Adfywiadwyr Music Posting Page.

RF = Regular Feature ok!

So Return to this post - page from time to time for additions.

Music for Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol:

Introduction: To be honest, being brought up in a typical ''Hwntw'' Family in the late 1940's and 50's into the 60's, early introduction into music was of the 'Anglo - American' verity. However, on the one hand I got some heavy duty 'Welsh Hymn' singing into my heart via School Morning Assembly and Sunday School at Chapel. Not that my folk were very religious, so I guess it was somewhere they could ''Park Me'' for their own Sunday afternoon ''Peace of Mind'' (Yes? Hhm!!!). My love of Welsh Hymn Music is still with me from these times (The hymn singing at Cayo's funeral gave me a rush of tears), I actually watch on occaision Dechrau Canu on Sunday night. I have no doubt the decline in Hymn singing at Rugby is not just down to popularity of ''Retail Secularism'' but due to there no longer being morning assemblies to teach the kids our heritage of hymns. Even though I am no longer a full on ''Welsh Christian'', I see nothing wrong in teaching our kids how to sing these great Welsh Hymns, better than encouraging them to wear so called ''Welsh Kilts'' it it like! See ''first'' Welsh Kilted Marching Band feature below.

Maybe we need a 'Bring Back Welsh Hymn Singing Campaign' perhaps this is something really worth while our rising ''Welsh Christian Movement'' (See Various Christian Falangist Political Parties of the past, 1930's in particular in Spain and other Catholic Countries, particularly in Latin America. Now arising in contemporary USA, usually inspired by Christian Exiles from the Lebanon) of the recently formed 'WELSH CHRISTIAN PARTY' and the slightly older 'MILTARY AND HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT DAVID'. I mention the matter of a campaign to restore our Hymn Singing Heritage, and remind that such would be more practical for the WCP to think about than seeking to rubbish our nations 'Red Dragon' . It is also worth noting here that the 'WELSH TARTAN CENTRE' and Cambria Magazine not only promote ''Cilt Clutter'' but are also sponsors of the annual St David's Day Parade in Caerdydd and the 'CAMBRIAN BAND' (See Below), these also have associations with the MHOSD directly or indirectly. So am suggesting they to join with the WCP in a massive mobalisation of 'Welsh Hymn Singing', reviving the old Cymric tradition of singing atop mountains. wonderful!!!!!

Now where was I? Yes! The late 50's and early 60's, in this period the majority of people became avid listeners to 'FAMILY FAVOURITES', some of us will remember those were the days we all sat around the dinner table to eat proper and listen to the ''hits of the day''. Mostly 'Anglo - American' stuff but I am not going to complain, my folks liked it and it's where we all got a dose of Harry Seacombe singing 'We'll Keep a Welcome in the Hillside' (a small identity promo?) which at least reminded many of us we were ''Welsh''. OK! not great Cymric Consciousness stuff but on parallel with much other forms of soft focus and Spuedo Patriotism, as Welsh Rugby and 'Dydd Dewi'. Neither of which I want to knock but it ain't exactly RADICALLY NATIONALIST. If you get what I mean, that 'Yellow Cross' (as well daffodils and leeks) can so easly inter - relate with those awful 'Three Feathers'' in the ''iconising of a Brit - Welsh identity, I label as ''WASPism'' and good ''Ole Uncle Taffy''(ex-Brit service men in particular). Back to the music, this was also the period of early 'Rock and Roll', Bill Haley and Teddy Boys et al, etc. The first two records I bought was Duane Eddy's Ring of Fire and an E.P. by little Richard. Later well into the 60's and I had no time for ''Brit Music'' (Beatles et al) but went straight into Black Soul Music (some Beach Boys) . This became in main the background music to my ''60's Revolution'' along with Irish Rebel Music, as I became more patriotically active. The 50's and early 60's would along with the music bring along early political consciousness, via Radio in the main; Cyprus, Malaya, Aden, Suez along with the revolt in Hungary. One of my relatives did his N.S. in Eritrea in the SWB, hunting down ''Bandits'' aka Freedom Fighters to us patriots, years later working in a London Kitchen, I met a young Eritrean girl whose perants had fled Ethiopian oppression, she had been born and bred in an Eritrean Refugee Camp in Lybia. Yes, I am wondering off the point again but contemporary matters intrude on my consciousness, and of neccessity I must pen it down instantly, as my memory is not so good these days. The point here is, as a young child I became aware of Hungarian Refugees coming to Wales to work in the coal mines, today it his Polish ''Economic Refugees'' that are in the news. I just now want to get across, that I think we should always have time for the refugee, be they fleeing politic or economic oppression. Plus of course the Poles will bring with them an history of a great struggle for national survival, they are a most heroic people, known in previous times as ''The Irish of Europe'' . Not least they are a musical nation and have some great patriotic songs, they if settling in a locality in sufficient numbers will open a 'WHITE EAGLE CLUB' and that cannot be a bad thing and of course ''home made'' Polish soup is great. I will tell you again my story of meeting up with a ''RWFer'' who did his N.S. in Cyprus and who took part in the SWB's ''mad rush to the head'', after a women from Morriston was shot in the back by a ''Terrorist''. He had been a young Welsh Speaking ''Teddy Boy'' from Carmarthen, and his music background was ''Rock and Roll''. I will save this story for a feature on ''Taffy'' in the British Army from times way back, Rourkes Drift to the Falklands War and today in Irag (to be posted in THE WELSH PATRIOT). Did you really expect a proper music page? No chance! But on with the music...

