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In the mid-1970s a new genre of Welsh music appeared, namely the Rock Opera or Musical, referred to in Welsh as the ‘Opera Roc’ and ‘Sioeau Cerdd’.
Perhaps the best known Welsh Rock Opera is 'Nia Ben Aur'. Written and performed by some of the biggest names in 1970s Welsh Rock and Pop including Edward H. Dafis, Hergest, Ac Eraill and Sidan. ‘Nia Ben Aur’ premiered on the pavilion stage of the National Eisteddfod in Carmarthen in 1974. It was one of the first shows of its kind in Welsh, and also the first time the rock and pop music world was welcomed onto the Eisteddfod stage. The show was recorded in 1975 and released on Sain's record label. A digitally remastered version was released on CD, again on the Sain label in 2000.
Meic Stevens, Geraint Jarman and Heather Jones wrote a rock opera in 1970 for HTV called ‘Etifeddiaeth drwy’r Mwg’ (Inheritance through the Smoke).
A copy of BBC Radio Cymru's' Etifeddiaeth drwy’r Mwg’ radio program is in the Library: 'Etifeddiaeth drwy’r Mwg . The Welsh rock opera Etifeddiaeth drwy’r Mwg’ celebrates 40 years since its first transmission. 3 May 2010. (NLW AGSSC-RADIO / Digital / Digital llgc-id: 1302531)
A video from the TV programme ‘Etifeddiaeth drwy’r Mwg' broadcast on 28 February 1970 is part of the HTV Wales archive at the Library. John Ogwen, Robin Griffiths, Geraint Wyn Davies, Huw Tudor, Heather Jones and Mike Stevens appeared in the program, and Geraint Jarman's voice is heard reading a poem. The ‘Etifeddiaeth drwy’r Mwg’ programme was an experiment for St David's Day. Here is part of the description in the catalog: "an Experiment for St. David's Day to Introduce the Pop Music Style into Folk Singing in the Form of Opera". Production called "inheritance Through the Smoke". The words were by Geraint Jarman, and the music was composed by Meic Stevens. The first song is sung by Heather Jones, the second song by Mike Stevens. 1 film reel (10 min.): Black and white; 16mm. (NLW 99240929102419).
Hefin Wyn in his book 'Be Bop a Lula'r Delyn Aur' (Y Lolfa 2002) mentions that one of the songs on Meic Stevens' record, 'Diolch yn Fawr' is the signature tune of a show that Meic was associated with at the Bangor National Eisteddfod, 1971 called ‘Sachliain a Lludw’ ('Sackcloth and ashes'). The psychedelic show was staged by Cwmni Theatr Cymru and featured Meic Stevens, Heather Jones and the band ‘Tebot Piws’.
Gillian Elisa’s CD ‘Haul ar nos hir’ (Sain, 1999) contains three songs from the musical ‘Melltith ar y Nyth’ by Endaf Emlyn and Hywel Gwynfryn, namely ‘Gollyngaf Di’ , ‘Yr Alaw’ and ‘Tu Draw’. It also contains two songs from the musical ‘Celwydd’ by Cefin Roberts, Tim Baker, Catrin Edwards and Valmai Jones for Theatr Bara Caws namely ‘Tada a Mama’ and ‘Celwydd’.
Tecwyn Ifan's first album 'Y Dref Wen', (Sain 1977), contains songs from two shows, "Heledd", performed at Felin-fach, Easter, 1975 and "Yr Anwariaid" [The Barbarians], Aber-porth, Summer 1976.
Here are some examples of papers relating to rock operas and musicals found in our archives. Further details can be found on NLW Archives and Manuscripts
Search the Catalogue for other formats e.g. CDs, books, photographs, and material from the Screen and Sound Archive.
Search the Archive of Welsh Musicals
A collection of scripts and lyrics of musicals (originals and adaptations) performed in Wales at various National Eisteddfod and the Urdd Eisteddfod in North Wales, including:
Aled Lloyd Davies wrote most of the words. Also includes 10 CD/DVD-Rom. 1 box. Ref: NLW ex 2863.
[National Eisteddfod of Wales Papers: Plays, Pageants and Musicals]
Original and unknown play scripts, adaptations of popular plays, commissioned plays and children's shows. They were mainly performed in acting competitions at the National Eisteddfod by amateur drama companies or on the festival stage.
Minutes of the Rhyl Eisteddfod, 1985 discussing the Opera Roc (FF/252)
The Compositions and adjudications (Cyfansoddiadau a Beirniadaethau) of the National Eisteddfod include the following:
Search the Plays of Emyr Edwards
Emyr Edwards is a writer of plays and musicals, as well as an authority on theatre. He was the founder and director of the Urdd Theatre Company. He was the principal examiner for A level Drama with WJEC for twenty-five years. The papers include bound volumes containing scripts of his plays and his translations of plays, 1973-2015. Also, a volume compiled in 2014, comprising photographs, programmes and reviews relating to the performances of the Urdd National Youth Theatre, 1973-88.
Works include:
Search the Welsh Film Board archive
Search the Papers of Rhydwen Williams
Search the Papers of Gilmor Griffiths
Babouscka, 1983. Screenplay by Vera Griffiths, lyric and music by Gilmor Griffiths. An adaptation of the Russian fable, for a musical at Ysgol Hiraddug, Dyserth. Scripts, full score in scrapbook, sketches and notes. Music includes: 'Babouscka'; 'Knowledge is a wonderful thing'; ‘Hwyrgân yr Hydref’; 'The Kings' and 'Parents are so square'.
Search the Earthfall Dance Company Archives
The Earthfall Dance Company papers, include material relating to stage productions, residential workshops and tours, e.g.
The Two musicals / Dwy Sioe Gerdd papers
Culhwch ac Olwen' and 'Dŵr'. NLW ex 2839 musical manuscript excerpt: 'Culhwch ac Olwen' [by Rhiannon Ifans], 2000; and 'Dŵr' [a show about the history of Tryweryn by Bethan Bryn and Jeremy Turner performed at Aberystwyth's Cerdd Dant Festival, 2003], with some ‘cerdd dant’ settings.
Search the John Stoddart Papers
File containing translations (words only), 1988-1997, with some relevant notes about an Opera, oratorio and musical (1/1/6)
A file containing the words of the Musical and operetta, 1996-1998 translations of the National Eisteddfod, 1987-2001.