Land of my Fathers

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Land of my Fathers (Hen Wlad fy Nhadau). Nat. anthem of Wales always sung to orig. Welsh words. Comp. 1856, words by Evan James (1809–78) of Pontypridd, music by his son James James (1832–1902). Orig. name was Glan Rhondda. F.p. 1856 by Elizabeth John, aged 16, in Methodist chapel in Maesteg. First appeared in print 1860 in John Owen's Gems of Welsh Melody. Was sung as finale to each day's proceedings of Nat. Eisteddfod held in Ruthin, 1868, and thereafter gradually came to be adopted as Welsh nat. anthem.

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