Ancient Cathedrals of Wales - Their Story and Music

Disgrifiad Cymraeg / Welsh Description

Mae i gerddoriaeth gysylltiedig amlwg â'n cadeirlannau, mae iddi ran bwysig mewn gwasanaethau eglwysig. Mae'r llyfr hwn yn cwmpasu cynnwys cerddorol eglwysi cadeiriol yng Nghymru, ond hefyd mae'n cynnig canllaw defnyddiol a darllenadwy i ganolfannau ffydd a threftadaeth hynafol.

Disgrifiad Saesneg / English Description

Music has always been associated with our cathedrals, having an important part in church services. This book encompasses the musical content of our cathedrals here in Wales but also offers a handy and readable guide to these ancient centres of faith and heritage.

Dosbarthu

Byddwn yn dosbarthu eitemau sydd mewn stoc o fewn 3 diwrnod gwaith, fel arfer drwy Royal Mail Tracked 48. Ar gyfer archebion o flaen llaw, byddwn yn dosbarthu’r eitem o fewn 3 diwrnod gwaith ar ôl ei derbyn gan ein cyflenwr.

Dispatch

In-stock items will be dispatched within 3 business days, usually by Royal Mail Tracked 48. For pre-orders, we’ll dispatch within 3 business days of receiving the item from our supplier.

Adolygiad y Cyhoeddwr / Publisher Review

Maelgwn Gwynedd was reputedly the most evil man in Britain, and this sixth-century king is said to have killed and usurped his uncle. Then, having taken holy orders, he murdered his wife and his nephew. But, to coin a phrase, he wasn’t all bad. He was instrumental in installing Deiniol as the first Bishop of Bangor, and we are told here that Bangor was probably the first territorial diocese in the British Isles as a result of Maelgwn’s invitation to Deiniol to oversee the religious needs of all his kingdom. Bangor Cathedral is the first of the six Welsh cathedrals whose stories and music are revealed in this comprehensive guide. There follow Brecon, Llandaff, Monmouth, St. Asaph and St. David’s. We learn all kinds of titbits, both historical and contemporary. For instance, Brecon Cathedral is one of the venues included in the town’s annual jazz festival, when hymns are sung to jazz accompaniment. Llandaff Cathedral has withstood attacks by Cromwell, various storms and a World War II German bomb. Monmouth Cathedral was once a Presbyterian chapel and its bishops done away with. The first Bishop of St. Asaph was a Scotsman, St. Kentigern, known in Welsh as Sant Cyndeyrn. And some 300,000 tourists and pilgrims visit St. David’s annually. Ancient Cathedrals of Wales: Their Story and Music succeeds the author’s previous publication, North Wales Male Voice Choirs . Feeling that he had merely scratched the surface, the natural next step was to assess the part music plays in church services. And this has led to a comprehensive guide to the history, architecture and music associated with all six cathedrals. Having spent twenty years in Cefn Meiriadog, the author confesses to going over the top regarding St. Asaph. For this he can be easily forgiven. His love of sacred music and the ancient buildings associated with it is obvious in his warmth and dedicated research. Meurig Owen’s historical and musical pilgrimage has resulted in a highly readable guide. The descriptions of all these centres of worship are followed with lists of the names of associated archbishops, bishops, deans and organists, as well as sources. It also lists times of services. Appropriately there is a foreword by The Most Reverend Dr. Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Llandaff, in which he describes Meurig Owen’s work as a labour of love. No one could disagree.