Welsh Midi Files & Lyrics

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It is very difficult to translate from one language to another and maintain continuity of thought, let alone preserving rhyme and rhythm.When translating a book, a literal translation is feasible.  This is impossible with music or poetry, since one must maintain rhyme.Sometimes bacause the task is so daunting,  the interpretor takes a general feeling of the song, and writes entirely different lyrics. When I have found different sets of lyrics, I have included them.  No one set is correct - it is a matter of choice and what sounds best to the reader.  -Bob Penry-

The question also arises, "Why do Welsh hymns have titles that have nothing to do with the lyrics?"  Different congregations often have different lyrics for the same tune, or the same lyrics are sung to different tunes.  In years past, organists were hired, and would travel from church to church.  While lyrics change, tunes do not.  Therefore each melody was given a tune name.  This was often the name of a locality, perhaps where the author lived. (For instance, Cwm Rhondda means the Rhondda Valley.)  The organist then recognized the song, regardless of the lyrics.  Some hymnals still maintain the tune names, either in parenthesis below the title, in the composer area, or in an appendix to the hymnal.

Title-Welsh Title-English
Ar Hyd y Nos All Through the Night
Ar Lan y Môr Down by the Seaside
Bells of Rhymney
Blind Harper, The
Bryn Calfaria 
Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn Watching the White Wheat
Calon Lân
Clychau Aberdyfi The Bells of Aberdovey
Codiad yr Hedydd The Rising of the Lark
Corn Hirlas, Y The Hirlas Horn
Cwm Rhondda Guide Us O Thou Great Jehovah
Cyfrir Geifr Counting the Goats
Dafydd y Gareg Wen David of the White Rock
Deryn Pur, Y The Dove
Eneth Ga'dd Ei Gwrthod, Yr The Rejected Maiden
Ferch o'r Sger, Y The Lady of Sker
Flowers of the Heath
Fwyalchen, Y The Blackbird
Gentle Gwen
Gwcw Fach, Y Cuckoo Dear
Hefo Deio I Dywyn Going with Deio to Towyn
Hob Y Derri Dando
Llanfair Praise the Lord
Lisa Lân
Llef Deus Salutis
Llwyn Onn The Ash Grove
Maid of Llanwellyn
Mentra Gwen Fairest Gwen
Merch Megan Megan's Fair Daughter
Morfa Rhuddlan The Red Marsh
My Hen Wlad fy Nhadau Welsh National Anthem
"Land of my Fathers"
Myfanwy Myfanwy or Arabella
Nos Galan Deck the Hall
O'er the gloomy hills of darkness
Pan Fyddor Nos Yn Hir
Rho Im Yr Hedd / Finlandia Be Still my Soul
Rhyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech Men of Harlech
Sospan Fach The Little Saucepan
Suo gan Welsh Lullaby
Tros Y Gareg Over the Stone