Dafydd y Garreg Wen

Dafydd y Garreg Wen is a traditional Welsh air and folk song.

David Owen, the famous harpist and composer, lived near Porthmadog in Caernarfonshire, Wales in the first half of the 18th century, who was known locally as Dafydd y Garreg Wen, (English: David of the White Rock). The epithet Y Garreg Wen (English: The White Rock) was the name of the farm near Morfa Bychan in which he lived.

Tradition has it that as Owen lay on his death bed, he called for his harp and composed the haunting air. He died at the age of 29 and was buried at St Cynhaearn's Church near Porthmadog.

The words were added nearly a hundred years later in by the poet John Ceiriog Hughes.

A more literal translation would be:-

Another version of this song begins with the line, "David, the Bard, on his bed of death lies", and continues with the second line of the verse being, "Pale are his features, and dim are his eyes". Owen is also well known for his air Codiad yr Ehedydd (English: Rising of the lark).

In 1923 the British Broadcasting Company made its first broadcast in Wales, from "Station 5WA" in Cardiff. Mostyn Thomas opened the programme, singing Dafydd y Garreg Wen, and so it became the very first Welsh language song to play on the air.

Bryn Terfel recorded "Dafydd Y Garreg Wen" on his 2000 album We'll Keep a Welcome.

An arrangement for military massed bands is played annually during the national remembrance Sunday celebrations led by Her Majesty the Queen each November in Whitehall.

Pages 1-2 of the musical composition Dafydd y garreg wen, contained in Welsh Melodies for the Harp by John Thomas

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