Track Listing

1. Melangell/Megis Sybylltir - Llio Rhydderch
2. Y Ddau Farch - Dylan Fowler, Julie Murphy
3. Mynd I Rymni - Rag Foundation
4. Kaniad y Gwynn Bibydd
5. Canu'r PWNC
6. Breuddwydion - Meic Stevens
7. Hiraeth Am Feirion
8. Hen Ladi Fowr Benfelen - John Thomas
9. Lawr A'r Ffrancod/Medley Caerfaddon
10. Conset y Peipar Coch/Erddigan y Pibydd Coch - Ceri Rhys Matthews, Jonathan Shorland
11. Merched - Pigyn Clust
12. Tom Edwards/Angharad Sian/Y Derwydd - Kilbride
13. SS Agnes Jack/Aberdare Railway Polka - Boys from the Hill
14. Bethel
15. Erddigan y Pibydd Coch/Tri a Chwech/Marwnad Yr Heliwr - Bob Evans,
16. Pen Rhaw
17. Triban Morgannwg - Cas Bethe/Chwi Fechgyn Glan Ffri/Difyrrwch Gwyr ... - Yr Hwntws
18. Breuddwyd y Frenhines
19. Miners Hornpipe/Monmouth Hornpipe - Mike Lease,
20. Fi Wela - Fernhill

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64503 in Music
• Released on: 2001-10-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album Description
The traditional music of Wales is one of Europe's best kept secrets. This Rough Guide explores the Celtic, medieval, renaissance, baroque, romantic and native art elements which give the music an innocence and freshness, now hard to find

Artists include: Llio Rhydderch, Julie Murphy, Fernhill, Sion Williams, Ffynnon, Capel Rhydwilym, John Morgan, Ceri Rhys Matthews with Jonathan Shoreland and Kilbride

Customer Reviews

A Celtic Celebration
Having Welsh heritage, and familiar already with Scottish and Irish folk music, I was delighted by the uniqueness and diversity of this Rough Guide compilation. Although there are analogs in the folk music of the aforementioned Celtic lands, Welsh music has a tonality and texture all its own. Fiddles, harps, bagpipes (although not the Scottish variety), and ballads abound on this poignant and thoroughly enjoyable CD. There is a lyrical melancholy here which predominates and which echoes some of the contemplative beauty of Dylan Thomas's poetry. I highly recommend this exploration of sounds which will startle in their haunting, lilting universality.

The Other Celts
Like the other customer reviewer, I'm also partially of Welsh extraction. I've been listening to Celtic music for years, but had very little exposure to the music of Wales. I had heard that it was strong on the harp and that was about it. I was thrilled to hear this compilation with a rich variety of sounds and instruments. The music of this little country is very different from more familiar styles of Scotland and Ireland. This CD reaches back in history to early recordings and brings us right up to the current Welsh music scene. If you want to get the big picture of what Welsh music is all about, buy it!

Fantastic Primer on Welsh Music
This is a wonderful and broad introduction to the world of Welsh music. As expected, there are several beautiful examples featuring solo Welsh Harp (one by the grande dame of welsh harping - Nansi Richards). The Welsh are also well known for their love of singing and choirs. Rather than greats like Bryn Terfel, we have Capel Rhydwylm choir which sounds much more like the folks in your local choir than than The Sixteen. The entire cd has an honest and consistent informality to it from the Urban folk of Rag Foundation to the political-punk-folk of the Boys from the Hill to superb singing of Julie Murphy with both Dylan Fowler and her band Fernhill. This is a great compilation that deserves a place in anyone's collection. Since the music by most of these wonderful artists (Fernhill, Nansi Richards, etc.,) can be nearly impossible to find, not to mention expensive, the cd is an unquestionable bargain to boot. Most of the songs are either in welsh or instrumental, with a few exceptions.