Cylchgronau Cymru

shown that in that particular subject he has received help, in any way, from any one of the adjudicators." I would also urge that no work published in any form (whether in serial form, or as a volume, or as a thesis open to inspection), shall be eligible for competition and that no essay which obtains the prize snail be used for any other purpose pending the first eighteen months; during which time the Eisteddfod Authorities have the sole right of publication." Further, that no essay shall be eligible for a prize which cannot be published in toto without infringing the rights of lecturers from whose lectures important parts of the essays may have been appropriated." It will be observed that I have confined my remarks to the Literary Department, and almost exclusively to the Prose Section, in connection with which I have had some interesting and enlightening experience. Other depart- ments, no doubt, have similar irregularities, urgently THE National Eisteddfod this year, described as the Victory Eisteddfod, meets at the little town of Corwen, in the land of Owen Glyndwr, and on the banks of the sacred Dee, renowned in song, from Spenser and Milton to Southey, Scott and Tennyson, and from Huw Morus to Ceiriog and Islwyn the charms of the wizard stream, whose trembling billows roll with gentle rore," and whose murmur lulled Glyndwr to rcpose,- Ein Glyndwr garai dy beroriaeth A gwnai ei drigfa ger dy gyrrau odiaeth have attracted the poets. This year the Dee must surely be best pleased in chanting a blithe strain. But it will hear music louder, if not sweeter, than its own, when- The rich stream of music winds along Deep, majestic, smooth and strong from the many tuneful choirs which will assemble on its banks. Silent and wondering, wondering and silent, as it hears the many rend the skies it will ask Demon. Hearst thou not hymns and songs divinely loud? This short article deals mainly with the hymns devout and holy Psalms-or rather their musical settings*-which will be rendered by the vast harmonious quire who will sing praise and give thanks to the great Giver of Victory at the Cymanfa Ganu on the last day of the Eis- teddfod. The grafting of the Cymanfa Ganu on the National Eisteddfod is due to Mr. Lloyd George, who suggested it to the Committee of the Eisteddfod held at Aberystwyth in 1916. That Cymanfa proved such a success that a similar festival was held at the Birkenhead Eisteddfod in 1917, and at the Neath Eisteddfod last year, in each case with overwhelming success, musically, financially and That most competent critic the Rev. D. Tecwyn Evans, B.A., has reviewed the hymns in a recent article in Y Cymro." requiring correction. These have largely arisen through the addition, from time to time, of new departments which have never been properly assimilated hence our great National Institution, of which we are justly proud, has become more massive and far-reaching, but has in pro- portion lacked cohesion and unity. These irregularities thus form no part of its true self; but are excrescences, chiefly of a parasitic type, which have thrived on its marvellous vitality, and have projected themselves in such imposing fashion as largely to rob it of its symmetry and strength. These accretions, in so far as they are parasitic, must be removed and, in so far as they are abnormal, must be purged so that this grand National Tree may appear in its true stately proportions, extend its branches over the land, bring forth its fruit in its season, and that the Welsh people may sit beneath its shadow with great delight. THE CYMANFA GANU PROGRAMME By L. J. Roberts, M.A. numerically. Corwen will have its Cymanfa this month. The present writer has had the unique experience of having been invited to become a member of the music or Cymanfa committees in three of the four festivals and of being consulted at Birkenhead. There are not a few prominent Eisteddfodwyr who regard the Cymanfa as incongruous with the aims of the Eisteddfod but by the majority it is regarded as a rare and incomparable oppor- tunity for massed singing such as is found nowhere else in the world. The National Eisteddfod Cymanfa is in its infancy under proper guidance it may develop to be one of the most potent influences for musical culture. Even now its force is felt throughout Wales and it has already done incalculable good in setting a high standard for the selection of congregational tunes. There are drawbacks which time should remove. One is that the Cymanfa (like the Eisteddfod itself) is almost wholly in the hands of a local committee, which each year is new to its work, and has no accumulated experience to guide it. The local committees,! both of the Eisteddfod and the Cymanfa, should be strengthened by a permanent body of experienced experts appointed by some central board, such as the National Eisteddfod Association, so that the work from year to year may be on a more definite, co-ordinated and progressive plan. Hymn-tunes and choruses or anthems such as we now have should be supplemented by a com- plete cantata or oratorio which should be produced by combined choirs at one of the meetings. In this way, while not losing its character as a religious festival, its educative character would be far-reaching and immeasur- able. That this can be done in Wales is shown by the magnificent rendering of such complete works-by rural choirs from a wide area numbering 2,000 voices-of the Messiah." Elijah," and the Creation," in succeeding years at the recent (pre-war) musical festivals held in t The danger is not wholly absent of having tunes (good, may be, but not of outstanding merit) by local composers selected.