Recent episodes have concentrated on the Methodist Revival and the things which Wales won because of that religious, cultural and literary transformation, looking specifically at the work of the William Williams, Pantycelyn. In this episode we look at that which was lost as Welsh Nonconformism pushed some traditional features of the culture and literature of Wales into the shadows.
We suggest that the success of the Methodist hymn should be considered side by side with old types of Welsh religious song which languished because of that success, including the plygain song and the halsing. To that end, we read some of a long Christmas carol by Edward Samuel, a poet from Penmorfa, Caernarfonshire, who died in 1748. The gwylmabsant comes under consideration then, a type of local community festival which was the context for all kinds of folk customs and cultural performances, a tradition which nonconformist preachers attempted energetically to kill.
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Presented by: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a’r Athro Richard Wyn Jones
Produced by: Richard Martin
Music: ‘Might Have Done’ gan The Molenes
Futher Reading:
Geraint Jenkins, Hanes Cymru yn y Cyfnod Modern Cynnar 1530-1760 (Caerdydd, 1983).
E. G. (gol.), Blodeugerdd Barddas o Gerddi Rhydd y Ddeunawfed Ganrif (Llandybïe, 1991).