It was going to be the likes of FWA Commandant General Julian Cayo Evans and his accordian, who would be the great teacher of Irish Rebel Music, later Harri Web and his mate Miec Stephens (later WAC boss of Bosses) would write us, our own Welsh Patriot Songs, which few today seem to remember other than the ''Romantic Rebel'' Gareth ap Sion of Canu Canton Connection, Caerdydd. Further, Robert Hinton, 60's (Patriot of undefinable Political Persuasion, perhaps more leaning to Plaid Cymru/CyIG but liked drinking with ''rebels'') was also pretty good with these rousing radical Welsh Rebel Songs and could really bang the spoons on his knees.

TRAMP! TRAMP! TRAMP THE BOYS ARE MARCHING? An FWA Patriotic Anthem,I believe this originated as a Union American Civil War Song and was also used as a ''Welsh Anti - Catholic Mob" (see my account of 'WASPism) marching song. Usually sung after Chapel on way to the pubs, Miners were wound up by Non - Conformist preachers and thus were inspired to spread a little ''TAFF TERROR'' toward the valleys Irish Immigrant Catholic Commnuities. What! The Welsh do that? oh yes! for sure they did, bit hard to swallow but 'Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol' are not afraid to face past truth to meet present and future challenge of our cause and struggle. Whatever, in the 60's these new 'Welsh Patriotic Songs' became very popular but since you hardly here of them being sung, unless it's by Gareth ap Sion. It's about time we had a revival of Patriotic Song singing. So c'mon ap Sion, less of this ''Fiddling Fantasia'' with Gareth 'Kilt' Westacott at Mochyn Ddu. We need a bit more...............

Instead, how about organising a real PATRIOTIC RADICAL REVOLUTIONARY REPUBLICAN ROMANTIC REBEL CULTURAL SONG, POEMS AND PINTS NIGHT at Tafarn Cayo, about once a month? English Lord Dafydd Elis Tomos would not like it but I am sure many patriots would as an alternative to ''Tartan Taff'' Drummers.

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During my years in Ireland, I used to on occaision to visit the Irish Folk Clubs in Baggot Street and elsewhere, but favoured the 'Rebel Music' and singing of 'Rebel Songs' in the 'Irish Ballad Clubs'. I am not an emense lover of tradional Celtic Folk Music but I seem to prefer the tradional Irish and Scottish folk music to the Welsh (matter of personal taste). My old comrade Toni Lewis was a great lover of our Welsh Rebel Music (it was he who produced the patriotic song book illustrated above), he was also an accomplised fiddler on the Folk Music scene in all the Celtic Countries. Toni also loved German Marching Music, another influence he picked up in Germany when he was doing his National Service.

