subject: Welsh Music: A Brief Introduction [print this page] Welsh music is famous world-wide for its distinctive quality. Since the 12th Century, Welsh bards and musicians have given the world songs and music that are truly exceptional.
The early Welsh traditional songs revolved around seasonal customs and processions of Mari Lwyd, Hunting the Wren, New Years Day Calenning, and Spring Candlemas. This form of Welsh music was basically repetitive and ceremonial in nature.
The 17th and 18th Century Welsh music saw the emergence of carols. The carols featured complex poetry inspired out of sad and painful emotions felt during love and parting. Some carols were also written and sung in the praise of a womans beauty and often used sexual metaphors. The Welsh traditional music also included ballads. The popular themes of these ballads were agriculture, every day life tales, and stories of physical labour.
Some of the instruments that were largely used for Welsh traditional music were harp, the triple harp, fiddle, and crwth. These Welsh music instruments are still used by the contemporary Welsh musicians to re-create the melody and magic that was eccentric to the Welsh traditional music.
The 19th and the 20th century, religious Welsh music gave way to the more secular music. Male voice choirs sang secular choirs that were specially tailored for the Victorian society comprising largely the working class. It was during this period that the use of brass bands became an integral part of Welsh music.
However, the post-world war era saw Welsh composers moving to instrumental and orchestral pieces from choral compositions. Welsh music during this period was based on the themes of religion, and the poetic and mythical past of Wales.
If you wish to listen and enjoy the Welsh music or want to understand the cultural history and tradition of Welsh that is deeply embedded in the Welsh songs, you could buy CDs of Welsh traditional music from www.shopintheclouds.com. The website has an extensive collection of CDs on Welsh music.
Here you would find The Great Male Voice Choirs CD, Heartstrings Traditional Welsh Harp Music CD, Can o Gymru CD, The Music of Wales CD, Corau Meibion Cymru, Showstoppers CD, Cor Meibion Llangwm CD, and Cor Meibion Llanelli CD. All CDs on Welsh music and Welsh traditional music are available at discounted prices.
To know in detail about the CDs or to place your order, you may visit the website.
