Rev. Greg Tatman gave the benediction, after which, a Te Bach (“little tea”) offered guests a sumptuous array of home-baked goodies, a now much-loved tradition at Bryn Seion Gymanfas.
As inspiring as the new musical contributions to this Oregon Gymanfa were, the Rev. John Clinton Evans lamented to the audience that the Welsh churches he visits are practically empty these days. So what will Gymanfas in Wales and around the globe look like in the future? Will there be another revival to bring new songs to Wales and to those with Welsh roots?
As we sang, I looked at my 20-year-old son, Evan (named after one of the leaders of the 1905 Revival), sitting with me to support his Taid (grandfather). My son’s generation and his counterparts in Wales will probably not create new four-part hymns. However, as the Spirit calls to the young, they will respond with their own style and their own expressions of love. They might compose the next favorite worship song in Welsh for electric guitar, drums, and keyboard. They may draft new arrangements to accompany old Welsh lyrics. It is possible they will meet in updated venues like school halls instead of chapels.
What will future Gymanfas look like? When new life comes, attendees will “[bring] out of [their] storeroom new treasures as well as old” (Matthew 13:52). The young and the seasoned will raise their voices side-by-side. Gymanfas will be a call-and-response that engages the past, the present, and even the future, a call-and-response that reflects the natural rhythm of the world.
Jacqueline Rhianon Gonnerman
Many thanks to guest blogger David Dell for the article below about his aunt Elsa Spencer, "The Worlds' Premiere Parachutist" and for the superb pictures which are from plate photographs and have never been published before. You can buy David's latest book here:- Jack Swan: The Time Travel Disasters dgdfg
Ernest Thompson Willows had the title "The Father of British Airships" and Elsa Spencer, enjoyed the title "The Worlds' Premiere Parachutist." Sadly, history has largely forgotten these two great Welsh champions of the air. Elsa Spencer's birthplace was a pub in Church Hulme, Chesire, but Cardiff became her home until the day she died in 1964.
Born August 6th 1882 as Gladys Robinson, Elsa Spencer also used the name Daisy Delauney. Her first parachute descent came on August bank holiday in 1901. A newspaper account from the Yorkshire Evening Post claims she was only 13 years old. This was inaccurate as her chronology puts her as being 18 years old. Over 300 parachute descents are credited to her - all from balloons. Although she flew with many different balloon pilots; Capt. Gaudron, the Spencer Brothers and Harry Truman, her later career with E.T Willows would have been a natural fit as both these aeronauts lived-in the same city.
Fortunately, Elsa Spencer's husband George Gooding was a professional photographer. He had various studios in Cardiff and some of his plate photographs remain to this day. A photograph dated August 1919 (see above) shows the Willows, Elsa Spencer and her husband. On the far left is Joseph Thompson Willows, the father of E.T Willows. To his right is a somewhat apprehensive Elsa Spencer getting ready to ascend from Cardiff's Sophia Gardens. Her apprehension is warranted as on one of these descents she landed in Cardiff docks and nearly drowned. Ernest Willows is in the center attaching the "Liberator" line to the balloon and we believe the man on the right is George (Harry) Gooding her husband.
George served in the first world was in Lord Kitchener's "Model Army." He spent many years living rough in tents and together with his heavy smoking, affected his health. Sadly, George passed away in March 1934 at the age of 47. Elsa remained a widow until her death.
Tragedy was never far from many of the early aeronauts. Elsa Spencer worked with fellow female parachutist; Edith Maude Cook-who operated under various names including Viola Spencer and they were billed as the "Spencer sisters." Edith was one of many female parachutists to die tragically in the early days. On July 14th 1910, Edith Cook died of injuries in Coventry, five days after she parachuted onto a factory roof.
E.T.Willows also died tragically, along with four passengers, on the 3rd of August 1926 in a balloon accident in Bedford, England. E.T. Willows is buried in the Cathays cemetery. He is remembered with a school and a wonderful pub named in his honor. On the 15th of August, The Lloyds Sunday News published the first part of Elsa's Spencer's 25 year history of Parachuting. With the death of her friend E.T. Willows less than 2 weeks before, perhaps Elsa thought this was the time to hang up her parachute - there is no record of her ever making another parachute descent .
I visited Elsa in hospital shortly before her death in March 1964. I wore my uniform and proudly showed her my newly acquired parachute wings. She had been an inspiration for both my brother and I to join the British Airborne forces. Some weeks later, after I had returned to my unit, I learned that she passed away. The legs that had been battered and bruised so many times in so many rough landings were finally giving out. On the day of her death the doctors had scheduled an operation to amputate one of her legs. She never made it to the operating theater. The passing of this remarkable, brave and courageous lady was marked only with a small obituary in the South Wales Echo.
At her request she donated her body to the University of Cardiff medical school. The disposal of her ashes followed one year later - at an unknown location. Sadly, no plaque or memorial exists to mark the passing of Elsa Spencer, one of Cardiff's great parachuting pioneers.
"We are proud to offer, as part of our Eisteddfod competitions at the North American Festival of Wales (NAFOW) , the David G. Morris Memorial Competition for Solo Voice. This is our signature competition, with the opportunity to win a cash scholarship ($3,500 US) for travel to compete in the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales.
This year’s David Morris Competition will be held Saturday, September 5, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. It is open to singers (residents of the Americas) with some professional training, but whose income is derived only partially from performing. Several David Morris winners have gone on to great success in competing in Wales, including a first-place winner at the 2012 National Eisteddfod in Vale of Glamorgan. More information can be found on the attached flyer.
Each competitor is required to sing two pieces from memory (contrasted selections drawn from art song, oratorio or operatic repertoire), at least one of which must be in Welsh. (Competitors should note that participation in the National Eisteddfod of Wales will involve singing in Welsh.)
The NAFOW Eisteddfod entry form, including further details on the David Morris competition, is available here: Eisteddfod Entry Form . Entries must be received by August 20, 2015.
For further information on this extraordinary opportunity, please contact us at any time (email: eisteddfod@nafow.org ; phone: 412-215-9161 )."
