Evan James
Encyclopedia
Evan James (1809 - September 30, 1878), a weaver and poet from Pontypridd
, Wales
, wrote the lyrics of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau
("Land of my Fathers"), the national anthem
of Wales
.
Evan James was a weaver by trade, and employed several people at his mill on the river Rhondda
. According to family legend, his son, James James
, was walking one day in January 1856 on the banks of the river when the melody for Hen Wlad fy Nhadau came to him. When he told his father of the tune, Evan James was able to compose words for the tune which is the present-day Welsh national anthem. However, it is likely that James senior was inspired by the fact that two of his brothers had emigrated to the United States
and had written in praise of their adoptive country and urging him to join them.
A memorial to Evan James and his son, in the shape of two figures representing Poetry and Music, stands in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd
. Evan's face is shown alongside his son's, but appears younger because the photographs available to the sculptor, Goscombe John
, were taken many years apart.
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, wrote the lyrics of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the national anthem of Wales. The title – taken from the first words of the song – means "Old Land of My Fathers", usually rendered in English as simply "Land of My Fathers". The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents...
("Land of my Fathers"), the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Evan James was a weaver by trade, and employed several people at his mill on the river Rhondda
River Rhondda
The River Rhondda is a river in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales which has two major tributaries; the Rhondda Fawr and the Rhondda Fach .- Description :...
. According to family legend, his son, James James
James James
James James was a harpist and musician from Pontypridd, Wales. He composed the tune of the Welsh national anthem Hen Wlad fy Nhadau ....
, was walking one day in January 1856 on the banks of the river when the melody for Hen Wlad fy Nhadau came to him. When he told his father of the tune, Evan James was able to compose words for the tune which is the present-day Welsh national anthem. However, it is likely that James senior was inspired by the fact that two of his brothers had emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and had written in praise of their adoptive country and urging him to join them.
A memorial to Evan James and his son, in the shape of two figures representing Poetry and Music, stands in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
. Evan's face is shown alongside his son's, but appears younger because the photographs available to the sculptor, Goscombe John
Goscombe John
Sir William Goscombe John R.A. , was a Welsh sculptor.-Biography:He was born in Canton, Cardiff and as a youth assisted his father, Thomas John, a wood carver, in the restoration of Cardiff Castle...
, were taken many years apart.
External links
- James Memorial at Ynysangharad Park a video clip at the Internet Archive website.
- Hen wlad fy nhadau, the national anthem on the National Library of Wales website.
- James Memorial in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd from the Gathering the Jewels website.