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This is another track consisting of two songs which exhibit similar lyrical themes, this time anthropomorphism and animal communication.
The first, ‘Y Ddau Farch’ was collected from a native of Llangeitho in Ceredigion. The song is a conversation between two horses, with the older lamenting his lost youth and the redundancy of old age. It struck me that the merry nature of the original melody sat somewhat incongruously with the sad sentiment of the narrative and so this new version is intended to reflect this.
The second half of the track is an extract from the verses of ‘Y Bardd a’r Gwcw’ written by Daniel Jones or Daniel ‘Sgubor’ (1777-1859), a vagrant balladeer who sometimes took up residence in a barn in Castell Hywel. A conversation between a bard (possibly Dafydd himself) and the late returning cuckoo, this joyful exchange hailing the return of spring became very popular and travelled all around Wales, adopting a variety of melodies and words. Taken from the singing of Daff Jones, Rhydowen in 1968, recorded by Roy Saer.
Mae’r trac yma’n cynnwys dwy gân delynegol gyda themâu tebyg o anthropomorffaeth a chyfathrebu anifeiliaid.
Casglwyd y cyntaf, Y Ddau Farch, gan frodor o Langeitho. Mae’r gân yn sgwrs rhwng dau geffyl, gyda’r hen un yn galaru am ei ieuenctid coll a chaledi henaint. Fe darodd fi bod natur lawen yr alaw wreiddiol yn gwrthgyferbynnu’n rhyfedd â theimlad trist y naratif, felly mae’r dehongliad newydd hwn yn ceisio adlewyrchu hyn.
Mae ail hanner y trac yn cynnwys rhai o benillion Y Bardd a’r Gwcw a ysgrifennwyd gan Daniel Jones (Daniel ‘Sgubor’, 1777-1859), baledwr crwydrol a fyddai’n lletya weithiau mewn ysgubor yng Nghastell Hywel. Yr oedd yr ymddiddan llon rhwng y bardd (Dafydd ei hun o bosib) a’r gog hwyr yn boblogaidd iawn ledled Cymru ac fe ledodd ar hyd a lled y wlad gan gasglu ato’i hun amrywiaeth ychwanegol o alawon a phenillion. Mae’r fersiwn yma’n seiliedig ar ganu Daff Jones, Rhydowen ym 1968, a recordiwyd gan Roy Saer.
lyrics
The Two Stallions / The Bard & The Cuckoo
When I was walking one morning,
Strolling from my little patch,
On the mountain I met
Two horses conversing.
The weakest horse
said to the stronger —
“Once, when I had respect,
I was as good a horse as you.”
“When I grew old and lame
I carried the corn to the mill,
And what I got
Were the poor leavings of husk.
“They took off my shoes
And sent me to the mountain,
And while I still breathe
I shall never go home.”
Oh Cuckoo, Oh Cuckoo, where have you been so long?
Before you came to the neighbourhood you quietened,
You missed your moment by two weeks almost,
You come at last with your merry song.
“I lifted my wing high up to the wind,
Thinking I would be here three weeks early.
Oh, don’t misunderstand, nor think so foolishly,
It was the cold north wind that held me back.”
Oh Cuckoo…(etc)
Y Ddau Farch / Y Bardd A'r Gwcw
Pan oeddwn ar foreddydd
Yn rhodio ma’s o’m cufydd,
Cyfarfod wneuthum â dau farch
Yn ymgom ar y mynydd (x2)
Dywedai y cel gwannaf
Nawr wrth y ceffyl cryfaf —
“Fe fum i undydd yn fy mharch
Yn gystal march â thitha. (x2)
“Pan es yn hen glunhercyn
Ces gario ŷd i’r felin,
A beth ddigwyddodd i fy rhan
Ond gogred gwan o eisin. (x2)
“Tynasant fy mhedola,
Gyrasant fi i’r mynydda,
A thra bo anadl yn fy ffroen
Ni ddeuaf byth tuag adra.” (x2)
O ’r gwcw, O ’r gwcw, lle buest ti c’yd?
Cyn dod i’r gym’dogaeth, ti aethost yn fud.
Ti gollaist dy amser, pythefnos ym mron,
Ti ddest yn diwedd, â’th ganiad yn llon.
“Fe godais fy adain, yn uchel i’r gwynt
Gan feddwl bod yma tair wythnos yng nghynt.
O paid ti camsynied, na meddwl mor ffôl,
Ond oerwynt y gogledd a’m cadwodd yn ôl.”
O ’r gwcw . . . ayb
credits
released June 23, 2020
Owen Shiers – Guitars, Vox, Percussion / Gîtar, Llais, Offer Taro
Alfie Weedon – Double Bass / Bas Dwbl
Leandro Emiliano Mancini – Percussion / Offer Taro
Flora Curzon & Sophie Rivlin – Violin / Feiolin
Cynefin (pr.‘kuh-neh-vin’) is the musical brainchild of Clettwr Valley native Owen Shiers. Fascinated by music and history,
it is a bid to give a voice to an area of his corner of Wales. Starting out from his home village and travelling through the musical landscape of Ceredigion, Owen has unearthed seasoned songs and stories, some never before recorded, and given them new life in the present....more
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