(Owain Glyndwr). Patriot, Poet, and Warrior.
Written and Arranged by E. R. Appleton (Goleuni'r Bannau).
Relayed to 5XX.
Blodwen Caerleon (Contralto), Walter Glynne (Tenor), Glanville Davies (Baritone)
The Gwent Radio Players
The Station Orchestra
Conductor, Warwick Braithwaite
King Henry to Hotspur.
"Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou dost belie him.
He never did encounter with Glendower,
I tell thee,
He durst as well have met the devil alone
As Owen Glendower for an enemy".
(Shakespeare - "King Henry IV" Part I.)
Scene I.
Near Trevgarn in the year 1369.
Owain Glyndwr, now 10 years old, meets an old Welsh woman - a witch some call her - seated at a spinning wheel and humming "Y Gofid Du", an old Welsh Folk Song.
Scene II.
Twenty years have passed. We find ourselves within Glyndwr's beautiful home at Sycherth, where, as was customary, in the big houses, the people of the district are gathered together for dancing and singing. Many of the Bards of Britain are gathered round Owain, their great supporter. Owain's Bard sings a Penillion Song, the words by Iolo Goeh. A Travelling Piper plays and dances "Welsh Shepherd's Dance" (Gwynn Williams). A Bard "Yn Mhon typridd Mae Nghariad" (Old Welsh Folk Song). All sing "Nos Galan" (Song and Chorus).
Scene III.
The year 1400, within the old fortress of Edcyrn Edeyrnion, near Corwen. Owain raises his standard, the old dragon in red gold on a white ground, and speeds the bent bow, the signal for war, calling on the men of his race to fight for the unity and freedom of the Country. Old Harper, Welsh Airs. The people sing "Cyhamod" (Old Welsh Hymn). The soldiers "Men of Harlech" (Old Traditional Welsh Air).
Scene IV.
A room in the Hall of Glyndwr.
Mortimer, captured by Rhys Gethin, one of Owain's Generals, has fallen in love with, and married, Joan, Owain's daughter, and decides to join Hotspur and Owain in attacking King Henry and putting the young Earl of March on the throne.
Mortimer knows little Welsh and Joan less English. Mortimer sings "Thou Art Fair" (From "Penillion in English") (Gwynn Williams). Joan and Mortimer "Tra Bo Dau" (Duet, Old Welsh Folk Song Arranged).
Scene V.
Falstaff and his company on the road to Shrewsbury. (Shakespeare's "Henry IV", Part I.)
Scene VI.
A Battle Scene - 1403. Glyndwr, fresh from his victories in the South, is met with the news of the defeat of Hotspur and the failure of the combined attack on King Henry.
Scene VII.
1416. An Old Welsh Cottage on a hillside. Glyndwr has retired to the hills after fighting for many years as Ruler of Cymru. Legend has it that Glyndwr never died and that he and his men sit sleeping in Ogov y Ddinas, buckled in their armour, waiting to sally forth again. Our last impression of him is this prophetic scene in an old cottage. Music: A Mother singing to her Baby, "Suo Gan" (Old Folk Song). A Soldier of Owain, "Can Y Gwladgarwr" (The Patriot's Song) (Gwynn Williams).
