Annotation:Morva Rhuddlan
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MORVA RHUDDLAN (The Marsh of Rhuddlan). AKA - "Morfa Rhiddlan." Welsh, Air (3/4 time). D Minor (Wright): A Minor (Aird). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Wright): AABB (Aird). Claims have been made for an eighth-century date for this tune, without any solid evidence; this is in keeping with quite extravagant attributions of age to many Welsh melodies. The melody is said to commemorate the savage defeat of the Welsh by the Saxons at a battle at Rhuddlan Marsh in 795. Walker (1924) names it as one of the Welsh tunes "marked by artistic strength of a high order," while Frank Kidson (Groves) says it is a "fine melody."
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: James Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 5), Glasgow, 1801, No. 43, p. 17. Wright (Aria di Camera), 1727; No. 49.
Recorded sources:
See also listing at:
Hear a harp/flute version on youtube.com [1]