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Chairing Of The Bard
The Chairing of the Bard () is one of the most important events in the Welsh eisteddfod tradition. The most famous chairing ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is always on the Friday afternoon of Eisteddfod week. Winners are referred to as '' Y Prifardd'' (literally "The Chief Bard"). The custom of chairing the bard is, however, much older than the modern eisteddfod ceremony, and is known to have taken place as early as 1176. A new bardic chair is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for the " awdl", poetry written in a strict metre form known as cynghanedd. It is possible for the chair to be withheld, if the standard of entries is not considered high enough by the judges. This was the case in 1889, when a chair made for a minor eisteddfod at Bagillt, in Flintshire, was not awarded. The chair in question made news in 2006, when it was returned to Wales after being acquired by a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eisteddfod 1991
In Welsh culture, an ''eisteddfod'' is an institution and festival with several ranked competitions, including in poetry and music. The term ''eisteddfod'', which is formed from the Welsh language, Welsh morphemes: , meaning 'sit', and , meaning 'be', means, according to Hywel Teifi Edwards, "sitting-together." Edwards further defines the earliest form of the eisteddfod as a competitive meeting between bards and minstrels, in which the winner was chosen by a noble or royal patron.Hywel Teifi Edwards (2015), ''The Eisteddfod'', pages 5–6. The 1176 Cardigan eisteddfod, first documented instance of such a literary festival and competition took place under the patronage of Prince Rhys ap Gruffudd of the House of Dinefwr at Cardigan Castle in 1176. However, with the Edwardian Conquest of Wales, the closing of the bardic schools, and the Anglicization of the Welsh peers and baronets, Welsh nobility, it fell into abeyance. The current format owes much to an 18th-century revival, first ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Evan Rees (Dyfed)
Evan Rees (1 January 1850 – 19 March 1923), known by the bardic name Dyfed, was a Calvinistic Methodist minister, poet, and Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Life Rees was born at Puncheston, Pembrokeshire, the son of James and Eunice Rees; they moved to Aberdare when he was a child and he began working in the local colliery at the age of only eight. Having moved to Cardiff, he became a Calvinistic Methodist minister at the age of 23 and gained his first National Eisteddfod victory in 1881. In 1893, Rees participated in the Eisteddfod that was held as part of the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, winning the Bardic Chair and a $500 prize for a 2,000 line ''awdl'' on the set subject ''Iesu o Nazareth'' ("Jesus of Nazareth"). Rees went on to become the Archdruid of the ''Gorsedd Cymru'' and to announce the posthumous victory of Hedd Wyn at the famous 1917 "Eisteddfod of the Black Chair" in Birkenhead Birkenhead () is a town in the Metropolit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Lloyd-Jones
John Lloyd-Jones (14 October 1885 – 1 February 1956) was the first Professor of Welsh at the National University of Ireland, Dublin, working in Dublin for over 40 years. In addition to his scholarly publications, Lloyd-Jones was also a prize-winning poet. Life Lloyd-Jones was born on 14 October 1885 and studied at the schools in Dolwyddelan and Llanrwst, Wales, before winning a scholarship to the University College of North Wales, Bangor, in 1902. He obtained a degree in Welsh in 1906, studying under Sir John Morris-Jones. He then became a research student at Jesus College, Oxford in 1907 for the postgraduate BLitt. He later studied Irish at the University of Freiburg with Rudolf Thurneysen and then was appointed as the first professor of Welsh at the National University of Ireland, Dublin. In his obituary in ''The Times'', it was said of him that he became " a sort of unofficial ambassador from Wales to Ireland". He was external examiner in Welsh for the University of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John James Williams (poet)
John James Williams (8 October 1869 – 6 May 1954), commonly known by his bardic name of "J.J.", was a Welsh poet and served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1936 to 1939. Early life Williams was born in Taigwynion, near Tal-y-bont, Cardiganshire. He was the eldest of twelve children born to William and Elizabeth Williams. As was fairly usual in that era the parents attended different nonconformist chapels. His mother was a member at Pen-y-Garn, the Calvinistic Methodist church at Rhydypennau while his father attended Bethel Independent church at Tal-y-bont. William Williams was a lead miner and due to lack of work in the local industry he went to work for some time in 1879–80 at the collieries in Mountain Ash. In 1882 the whole family settled in Penrhiwceibr in the Aberdare valley where they became members at Carmel chapel. Shortly afterwards they moved to Ynysybwl and joined Tabernacle, where the young Williams began preaching while working as a miner. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ymadawiad Arthur
''Ymadawiad Arthur'' ('The Passing of Arthur') is a Welsh language, Welsh-language poem, some 350 lines in length, by T. Gwynn Jones. It won its author the Chairing of the Bard, Chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, National Eisteddfod in 1902 but was several times heavily revised by him in later years. It portrays King Arthur's last hours with his companion Bedivere, Bedwyr at the battle of Camlann and his final departure for Avalon, Afallon. ''Ymadawiad Arthur'' is a hugely influential work, widely held to have opened a new era for Welsh-language poetry, marking the beginning of the early 20th-century renaissance of Welsh literature. Synopsis The poem opens in the closing stages of King Arthur's final battle with Mordred, Medrawd, the battle of Camlann. There is a cry of "Medrawd is killed", and Arthur's army pursues his enemies off the battlefield, leaving only Arthur himself and his companion Bedivere, Bedwyr. Bedwyr asks why Arthur is not with his army; Arthur say ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Thomas Job