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Where am I, at Music wise today? well! My taste is quite eclectic to say the least. My father passed away in 2002 and left me an huge collection of his 1930's,40's and 50's music, and guess what? Yes!. what I hated in my teens, I am now getting into? Yes Dad's music now A- OK! Disco music still does it for me but so does ''Acid House'', if I was younger I guess I would be doing the IBIZA Scene? Much of contemporary Anglo - American music I can be alright with, have always been a fan of Tina Turner, Cher and Madonna. So Christine Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson and Shakira (See future my future feature posting on Algerian Rai Music) are on my listening list. I am still a big fan of Johnny Cash, what ''jail Bird'' is'nt?. For a long while I had a night job in London 'Deep Cleaning' Kitchens, which allowed me to listen whilst I worked to 'World Music' on the BBC World Service, and thus I have really taken to contemporay 'World Modern Music'. Very interesting how in Africa and Turkey modern music looks for inspiration to it's own musical roots and heritage. This applies to contemporary Algerian Rai Music to the vibrant revitalisation of indigenous music in coutries as Bolivia and Peru. I am also have much interest in both tradional music of the First Peoples of America and that also includes the songs of Buffie Sainte - Marie, I urge you rush out and get her album: 'UP WHERE WE BELONG'. Do note HMV and Virgin Stores have pretty good 'WORLD MUSIC SECTIONS'. However, as I said my music is very eclectic and thus I am also heavy into classical music and opera, go on give it a try? why not start of with the CD: Discover the Classics 'HEROES AND HEROINES' (suss the stories behind the music).

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If it's ''Live Music'' you want, you will find the 'Red Choir' performing regularly outside Cardiff Market on Saturdays and as often as not at the Cilmeri Commemoration too, Red Choir? Further note, that in the Summer Months there are plenty of Cymric Cymraeg Concerts all over Pura Wallia, plus plenty of folk festivals as at Dolgellau and Pontardawe.

Then there are the various ''Party in the Parks'' in Caerdydd, Abertawe and Pontypridd to name but three. 'Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol' please note, that many of these are filmed for TV progs, and for the news, so do take 'Radical Nationalist' baners along to fly before the cameras. Interesting I see more 'Baner Glyndwr' at Glastonbury than I do at Faenol or Dolgellau festivals? What does that tell us? does the BBC and S4C deliberatly pan cameras away from ''Rebel Flags?''(as we know they do at Rugby Internationals). Some one has informed me that patriots were told not to fly 'White Eagle Flags' at recent Cambria Mag/Tartan Centre (MHOSD?) 'Dydd Dewi Sant Parade in Caerdydd', after last years ''bitch about such'', parade organisers were obviously worried their ''Pristine Quasai - Religious Image'' may be tarnished by a dose of ''Welsh Extremism''. Whatever, sad that certain self styled ''Welsh Republican'' patriots on the parade who often shout a lot about the ''White Eagle Cross of Resistance'' conformed to the orders of the 'Knights of Saint David'. Such ''Poor Posturing Pathetic Patriot Poseurs'' does Cymru have, that when ''Patriotic Push Comes To Patriotic Shove'', not many of these really have any real guts! to do the right thing, do they? NO!

But lets move on to the latest excitment on the Welsh Music Scene fringe, BAND CAMBRIA. I recently witnessed their performence at the annual Cambrian/Tartan Centre (MHOSD?) Saint David's Day parade, must say they were very good. However, the ''Tartan Taff'' costumes and the Bands links to the ''politically patriotically unacceptable'', to me, and other patriots of potential 'Adfyiadwyr Gwlatgarol' thought and action, is the ''down side'' (see earlier postings re MHOSD et al). But such aside, the ''Lads and Lassies'' in the band were very good. I cannot fault them in performance and the way they carried themselves, as you will see from photos below:

Band Master John Jenkins, patriot hero (in photo below seen wearing patriotic 'Wooly Hat' and Kilt for God sake?), the former leader of MAC, the 1960's Secret Underground Welsh Resistence Movement has done a good job in the training of these ''Balchder'' boys and girls of Fflintshire.....

