Lyrics

The lyrics are now coming together. I have 3 songs finished, two of which are vocals only tracks so those two are now ready for recording which will be happening next month. I have written a simple piano score for the song, Tryweryn, now I need to arrange a pianist to come in and record for me.

Here are the Lyrics for the song Dognau (Translations to come).

Brechdanau spam i frecwast

Brechdanau spam i de

Heb pres i’r farchnad ddu

Heb pres am banad o de

Or diwedd dyma ni heddwch

Ond rydym yn dioddef o hyd

Blynyddoedd ar ol y bomio

Wel, dyna chdi rhyfel y Byd

Caeth menun ei werthu yn raddol

Mewn owns 2, 4 a 6

Dwyn fferins gan fy mrowd i

Ac ynte yn rhoi sgrech

Dim esgidiau ar fy nhraed ers misoedd

Heb ffrwyth yn fy mol ers pryd

Pwysigrwy y llyfrau dogni

Wel, dyna chi rhyfel y Byd

Composing

I am aiming to compose and record 5 tracks for the LP, all of which will have a protest music themed lyrical content to them. It is important to do research for the understanding of the situation in Wales during the 40's and 50's so the lyrics can reflect the social and political climate of that time. I will try to find 5 different topics of protest to make it more interesting.

Track List.

1. Brifddinas

2. Glowr

3. Dognau

4. Tryweryn

"Look At Wales!" - 1950s color travelogues

Welsh Coal Mining Industry

Coal mining was one of the busiest industries in Wales up until Margaret Thatchers reign has Prime Minister. It was a family affair, successive generations worked down in the pits, often from a very young age and low pay. There is a long list of coal mining disasters over the years, this highlights the dangers the miners were facing every time they went down to the pits. Some of the dangers faced underground include suffocation, gas poisoning, roof collapse and gas explosions. This would make seeing your husband/ dad leaving for the pits every morning a horrible experience. 

Music in Wales during the 1950s

After the second world war two significant musical organisations were founded, the Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. This saw Welsh composers moving away from choral compositions to instrumental and orchestral compositions. But Welsh folk music was still strong with the likes of Meredydd Evans heavily involved with the folk revival in Wales. 


In 1954, Meredydd Evans recorded his landmark album Welsh Folk Songs. Since then, Evans has created a long and distinguished career as a professor of philosophy, writer, performer, television producer and above all, advocate for the Welsh language and culture.

Below is a link to the BBC Wales site where there is an article on Welsh folk music. 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/folk-traditional/pages/about_traditional_02.shtml