Ar Dymor Gaeaf - Carolau Plygain

Traditional unaccompanied Plygain carol singing – a tradition unique to Wales.

This new collection contains performances by some of the leading exponents of Plygain carol singing today.

Plygain in rural North and Mid Wales dates back to the Catholic period, when early morning Plygain services were held on Christmas day. They are now mostly held in the early evening, throughout December and January. This unique form of unaccompanied carol-singing, characterized by close harmony and originally sung by small groups of men, is still very much a living tradition, and has indeed seen somewhat of a revival amongst the younger generation. New singers and parties have emerged, and new services have been established in various parts of the country, where the older carols can be heard alongside new original carols composed in the traditional mode, each one, in the words of Roy Saer, “ vividly communicating the drama and wonder, the joy and certainty which are the essence of these Christmas songs”.

Plygain carol singing are held annually around Montgomeryshire in places such as Mallwyd, Llanerfyl, Llanfihangel-yng-ngwynfa and Cemmaes (the old Llanymawddwy Plygain which has moved due to renovation of church).