In North America, the Cymanfa Ganu (Welsh hymn singing festival) is celebrated as a cornerstone of Welsh American culture.
But it struck me, that I never hear about Cymanfa Ganu in Wales.
Just as one data point, if I search this very forum, I find numerous references to the North American Festival and other Cymanfas/Gymanfas in North America, and a few to an annual event in the North East of England. But not much if anything actually in Wales.
Am I just missing it - or is this one of those things that gets celebrated more elsewhere than it does in the country that it came from?
They’re probably not on as often as they used to be, because there are fewer people going to chapel, but they’re certainly still happening lots - a cymanfa ganu of some kind is where ‘Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol’ is always filmed - I’d say this is one of those things that is more of a big deal outside the country, and less so here because they’re pretty common…
I may be wrong, but I think they are a bit more common in rural areas. Even in English speaking Gower we had ‘Songs of Praise’ services, which were Cymanfa Ganu! I presume they are still having them since I moved to Yr Alban!
It must be a chapel thing, as I’ve not heard of it.
Getting a congregation to do 4 part harmonies is rather ambitious for most congregations, but achievable with a willing congregation and an enthusiastic leader and some time getting used to it! Sadly there are probably few of these left in Wales.
I do remember though when I was younger and taken to strange chapels for various reasons and I do remember hearing people singing the harmonies behind me in the congregation (some of these may have been Cymanfa Ganu, being deepest darkest Powys we mainly sang in English, but there were always a couple of Welsh hymns too [I thank this for my ability to read and write in Welsh now].
So I can easily imagine it was indeed once a strong tradition. I’ll keep my ear out for it more now though. Sadly with falling church and chapel attendances, this is probably on the way out :O(
