(Lyricists - John Jones (Talhaiarn)/Thomas Oliphant/John
Oxenford)
(Alternative title and translation lyricists - Sarah
Doudney/Anne Hunter/Anthony Linden Jones/Omar Westendorf)
This Welsh song, popular as an accompaniment for
Penillion singing, has been thought to have originated from as early as the
late 17th Century.A possible early version of it has been said to be "Cease Your
Funning" for 1728's The Beggar's Opera written by John Gay, although
this version is also thought to actually be the song "Constant Billy".English Morris dancers would be
seen dancing to it and the 17th/18th century Irish
harpist Turlough O'Carolan is known to have performed it as part of his
repertoire.Several versions
have appeared over the past few centuries that have been revised/arranged
by the Welsh harpist and composer John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia) and other
composers such as Franz Joseph Haydn, Benjamin Britten and Brian Hogg to
name just a few.The earliest
publication of it was found in Edwards Jones' 1802 Jones's Bardic Museum
and just a few years later it was first published with lyrics in Bardd
Alawis' Welsh Melodies with Appropriate English Words.It also appeared in Gow's
Strathspey Reels under the title "Sir Watkin William Wynn" with lyrics
by Anne Hunter. Other versions have lyrics by Thomas Oliphant, John Oxenford
and John Jones (Talhaiarn) and titles used for this tune include "All Hail
to Thee Cambria", "In the Ash Grove Palace" translated by Anthony Linden
Jones, "The Irish Free State", "The Master Hath Come" by Sarah Doudney, the
somewhat offensive "Mayor of Bayswater's Daughter" and "Sent Forth by God's
Blessing" by Omer Westendorf.The most famous lyrics are one where childhood and late friends are
remembered with happiness and a second that describes the ash grove as a
beautiful place where a man goes to remember his sweetheart after her
death.The music is also used
for the hymn "Let All Things Now Living" written by Katherine Davis in
1920.
