Welsh Open University Music academics lent not just their individual expertise but their origins to help inform programme makers about Wales, ‘the land of song’, and the history of Welsh music in a BBC / OU co-production.
‘Wales: Music Nation with Huw Stephens’ looks at aspects of the musical history of Wales and is presented by Huw himself, the BBC radio and television presenter. It airs in two parts, the first being on Friday 3 March at 11pm on BBC Four and thereafter on BBC iPlayer. The second episode is to be broadcast at midnight on the same channel.
According to Dr Helen Barlow, a music historian with the OU, who grew up in Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff, the musical talents of the nation came to the fore through ordinary people’s participation in chapel and choral singing, in the absence of more formal paths into music.
Music-making part of everyday life
While England, Scotland and Ireland all had formal avenues to support a professional music culture way before Wales, it was only from the 20th century that such institutions emerged in Wales.
Dr Martin Clarke
Dr Martin Clarke, Head of Discipline (music) with the OU, said:
“Being born and brought up in South Wales as part of a chapel-going and live-sport-watching family meant that communal music-making was simply something I accepted as part of everyday life.
“Music was also prominent at school; even though I attended English-language schools, we still took part in an annual cymanfa ganu with other primary schools in a local chapel, and at secondary school, the in-school eisteddfod was a high point of the musical year.”
“Fascinating” being part of the process
Martin’s research is in music and religion so he was able to guide programme makers in this aspect of the production. He said:
“It was fascinating to see the stages of research, planning and development with the programme, and a privilege to have the opportunity to offer feedback and suggestions.”
Dr Helen Barlow
Helen said it was a really interesting programme to be involved with:
“We couldn’t have had anyone better fronting it – Huw is such an engaging presenter and has a massive knowledge of pop and rock music and a deep interest in Welsh culture.
“My interests are around the history of ordinary people’s experience of music and that ties in really well with this project because Welsh music is a community experience, not an academic, ‘high art’ one. It has been much more about performance and participation.”
Huw himself said his earliest memories of music were from his sister’s music collection and posters of artists on her bedroom wall:
“I think through them I understood what it was to be a fan of Welsh language bands and artists, because Wales has had such a rocky idea of what it is over the years.
“I think every musician who has sung from Wales, and sung about, or in Wales have contributed massively to the idea of what Wales is.”
He added that music was “part of our DNA from school, right through life”.
In the series he delves into the story of Welsh music, from medieval folk songs to urban rap. Meeting Tom Jones and the Manic Street Preachers and hearing the unique sounds of the triple harp and the crwth.
This series was commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with particular relevance to R25 BA (Hons) Music, R14 BA (Hons) Arts and Humanities and F32 MA in Music
- Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast & Partnerships
- Academic Consultants: Dr Martin Clarke, Dr Helen Barlowand Prof Trevor Herbert
- Media Fellow: Dr Joanna Paul
- Broadcast Project Manager: Clair Robinson
- Supporting online content: Chris Belson
Supporting Online content:
Visit our Broadcast & Partnerships site OU Connect where you can find an exclusive interview with Huw Stephens and Huw’s personal Welsh music playlist.(NB: this site may not be live or complete prior to broadcast)
Main picture: © Wildflame/Celf Calon
