 The Official Song of the National St Davids Day Parade AVAILABLE SOONThe song was performed, with the permission of the NSDDP Steering Committee by Gwenno and Heulwen in the 2006 Parade (Gwenno singing and Heulwen playing the keyboard) At this point, the song only consisted of a verse and a chorus in both Welsh and English.
Following the success of the song in 2006 and an invitation by the Steering Committee to use it the following year, Gwenno completed a full version of the song both in Welsh and English. These words were written in Saint David's (where Gwenno's family has a caravan) opposite Carn Llidi a mountain where Saint David used to roam.
Gwenno wrote the words in English especially for those non Welsh- speaking people and schools who are very proud of their Welsh identity, want to celebrate it but perhaps not been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to learn the language, so that they can sing the song in the language which they feel most comfortable, although the official version is the Welsh version.
In the 2007 NSDDP the song was performed (in Welsh) by the children of 'Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna' at the beginning of the Parade outside the Mochyn Du pub in Soffia Gardens and by Mountstuart Primary School, Cardiff Bay at the closing ceremony at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. The song had a very warm welcome and very soon afterwards, the song was adopted by the Steering Committee of the NSDDP as the official song of the National Parade.
Heulwen Thomas is a peripatetic violin teacher around Cardiff schools and many of the schools where she teaches were very keen to learn a brand new song for Saint David's Day. Copies of the song were distributed to these schools and it was performed by many in their Saint David's Day concerts.
Following this, as well as the positive reaction of other Welsh schools, teachers and pupils to the song, Gwenno Dafydd took the song to the 'National Grid for Learning' (NGFL) who decided to use the song as a central focus of a new educational project on Saint David. Jane Altham Watkins, Field Officer for the NGFL prepared the educational material and Christa Richardson pictures depicting the life of Saint David.
The song was recorded in November 2007 by the children of 'Ysgol Gymraeg Penygarth' at the school by James Clark from 'Ty Cerdd'
(Part of the Millennium Centre) with Heulwen Thomas accompanying the children on the piano. The children were taught by Headteacher Mrs. Iona Edwards and Mrs. Alwena Harries. The post-production and backing tracks were recorded at 'Ty Cerdd'.
The National Grid's Saint David's Project was launched at the 'Senedd' (Welsh Assembly) on the 31st of January 2008 by the Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr. Gill Bird. 'Ysgol Penygarth' arrived at the Senedd by boat and then sang the song in Welsh in front of a large audience gathered in the Pierhead Building.
Following a suggestion by Gwenno Dafydd, a cup inscribed with 'Gwnewch y Pethau Bychain' (Do the small things) was given by the National Grid and presented to the Headteacher, Mrs.Iona Edwards, by Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, to be given every Saint David's Day to the child who may not usually be one who wins prizes, but who from his small efforts and good deeds, makes a big difference in the lives of others. (The Kind Kid Cup!)
After the official launch, the song will now be available on the Grid during the Saint David's day celebrations from now on, in both Welsh and English as well as two 'backing' versions of the song accompaniment, one with the melody picked out by a flute and the other one with just the piano chords which can be downloaded. Every school in Wales will be able to use the song and learn it for their Saint David's Day concerts if they so choose.
The song had a tremendous reception from schools in Wales through the National Grid and many schools have asked for a copy of the manuscript so that they can learn it for their Saint David's day concerts. This will be the next step in the development of the song.
There has also been world-wide interest in the song from ex-patriot Welsh Societies and it was performed not only at the beginning of the National Parade by Gwenno Dafydd and the children of Ysgol Gymraeg Penygarth (Penygarth Welsh medium Primary School) but also by a group of teenagers under the baton of Gladys Thomas in a concert in the Gaiman in Patagonia (Argentina) and in a concert in Haverfordwest , Pembrokeshire by the children of Wolfscastle Primary School. The song was heard in Carmarthen and Swansea during the annual journey of the Saint David's Day Message from the Bishop of Saint David's Cathedral to the Parade participants.
The song was played on the organ during the Lord Mayor of Cardiff's Saint David's Day Service at Llandaff Cathedral. It was played extensively on three radio stations in America (IRFT,WRFG and WWPV), BBC radio and television (both Radio Cymru and Radio Wales) , throughout Saint David's Day on the public plasma screens at the National Assembly of Wales as well as over the loudspeakers in front of an audience of 12,000 football supporters at Ninian Park in Cardiff on March the first.
Many people have shown a lot of interest in being able to perform the song in the future (including several choirs, Goodwick Brass Band and Saint David's Cathedral) and it is possible it may be translated into Breton. One choir who went to represent Wales in New York during Saint David's day festivities this year, are very keen to perform it there next year in their already confirmed visit.
Gwenno Dafydd recorded a demo copy of the song both in Welsh and English at Ty Cerdd, The Millenium Centre on 6th May 2008 with James Clarke as sound recordist.
The Pembrokeshire Banner
Gwenno Dafydd had a concert at 'Theatr Gwaun', in Fishguard on the 20th of March. The concert was organised by Gaynor McMorrin on behalf of Fishguard Arts Society. At that time, Gwenno told Gaynor about her idea of having a banner from Pembrokeshire to accompany the annual Saint David's Day message from Saint David's Cathedral to the National Parade and her wish of getting the women who were responsible for the famous commemorative French Landing tapestry to be involved with the idea.
Gaynor was very enthusiastic about the idea and immediately assembled a group of key people, including Audrey Walker and Eirian Short, two of the three designers of the famous Fishguard Tapestry, who are both internationally well known for their skilful embroidery
Audrey ac Eirian will be responsible for designing the banner and the 'Pembrokeshire Branch of the Embroiderers Guild', led by Glesni Williams will be responsible for the embroidery. Gaynor will be responsible for getting sponsorship and Heulwen Reynolds, who teaches textiles in Fishguard School and exhibits her textile work in 'Craft in the Bay' has been appointed as Project Manager.
This will be the 'Pembrokeshire Banner' and the aim is to incorporate some of the song lyrics and the visual images within the song as a central focus of an unique piece of art, hand-made by local craftswomen to represent Pembrokeshire on the National Parade.
This may, in time, prove to be the first of a series of county banners organised throughout Wales by the Embroiderers Guild. Many of the members from other counties have already shown a lot of interest to follow in the stitches of the Pembrokeshire embroiderers and make their own unique banner to represent the various counties on the National Saint David's Day Parade.
This banner will be will be kept on permanent show somewhere in the North of Pembrokeshire. The obvious home for the banner is the Cathedral in Saint David's and some positive signs are already coming from this direction, with interest and support already shown by the Dean of the Cathedral, The Very Reverend Wyn Evans.
The first meeting of the Steering Committee was held at Audrey Walker's home at Cwm-yr-Eglwys on the 28th May 2008.
Having heard about the Pembrokeshire Banner, the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) have shown a lot of interest in holding a banner making competition in schools throughout Wales, again with the aim of using them as part of their Saint David's Day Celebrations
© Gwenno Dafydd 28th July 2008
For additional information see:
www.stdavidsday.org
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