- James James
James James (also known by the
bardic name "Iago ap Ieuan") (1833-1902) was a harpist and musician fromPontypridd ,Rhondda Cynon Taff . He composed the tune of the Welsh national anthem "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau " (also known as "Land of my Fathers").James James composed the melody which was later known as "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" in January 1856. At first it was known as "Glan Rhondda" (The banks of the Rhondda), and gave rise to the tradition that the tune had come to him as he walked on the bank of the River Rhondda. His father,
Evan James , wrote the lyrics that eventually became the words of the Welsh national anthem.A memorial to James James and his father, in the shape of two figures representing the
muses of Poetry and Music, stands in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd.External links
* [http://www.archive.org/details/JamesMemorialYnysangaradParkPontypridd James Memorial at Ynysangharad Park] a video clip at the [http://www.archive.org Internet Archive] website.
* [http://www.llgc.org.uk/drych/drych_s044.htm "Hen wlad fy nhadau, the national anthem"] on the [http://www.llgc.org.uk/ National Library of Wales] website.
* [http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=29668&t=1 James Memorial in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd] from the [http://www.gtj.org.uk/ Gathering the Jewels] website.
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