Research Seminar - Dr Llewelyn Hopwood

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During this paper, I shall consider the constituent parts of ideal poetry during the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr period (c. 1300–c. 1600). I shall do this by paying close attention to what the sources have to say about how this poetry ought to sound: from the first steps to the final product.

We shall begin by considering the poet’s background, e.g. his bardic class (pencerdd (chief poet) or clerwr (minstrel)) and his ethnic background (Welsh, Irish, or English). After glancing at the portrayal of Wales’s various languages, we turn to listen to the type of Welsh that was needed, listening closely to the sound of ideal language use and that of the language that should be avoided.

We then close with the role of music, again by paying overdue attention to the adjectives and images used to describe musical accompaniment and instruments.