The Welsh poetic tradition is extremely rich and fiercely nationalistic. Joan looks at some of the oldest Welsh poetry in existence, as well as coming across some interesting Bardic chairs, poetry written on prison toilet paper. Poetry is read in both Welsh and English by poet Gwyneth Lewis.
It should be available to listen online (from the link above) in a day or two's time.
Hi - I've recorded a short poem by Dafydd ap Gwilym [ pronounced Davith ['th' as in 'the'] ap Gwillim] called 'yr eos yn y llwyn bedw' or 'the nightingale in the birch-grove' and I'll send it to the multilingual poetry collection - Dafydd lived and died in the 14th century, so his poems will be in the public domain, but I haven't found any link to the text on the web, so their public domainness is a bit difficult to verify - still for anyone who wants to hear what Welsh sounds like , here's the link: http://download.yousendit.com/43A990406BA18839
Syd
FWIW, Swansea University has a site up with text and recordings of Dafydd ap Gwilym's poetry, including his most famous stuff, at http://www.dafyddapgwilym.net .
I've a mind to put these up -the four branches of the mabinogi in middle Welsh - I'd hope that we could find some Cymry Cymraeg to help with this one, but if not I'll do them as a solo. Translations are readily available and at least three of the stories are online [wikitestun].They're rambling old tales, but fascinating and important.hefyd
meum est propositum,in taberna mori
ut sint vina proxima,morientis ori
anon.
My mum might very well be persuaded to join you - she was interested in Y Beibl but this might give her a further shove... I think perhaps I need to pay a visit and put her in front of a microphone. (Nothing like a bit of filial coercion.)