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I should also congratulate them on how quick and well they have learnt to be such a good 'drum band', but ''Tartan Taff'' Drum Band was that really a Welsh Patriotic neccessity. Suffice to say, I wish them well in part and hope they succeed in their endeavours but must say, I hope they stick to the 'Dewi Day' parade and other community carnival events, as I personally hope we do not see them at too many Nationalist events particularly at the annual Insurrection 1831 Commemorations at Hiwaun, Cefn and in Merthyr Tudful, first week June, further details from 'Cymdeithas Lewsyn yr Heliwr'. I must say that possibily my not liking ''Kilts'' is down to ''My Hwntw History'', knowing all to well it was ''men in Kilts'' who slaughtered over 28 working people on ''Bloody Friday'' on 3 June 1831, in and around the Castle Inn, Merthyr Tudful during INSURRECTION 1831. Further, it was the ''Men in Kilts'' who occupied many a Mining community, as Gilfach Goch in the 1920's to suppress possible ''Workers Rebellion'' again.

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Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol' and others please note, that the only music suitable for all future 'Adfywiadwyr Goch' as Insurrection 1831 events will be ''ROUGH MUSIC'', to perform in a ''Rough Music Band'' or should that be a ''Rough Music Mob''. It's simple to learn and play ''Rough Music'', Simply get hold of an ''instrumen'' as a Bin Lid, Saucepan, Whistle, Rattle, Tamborine, in fact anything that makes a noise and that's what you call ''Rough Music''. For the history of this ''unique music11 , search on web for Welsh Popular Rebellions as , Rebecca Rebellion, 1831 Insurrection and the Scotch Cattle Revolt and last but not least the Llanidloes and Newport Rising of 1839. If attending such commemorations, all the better if you period dress up ok!

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Coming your way soon of course is the great 'Beltain' (May Day) Celtic Fire Festival, an ideal time for Coel Certhi and plenty of ''Rough Music'' and traditional dancing. so 'Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol' get with it, ready and able to celebrate with a good ''BELTAIN BASH'' on 1 Mai and make that an annual event. For further information check out the web also contact: arianrhod@ntlworld.com This be the time of Curunos, the Celtic Wild God of the Woods and of mis rule, all entirely Pagan - Celtic - Druidic stuff, so no doubt the WCP&MHOSD will not be into this.

Once you have gone down that ''Pagan Path'', why not jump completly out of the box and explore your ''Dark Side'' by getting into a little easy listening GOTH MUSIC and maybe ''Dark Metal'', scary stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the 'Knights of Saint David'

....will protect you from harm or

at least do a lot of shouting?????

But just in case, if you fear this music, just remember put on a Kilt and for further protection wear that not so Old Yellow Cross.

I guess the next step then is join the W.C.P. and go hunting and killing Dragons?

I guess, I am down for ''Burning in Hell'' now?

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What ever Kiddies, time to JUMP OUT OF YOUR TOY BOX!

....Time for some ''SCARY MUSIC'' , not safe music? Yes! ROUGH MUSIC OK!

Yea! Kind of ''ROCK AGAINST THE RUINATION OF OUR HOMELAND''

Beth am Dafydd Iwan ?


'Yma o Hyd' Yes! Right on!

But does Dafydd still mean it? His he for Welsh Independence or not for Welsh Independence but more fundamental, his he still against English Princes of Wales? Will he campaign as vigourously next time around has he did in '69? THESE ARE THE REALLY BIG QUESTIONS!

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Ta! Ta! Folks.


Hwyl!


Gethin 'Iestyn' Gruffydd.


Follow the Red Stag into the...

Green Woods of Cymru.

Will reveal what I am on about soon! OK!