| Author | Topic: Add: On this day | |
| dmcg | Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 11:03 am | |
On this day our King was born, Let harp be sounded, fill'd the horn; With methegin to the brim, For ev'ry heart beats high for him. Bards with voices clear and strong, Pour freely forth a joyous song, Cheering day and gladd'ning night, And call the song the "King's Delight". For the King well pleased will be While list'ning to the melody, Rising from his subjects all, In lowly cot or lofty hall. May he live a thousand years, And may this song salute his ears; May his smile be ever bright, When he has head the "King's Delight." Source: Singing Together, Autumn 1968, BBC Publications Notes: The pamphlet provides no information whatever about this song, so I will not speculate in the database. In this thread, though, is another matter, as they are supposed to be for discussion after all. It is not a song I know at all, but the idea of the happy Welsh people singing songs to celebrate the birthday of a (presumably English) King doesn't sound totally convincing. I have no evidence that the song is Welsh beyond the few words that suggest it might be, and wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that it might have been composed by an English person 'on behalf of' the Welsh. Of course, that could equally easily be completely wrong. So any information anyone has on this would be welcomed. Reading the song again, I am not sure why I had a bias towards it being 'Welsh' - perhaps it was the reference to bards and harps. It could just as easily be the Irish celebrating. Edited By dmcg - 03-Oct-2004 11:13:20 AM | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 01:39 pm | |
Yes, that's a Welsh carol, titled "Difyrrwch y Brenin." The English words were written by John Oxenford. The song appeared in The National Song Book, ed. by Charles Villiers Stanford (Boosey & Co., 1906, p. 181). | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 02:06 pm | |
There's another translation in John Hullah, The Song Book (Philadelphia: T.B. Lippincott / London: Macmillan, 1866, pp. 340-41): RAISE ON HIGH A ROYAL LAY | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 03:03 pm | |
Thanks, masato. Here are words for the Welsh Carol from a website: Beth mae?r Brenin yn fwynhau, Yn fwy neu lai na ni ein dau? Pobol ddistaw ar bob awr, Yn ei senedd-dŷ gÃ?¢r yn fawr. Pobol dda am dalu treth, Ei galon gÃ?¢r uwchlaw pob peth; Byddin iawn, a llynges gref; Hyn ydyw ei ddifyrrwch ef. Hoffa cerddor gÃ?¢n a thant, Ond hoffi mÃ?ªl a wna ei blant; Ceidw un ei aur tra gall, Ond hoffi rhoddi wna y llall. Fel yr ydym ffrindiau ffri, Os bodlon pawb, wel bodlon fi, Caed y brenin fel pob dyn, Ddifyrrwch yn ei ffordd ei hun. To me, John Oxenford seems to have composed a new song to the tune, but as I can't speak Welsh I can't give an accurate translation of the Welsh lyrics and so far have not found a website that holds anything other than the Oxenford version. | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 04:44 pm | |
I can't speak Welsh but I'm not convinced either English version is a translation from the Welsh. | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 05:34 pm | |
It would be interesting to see an exact translation. Although it would be a mistake to think that Welsh people invariably assume that British kings are "English" and do not indulge in patriotic songs, now or in the past, the fact that this is presented as a carol does raise the distinct possibility that the king in question is not an earthly one. | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 05:54 pm | |
the fact that this is presented as a carol does raise the distinct possibility that the king in question is not an earthly one Now why didn't that occur to me? Of course, that is quite possible, especially since the Autumn booklets usually contain a lot of carols and indeed the rest of the songs in the booklet are Christmas carols (if I remember rightly.) We do need a translation, and an account of how and why John Oxenford came to write the lyrics we have. | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 03 Oct 04 - 05:54 pm | |
Interesting Malcolm. My rough stab at the last 2 lines is. ? the king as all men. Rejoice in his road with him. Jon | ||