An Introduction to Cerdd Dant
"Cerdd Dant" literally means "the music of string", the "string" refering to the national instrument of Wales, the harp. This traditional form of singing derives from the way Welsh travelling poets or bards, use to perform their own work to their own harp accompaniment. The harp they would use would be the smaller "Celtic" or "knee" harp, so much easier to carry around than the pedal concert harp used these days for most Cerdd Dant singing. But the essential point is that this tradition is one of presenting poetry to music; in Cerdd Dant, everything starts and ends with the words. And very often, the words are written "Cynghanedd", the strict code of alliteration and rhyme which is also unique to the Welsh tradition.
As for the music, what makes Cerdd Dant (or "penillion" singing as it is sometimes called, which means "the singing of verses") unique is that the harp plays a melody, either a traditional air or a tune composed for the purpose, and the singer sings a counter melody with it. The harp melody is chosen to reflect the nature of the poetry, and the counter melody is composed as a perfect vehicle for the words; indeed the Welsh word for the process of composing the counter-melody is "gosod", which means "setting" the words to music, again emphasising the central importance of the poetry. ' - notes from Dafydd Iwan's CD, "Goreuon Cerdd Dant".
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Aelwyd y Delyn II - arr Tom Williams - 1944
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Price:
£3.50
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Aelwyd y Delyn III - arr Tom Williams - 1951
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£3.50
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Aelwyd y Delyn IV - arr Tom Williams, Snell - 1951
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Price:
£3.50
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Alaw Tawe - 2005
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Price:
£5.00
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Alawon Dwynant - J Eirian Jones - 1998
Ref: op38
16 ceinciau by Lampeter born Eirian Jones, who has been head of music at Ysgol Penweddig Aberystwyth for many years.
Price:
£4.95
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Alawon Telyn - Haydn Morris, Snell - 1961
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Price:
£3.00
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Bro Mebyd - Mona Meirion / Nan Jones - 1977
Ref: op36
This collection of 8 ceinciau is widely used in eisteddfodau for cerdd dant competitions.
Price:
£2.00
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Bedw Gwynion
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£2.00
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Cainc y Delyn 1 - arr D Roberts, Snell - No Date
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£3.50
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Cainc y Delyn 2 - arr D Roberts, Snell - 1960
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£3.50
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Ceinciau Bro Delyn - Ceinwen Roberts - 1995
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£1.95
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Ceinciau Cynythog - various composers - 1992
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£2.50
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Ceinciau Ddoe a Heddiw - 1997
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£3.95
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Ceinciau Penyberth - 1997
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£4.00
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Ceinciau Telyn Cymru - various composers ed/arr W S Gwynn Williams - 1962
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£10.50
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Ceinciau'r Bangor - 1990
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£2.50
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Ceinciau'r Ffin - Mair Carrington Roberts - 2006
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£8.00
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Ceinciau'r Gorwel - Eirlys Gravelle - 2003
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£4.95
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Ceinciau'r Ifanc - 1989
Ref: op37
This collection of ceinciau was compiled from pieces composed by A-level students in 1989: It includes works by harpists who have since become busy professionals including Rhian Davies, Ceri Wynne Jones, Nia Clwyd and Rhodri Davies.
Price:
£2.50
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Ceinciau 99 - various composers - 1999
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£4.50
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Y Cennin Aur
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£3.00
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Cerdd ar Dant - various composers - 1988
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£3.50
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Deg Cainc - 1970
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£0.70
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Diliau'r Dyffryn - 2004
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£5.00
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Dwynwen (a cheinciau eraill) - Gwennant Pyrs - 2006
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£4.99
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Dyffryn Conwy - Menai Williams - 1986
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£1.50
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Gilmora - Gilmor Griffiths - 1984
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£3.45
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Hen Ganu'r Cymru - arr Haydn Morris - 1939
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£3.50
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Hen Ganu'r Cymru 2 - arr Haydn Morris, Snell - 1940
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£3.50
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Llyfr Wyth o Geinciau Cerdd Dant - Nansi Richards - 1954
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£3.00
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Lobsgows - Bethan Bryn - 2001
Ref: op40
12 new ceinciau by noted cerdd dant exponent Bethan Bryn. Based near Aberystwyth she is one of the most familiar figures on the eisteddfod circuit. (The title refers to a leftover soup or stew popular in the north.)
Price:
£5.95
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Maes y Delyn - arr. Mair Roberts
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£2.00
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Miri Maelgwyn (a cheinciau eraill) - various composers - 2007
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Price:
£4.95
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Nudd Gwyn - Gwenant Pyrs - 1997
Ref: op39
13 ceinciau from Gwenant Pyrs, conductor of the celebrated ladies' cerdd dant choir Côr Seiriol in Bangor.
Price:
£4.99
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Rhos Helyg - various composers - no date
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£2.00
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Stelcian - Bethan Bryn - 2007
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£5.99
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Tannau Teifi - Elsbeth M Jones - 1978
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£2.50
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Tannau'r Haf - various composers - no date
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£2.00
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Tant i'r Plant - 1980
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£6.95
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Telyn Cymru 1 - Haydn Morris - 1951
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£3.50
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Telyn Cymru 2 - Haydn Morris - 1951
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Price:
£3.50
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Telyn y Werin 1 - Meinir Heulyn - 1975
Ref: op13
In two volumes Meinir Heulyn has arranged 28 favourite Welsh tunes for intermediate standard harp. A long standing best-seller, these arrangements can also be used for piano solo.
Price:
£7.95
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Telyn y Werin 2 - Meinir Heulyn - 1975
Ref: op14
In two volumes Meinir Heulyn has arranged 28 favourite Welsh tunes for intermediate standard harp. A long standing best-seller, these arrangements can also be used for piano solo.
Price:
£7.95
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Tinc a Thonc - arr Ceinwen Roberts - 1984
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Price:
£1.00
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Tonnau'r Tannau - 1994
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£3.00
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Yn y Mwd - Bethan Bryn - 2000
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£5.99
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