Wot, no Welsh!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Having been to a Welsh university, I have gradually come to the view that outside Wales, few are aware of how much fine music is in that country and deserves to be heard more of. At the same time, there is a view inside the country that it's music is greater than it really is.

Besides Barrett, there are splendid works by Mathias, Hoddinott, and Jones - but go into any shop in Wales that sells CDs and under "Welsh Music - Classical" and you're offered Bryn Terfel or Katherine Jenkins singing songs from the Shows or, if it's a really up-market shop, Caitlin Finch playing the Goldberg Variations on a Harp.

One of the finest Symphony Orchestras in the UK, shouldn't the Welsh Assembly be funding them to record and promote this "other" Welsh culture?

[Gordon]

Besides Barrett, there are splendid works by Mathias, Hoddinott, and Jones - but go into any shop in Wales that sells CDs and under "Welsh Music - Classical" and you're offered Bryn Terfel or Katherine Jenkins singing songs from the Shows or, if it's a really up-market shop, Caitlin Finch playing the Goldberg Variations on a Harp.

One of the finest Symphony Orchestras in the UK, shouldn't the Welsh Assembly be funding them to record and promote this "other" Welsh culture?

In a word, yes!!

[Honoured Guest]

The recent cd of Catrin Finch (harp) and Seckou Keita (kora) has been very well received.

BBC NOW plays much music by Welsh composers, dead and alive, including many first performances like Paul Mealor's tonight.

Welsh Assembly Governmnent and Arts Council Wales both fund Tŷ Cerdd: http://www.tycerdd.org/

[Gordon]

The recent cd of Catrin Finch (harp) and Seckou Keita (kora) has been very well received.

BBC NOW plays much music by Welsh composers, dead and alive, including many first performances like Paul Mealor's tonight.

Welsh Assembly Governmnent and Arts Council Wales both fund Tŷ Cerdd: http://www.tycerdd.org/

Yes I knew about Ty Cerrdd - Wales does have a thriving music culture. My original point was that it would have cost London very little to have taken a couple of hours yesterday to celebrate the culture and music of a component nation of the "UK", or don't we count? America seemed to be more deserving of network time yesterday. As far as London is concerned the other nations, and even some English regions, are colonies. No wonder [some of] the Scots want out.

[BBMmk2]

Had a St David's Day dinner last night(see Stormy Weather). I was the only person there who had any Welsh connection!

[Anna]

My original point was that it would have cost London very little to have taken a couple of hours yesterday to celebrate the culture and music of a component nation of the "UK", or don't we count? America seemed to be more deserving of network time yesterday. As far as London is concerned the other nations, and even some English regions, are colonies. No wonder [some of] the Scots want out.

Exactly. It would have been a simple matter to have Saturday Classics devoted to Wales instead of USA (I only heard the beginning and end, it started with Bernstein's America and finished with Moonlight in Vermont!) However, if you are in London, programme planning, unless you are Welsh then most people would be unaware of St. David. I wonder however if there will be a St. Patrick's event on R3 (he being a higher profile saint), although, of course, he was Welsh!

[Gordon]

I wonder however if there will be a St. Patrick's event on R3 (he being a higher profile saint), although, of course, he was Welsh!

Not long to wait then, Monday, March 17th!! We'll see what they do - or don't do. Then there's St Andrew - November 30th, a bit after the referendum so probably ignored!!

BTW St George's is Wednesday, April 23rd.

Are you listening to The Choir at the mo? From Wrexham [are you there Ams?] - it's in Wales

[ahinton]

But one might think to ask what is a "Welsh composer"? What does it mean to be a "Welsh composer"? Is Richard Barrett a "Welsh composer" and is that ststus the same for him as for Jones, Hoddinott, Walters, Mathias, Williams et al? He is, of course, a composer and he is Welsh, but I cannot help but be reminded of my own compatriot Thea Musgrave's remark about being a woman and a composer but rarely at the same time - so perhaps he might put us right on this.

[Beef Oven!]

But one might think to ask what is a "Welsh composer"? What does it mean to be a "Welsh composer"? Is Richard Barrett a "Welsh composer" and is that ststus the same for him as for Jones, Hoddinott, Walters, Mathias, Williams et al? He is, of course, a composer and he is Welsh, but I cannot help but be reminded of my own compatriot Thea Musgrave's remark about being a woman and a composer but rarely at the same time - so perhaps he might put us right on this.

Me and my mate had this discussion about black cabbies, the other day.

[Gordon]

Me and my mate had this discussion about black cabbies, the other day.

So how did you fare then BO? Hard to find one at night I find, specially South of the river.

[Honoured Guest]

Whingeing Welsh - how did they get that reputation?

Radio 3 broadcasts a daily six-hour programme in honour of the Welsh song Ar hyd y nos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWU07oVhF_4

[french frank]

Whingeing Welsh - how did they get that reputation?

Radio 3 broadcasts a daily six-hour programme in honour of the Welsh song Ar hyd y nos

And with a nightly theme tune by that famous Welshman Dewi Milhaud! Or have they changed it recently?

[mercia]

yesterday's breakfast programme was largely Welsh composers and/or performers

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But one might think to ask what is a "Welsh composer"? What does it mean to be a "Welsh composer"? Is Richard Barrett a "Welsh composer" and is that ststus the same for him as for Jones, Hoddinott, Walters, Mathias, Williams et al? He is, of course, a composer and he is Welsh, but I cannot help but be reminded of my own compatriot Thea Musgrave's remark about being a woman and a composer but rarely at the same time - so perhaps he might put us right on this.

And then there's the case of Lancastrian composer Ronald Stevenson who wishes to be regarded as a Scot.

[ahinton]

And then there's the case of Lancastrian composer Ronald Stevenson who wishes to be regarded as a Scot.

But that's because he is "Lancastrian" only by virtue of having been born in Lancashire; his father was a Scot and his mother Welsh, so it seems reasonable that he wishes to be regarded as a Scot although perhaps it would be better were he to wish to be regarded as being of mixed Scottish and Welsh parentage. By coincidence, a black burn flows not far from his home in the Pentlands for the past six decades or so...