Gwenan Gibbard (Bangor University)
In Wales there has always been a special relationship between music and poetry and our centuries old folk-songs reflect the rich diversity of our history and landscape whilst conveying the sincere and inner most thoughts and feelings of our people.
Taking inspiration and guidance from the archive of lifelong researchers in the field of Welsh traditional music, namely Dr Meredydd Evans and Phyllis Kinney, I have been focusing on studying lesser known and previously unpublished Welsh language folk-songs and ballads collected by various singers and collectors from Llŷn and Eifionydd, namely R H Evans, Shân Emlyn, Daniel Evans and Roberts Jones ‘Dwyfor’. The archive also led me to the personal, family collections of songs by two significant collectors – Gwilym Jones (‘Gwilym y Rhos’, Rhoshirwaen) and Thomas Rowlands (Pencaenewydd). A reflection of a rural and simple way of life in the first half of the 20th century, the songs stem from close-knit communities and speak of local characters and happenings, religion, traditions and family values, political and social change, shipwrecks and major developments in modes of transport.
As a researcher and as a folk singer my goal is to restore knowledge and pride in these local songs and, through further research, to reintroduce them, together with other lost songs, to the Welsh folk-song repertoire.