Gwlad, Gwlad! Learn the Welsh National Anthem with ease
Stephen Price
With change in the air, and Hen Wlad fy Nhadau ringing out from the steps of the Senedd, there’s no better time to learn Wales’ beautiful national anthem – and it’s been made even easier thanks to a free online course from SaySomethingInWelsh.
Following yesterday’s historic election results, Plaid Cymru is set to gather its 43-strong team of Welsh parliamentarians together, as the party sizes up the prospects of forming the next Government of Wales while Labour licks its wounds from a historic defeat.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, has effectively declared victory for his party in the Welsh elections, after it became the largest party in the new Senedd – and as his rousing speech outside the Senedd today (9 May) came to a close, the crowd joined together as one to sing.
So for those of us that might not know it yet, the developers at SaySomethinginWelsh, are on hand to help you learn the words to our anthem in just 4 short and easy lessons with their free mini course.
Add to that, they have provided some incredible history behind our most beautiful of anthems and its creators, James and Evan James from Pontypridd, and learn how the rousing song came to become our national anthem – a must read for anyone who has tried and failed to learn the words in the past.
The steps have been designed to help master and understand the first verse and the chorus of the Welsh National Anthem.
The makers say that their methods will allow you to ‘become more deeply connected with the words than ever before by making them part of you, whilst experiencing a radical new way of learning’.
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One user said: “I used to get a bit tangled with the gwrol rhyfelwyr but I shall remember them now.“
Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.
Chorus:
Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r heniaith barhau.
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd;
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i’m golwg sydd hardd
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i fi.
Chorus
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad dan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
Chorus
Translation: Land of My Fathers.
Lyrics:
This land of my fathers is dear to me
Land of poets and singers, and people of stature
Her brave warriors, fine patriots
Shed their blood for freedom
Chorus:
Land! Land! I am true to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land
May the language endure for ever.
Old land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,
Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards;
Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be
Her streams and rivers to me.
Chorus
Though the enemy have trampled my country underfoot,
The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat,
The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand
Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.
Chorus
Challenge yourself to learn the words here.
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So wonderful with the anthem in English also and the reason for doing it.
Congratulations Plaid