Welsh folk music
Welsh folk music (Welsh: Cerddoriaeth werin Gymreig) refers to music that is traditionally sung or played in Wales, by Welsh people or originating from Wales. Folk artists include; traditional bands Calan and Ar log; harpists Sian James, Catrin Finch and Nansi Richards and folk singer Dafydd Iwan. Traditions and history Early musical traditions during the 17th and 18th centuries saw the emergence of more complex carols, away from the repetitive ceremonial songs. These carols featured complex poetry based on cynghanedd. Some were sung to English tunes, but many used Welsh melodies such as 'Ffarwel Ned Puw'. The most common type of Welsh folk song is the love song, with lyrics pertaining to the sorrow of parting or in praise of the girl. A few employ sexual metaphor and mention the act of bundling. After love songs, the ballad was a very popular form of song, with its tales of manual labour, agriculture and everyday life. Popular themes in the 19th century included murder, emigration and colliery disasters; they were sung to popular melodies from Ireland or North America. Harp tradition The manuscript of Robert ap Huw is the earliest surviving harp music in Europe and it comes from Wales. Cerdd