Tydi a Roddaist (Thou Gavest)

Tydi a Roddaist (Thou Gavest) is regarded by many people as Arwel Hughes' most famous work. Since its compostition in 1938 it has been performed and recorded by hundreds of artists and choirs the world over.

Arwel Hughes worked for the BBC in Cardiff and often travelled from Cardiff to Bangor. In 1938 whilst waiting for a train connection at Shrewsbury Station, Arwel Hughes penned the piece ‘in about twenty minutes’ setting the words given to him by BBC colleague and friend T. Rowland Hughes.

The piece was composed in 1938 as a closing hymn-tune for the BBC Radio Play entitled ‘Wales’ which was broadcast on 1st March, 1938 and re-broadcast on 29th December 1938.

In the original radio play the first verse was sung by male voices in unison. The second and third verses were then sung by mixed choir with the last words of the third verse fading in to silence. Following a rousing speech by St. David, the patron saint of Wales, the choir can be heard in the distance repeating the final verse. The crescendo continues ending with a rousing final Amen.

The popularity of this work resulted in arrangements in various genres and today there are arrangements for male voices, mixed voices, female voices, solo baritone and male voices all with orchestral accompaniment, wind ensemble,brass ensemble, woodwind orchestra, brass band, military band and string orchestra.

Tydi a roddaist was released on CD by Bryn Terfel on his CD 'We'll keep a welcome'

A selection of other CDs include:

http://www.vicwelsh.asn.au/recordings.htm
http://www.sain.wales.com/english/sainshop/catalogue/musicvideos4.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/profiles/pages/south_wales_mc.shtml
http://www.brassbands.co.uk/recordings.htm
http://www.melbournewelshchoir.com.au/our_music/
http://johnrpierce.com/terfel.html
http://www.mvchoir.fsnet.co.uk/cds.htm
Below: A sketch of Tydi a Roddaist for female voices from one of Arwel Hughes' sketchbooks. 1938 Below: ... and as it appears in print. Published in 1952 and reprinted in 1993
The title page of 'Wales', the radio play that included 'Tydi a Roddaist' composed by Arwel Hughes to the words of T.Rowland Hughes. Below: Page 22 of 'Wales' - the entry directions for the choir who are about to sing 'Tydi a Roddaist'.
Below: the words that inspired the composition. Note the references on the right margin. Below: Following a speech by the patron saint of Wales, St. David, the last verse of 'Tydi a Roddaist' is repeated before the final rousing and now world famous 'Amen'. This 'Amen' was the first of its kind to end a hymn tune in this way.