"The Land of Song..."
Wales has very strong links to music. The Welsh National Anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers) was written by Evan James in 1856 and can often be heard sung passionately before our international rugby and football matches.
Traditionally we’re known for our male voice choirs, such as the Treorchy and Morriston Orpheus choirs who are famous throughout the world.
Much older is the tradition of instrumental folk music. The harp has been closely associated with Wales for a very long time and is regarded as our national instrument - the triple harp is uniquely Welsh. Other Welsh instruments include the crwth and the pibgorn.
Wales also has a long tradition of folk song. One kind of Welsh song is cerdd dant - an improvised performance in which poetry is sung to one tune against the accompaniment of (usually) a harp to a different tune.
Wales also houses what is thought to be the world’s oldest record store. Spillers Records in Cardiff has been in business since 1894.
Cardiff has also been selected as the city to host WOMEX, the leading world music expo, in 2013.
The rise of popular culture…
Wales has produced an impressive list of influential and internationally successful music figures.
The 60’s and 70’s saw the success of Welsh artists such as Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey who have continued to make music throughout the decades and are still hugely popular worldwide today. The 70’s also saw progression in the world of Welsh rock with groups such as Man and Budgie (widely considered as one of the first heavy metal bands) who went on to influence bands such as Black Sabbath and Metallica.
In the mid to late 90’s, Welsh music made quite the commerical breakthrough with bands such as the Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Stereophonics and Super Furry Animals storming the rock and pop scene and most of these are still going strong.
The ever evolving Welsh music scene has seen a burst of new bands and artists making a significant impact (and continuing to do so) both across the UK and worldwide. Acts such as Bullet for my Valentine, Feeder, Lost Prophets, Funeral for a Friend, Duffy, Goldie Lookin’ Chain, Kids in Glass Houses, Skindred and The Blackout are just a few!
Our unsigned and Welsh language scene
We also have a thriving unsigned and Welsh language music scene. You won’t find a weekend in Wales without bands and artists gigging in our many music venues. Some of our big Welsh language acts include Euros Childs, Bryn Fon, Mattoidz, Genod Droog, Frizbee and Radio Luxembourg, many of which are influential far beyond Wales.
BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and promoter John Rostron’s Sŵn Festival (a Cardiff-wide music festival each autumn in many venues across the city) promotes and celebrates new music coming in and out of Wales.
Our classical artists...
Bryn Terfel, Charlotte Church, Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones, have earned an international reputation in the classical world and are just some of our artists. Reality TV shows like the X Factor, have unearthed even more Welsh talent such as Rhydian Roberts.
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) is the only professional symphony orchestra in Wales. The orchestra has received international acclaim and regularly tours around the world, as well as being in demand at major UK festivals. Since 2009 it has been based at the Hoddinott Hall in the Wales Millennium Centre. Its principal conductor is Thierry Fischer who took up his title with the orchestra in 2006.
They say that Wales is the land of song and the Welsh National Opera provides fantastic performances for Wales’ many opera fans, as well as entertaining UK and international audiences. The WNO also aims to introduce opera to new audiences through engaging with local communities. The multi- award winning company regularly tours around the world and is used to receiving critical acclaim.