John Thomas Job (21 May 1867 – 4 November 1938), was a Welsh minister, hymn-writer and poet. He was born at Llandybie in Carmarthenshire, and educated locally. He went on to Trefeca College to train as a Methodist minister. In 1894, he married Etta Davies, and they had three children. He won the bardic chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales The National Eisteddfod of Wales ( Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competito ... on three occasions: in 1897, 1903, and 1918, and in 1900 he won the crown. He also won the chair at the San Francisco Eisteddfod of 1915. In the same year, he married for the second time, to Catherine Shaw; they had two children. Works *''Caniadau Job'' References 1867 births 1938 deaths Chaired bards Crowned bards {{Wales-writer-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ben Davies (poet)
Ben Davies (1864 - 1937) was a 19th-century Welsh poet, and an Independent minister. He grew up in Dolgam, a farm where he received some early education at the local school. At the age of 13 however he entered employment as a miner in a local coal mine. He began writing poetry at quite a young age, and was awarded prizes at various local literary competitions and Eisteddfodau. At 21 he won the bardic chair at the Tredegar Eisteddfod for his awdl on "Virtue" (Rhinwedd). He was also competent at the art of composing cynghanedd. From 1886 to 1888 he studied at Bala Independent College, before becoming minister of Bwlchgwyn and Llandegla (1888–91), and then Pant Teg, Ystalyfera (1891-1926). One of his congregation at Ystalyfera was Mary Jane Evans, of whom he later edited a memoir. He continued his Eisteddfod successes, often winning the chief prizes. In 1896 he published a volume of lyrics, 'Caneuon Bywyd'. He also frequently gave lectures on Welsh literary personalities. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howell Elvet Lewis
Howell Elvet Lewis (14 April 1860 – 10 December 1953), widely known by his bardic name Elfed, was a Welsh Congregational minister, hymn-writer, and devotional poet, who served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1924 to 1928. Elfed High School in Buckley, Flintshire, was named after him. Early life Elfed was born on 14 April 1860, the eldest son of twelve children of James and Anna Lewis, of Y Gangell, near Blaenycoed, Carmarthenshire. His father was a farm labourer and his mother was a local shopkeeper. He had a very limited early education, but through self-study and attendance at the local chapel schoolroom he managed to gain entry to Newcastle Emlyn Grammar School at the age of 14. Two years later he succeeded in an examination for admission to the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, where he trained for the ministry. Ministry Elfed was ordained in 1880 and was made pastor of St John's English Congregational Church in Buckley, Flintshire, where ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Owen Williams (Pedrog)
John Owen Williams (1853–1932) was a Welsh Congregational minister and poet who served as Archdruid. Pedrog was born in May 1853 in Madryn, near Pwllheli, the youngest son of Owen and Martha Williams, both of whom were in service locally. He had a tragic childhood. At the age of two he was sent to stay with his father’s sister Jane Owen, in Llanbedrog, when his elder brother contracted smallpox. A few years later his mother died in childbirth. His father then decided to go to sea as a ship’s steward but his first voyage seemingly ended in a Melbourne hospital where he died. Pedrog's memories of both his parents were few and hazy. While resident in Liverpool, Pedrog joined the Welsh Wesleyan church in Chester. From there he moved to a Congregationalist church in Liverpool, of which he later became minister of that church, and was ordained in May 1884. A prolific writer and Eisteddfod competitor, he won his first eisteddfod chair in 1887. Thereafter he won the Chair at the Nat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Watkin Hezekiah Williams
Watkin Hezekiah Williams (1844–1905), known as Watcyn Wyn, was a Welsh schoolmaster and poet. Early life Born on 7 March 1844 at his mother's home at Ddolgam, in the Llynfell valley, Carmarthenshire, was the son of Hezekiah and Ann Williams. He was brought up, the second of a family of ten, on his father's farm of Cwmgarw Ganol, near Brynaman. At an early age he found employment in the coal mines then being opened up in the district, and he worked, chiefly as a collier, with occasional periods of attendance at local schools, until the age of 27. Teacher In 1870 Williams married Mary Jones of Trap, Carreg Cennen; the death of his wife in less than a year led him to leave his home and occupation. In January 1872 he entered the school of his relative, Evan Williams of Merthyr. He was soon assisting Evan Williams and his successor, J. J. Copeland. In 1874 he decided to qualify for the independent ministry; he returned home, began to preach at Gibea Chapel, and, after a prelimina ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mererid Hopwood
Mererid Hopwood (born February 1964) is a Welsh poet and lyricist, currently serving as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Teaching Originally from Cardiff, Hopwood graduated with first-class honours in Spanish and German from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She was a lecturer in German at the University of Wales, Swansea, and since 2001 has also been a Creative Writing tutor in the Welsh Department. She was a Spanish teacher in Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin Carmarthen until January 2010, and is currently a lecturer at the Trinity University of Carmarthen. Hopwood was appointed in October 2020 as Professor of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University. Eisteddfodau She became the first woman in Eisteddfod history to be awarded the chair at the National Eisteddfod in 2001 which was held in Denbigh. In 2003, she won the Crown at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod, and in 2008, the Eisteddfod's Prose Medal for her book ''O Ran''. She is also an S4C pre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Donald Evans (Welsh Poet)
Donald Evans (born 1940) is a Welsh poet, who writes in the Welsh language. Evans comes from Talgarreg in Ceredigion, and was born on a farm. After going to school at Aberaeron, he obtained his degree in Welsh from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Between 1966 and 1972 he produced the periodical ''Y Cardi''. He won the "double" of crown and chair twice, once at the 1977 National Eisteddfod of Wales and again in 1980; he is one of only three poets to have achieved this "double double". In 2006 Evans was awarded a PhD by the University of Wales, Lampeter, for his work on strict-metre Welsh poetry submitted to eisteddfodau in the years 1955 - 1999. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
