traditional song

Bertie Stephens was born in 1900 near Abergorlech, Carmarthenshire, but since 1930 has lived in Llangeitho, in the Aeron valley, Ceredigion.

He worked as a farmer and bred hunting dogs. He also devoted a great deal of his time to singing: He performed regularly in local concerts and his voice was heard on radio and television. His greatest delight is singing the songs he picked up aurally in his community when he was a boy and a young lad. He heard most of these at fairs and markets in Llandeilo, Llanymddyfri, Rhydamman, Caefyrddin and elsewhere. These were the product of popular ballad sheets, but Bertie didn’t depend on these printed sources - he would pick up the words and the tune by ear after two or three listens. It is a measure of his exceptional memory that he recorded over sixty songs of the Welsh Folk Museum between 1961 and 1966.

diolch! thank you. there are a few from the rhondda posted, and a number from neighbouring valleys. they're towards the start of my posts. here's the first one; http://traditionalsong.tumblr.com/post/1682272655/hogyn-amaethwr-the-farmers-boy-sung-by-john

Four un-named musicians from Penybont (Bridgend) in south Wales. 

A recording of Miss Selina Griffiths of Garn, Dinas, Pembrokeshire and a recording of Phillip Owen, 60, Non Street, Tyddewi, Pembrokeshire. Both recordings are by Roy Saer.

Selina Griffiths who was 83 at the time of recording, learned these Calan rhymes when she was a young girl in Caersalem, near Trefdraeth. Children would sing these verses on New Year's morning.

Phillip Owen, also 83 at the time of recording, sang these verses when he was about 7 years old around the streets of Tyddewi between Christmas and the New Year.

The two lads from the Llangynnwyd area in this picture are holding a 'Calennig'.

The giving of gifts on New Year's Day is an ancient custom. In Wales it took the form of collecting calennig (New Year's Gift). Children would form groups and go from house to house, bearing good wishes for the health and prosperity of the family during the year to come. This was symbolised by the skewered apples, stuck with corn and sprigs of evergreen, which they carried in their hands. Verses were sung at the door of the house, and they would receive small gifts of food or money for their troubles.

Latterly, the carrying of the apple has been discontinued, and only the recitation of a few verses and the collecting of new pennies mark the custom in those districts where it has survived.

Here is a verse sung in Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire:

Mi godais heddiw ma's o'm tŷ A'm cwd a'm pastwn gyda mi, A dyma'm neges ar eich traws, Sef llanw'm cwd â bara a chaws.

(I left my house today With my bag and my stick, And here is my message to you, Fill my bag with bread and cheese.)

taken from: