Myfanwy the Earworm

Two weeks ago I went to bed with an earworm, and by that I don’t mean that I’ve invented a new nickname for Huw, but it’s one of those tunes you just can’t shake out of our head. It happened again last night, same earworm, same song. Thankfully it wasn’t unpleasant such as Joe Pasquale’s “I know a song that’ll get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves etc. etc” Familiar with it? If so, then you’ll be sorry you’ve read this because I bet that’s ringing in your own ears already.

The earworm is unquestionably the greatest love song of all for those of us fortunate be born in Wales, for those of us with  music and poetry running through our veins.

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing Bryn Terfel singing this great love song ‘live’ in Swansea’s Proms in the Park and just couldn't shake it off for days.  Then  last night I attended Dunvant Male Voice Choir’s Annual Patron’s concert  at The Brangwyn Hall, Swansea where they sang  an a cappella rendition of it. You could have heard a pin drop during the performance- well no, you couldn’t  have because you’d have been as mesmerised as I was.  

Have a listen yourself to The Morriston Orpheus Choir sing  Myfanwy  whilst you view photos of Planet Paradise, and I dare you not to have non-MS tingles down your spine.

Of course as is invariably the case, a lot of the feeling is lost in translation but you can read it in English here and all about its composer Joseph Parry.

The Brangwyn Hall itself has recently undergone a major refurbishment and I must say it’s looking good, even though they’ve swapped the ladies and gents toilets around which needless to say caused a bit of confusion and some embarrassment to many last night.

Just being at The Brangwyn took me back to the days when I performed there myself, but even further back to school Speech Days where we’d gawp with embarrassment, stifling  giggles, as you do at that age, at the semi naked figures in the famous Brangwyn Panels.

Talking of ‘Welshness’, there’s a saying ‘three times for a Welshman’ so will I once again in the coming few weeks take Myfanwy the Earworm to bed with me, I wonder ?

“Music has charms to soothe a savage breast" ~ William Congreve