Llun trwy Garedigrwydd Archifau a Chasgliadau Arbennig, Prifysgol Bangor
Photograph courtesy of Archives and Special Collections, Bangor University
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Dyma alaw ‘Margared fwyn ych Evan’, sydd ar dudalen 5 o lawysgrif Bangor Ms. 2294 sef Llawysgrif Maurice Edwards (gweler mwy o wybodaeth am Maurice Edwards a’i lawysgrif yma). Rwyf wedi golygu’r teitl i ddechrau gyda llythyren fras er mwyn cysondeb gyda’r alawon eraill ar y blog.
Yn ddiddorol, er bod yr alaw hon yng nghywair A leiaf, mae hi’n gorffen ar y pumed nodyn, sef E. Mae hyn yn gwneud i’r alaw swnio’n anorffenedig, ond hefyd yn ei gwneud yn anarferol ymysg alawon Cymraeg eraill.
Mae yna fersiwn o hon sydd ychydig bach yn wahanol wedi ei chyhoeddi ar dudalen 25 o gyfrol Cambrian Harmony Richard Roberts (Dublin&Carnarvon, [1829]), felly mae’n rhaid bod yr alaw wedi bod yn wybodus i bobl am nifer o flynyddoedd. Gallwch weld copi o hwn ar wefan Prifysgol Brigham Young yma.
Yn ôl y sôn mae yna benillion a cherddi yn bodoli sy’n sôn am gymeriad Margared fwyn ych Evan. Cysylltwch os ydych chi’n gwybod am unrhyw gerddi amdani, byddai’n ddiddorol dysgu mwy am y cymeriad a wnaeth ysbrydoli alaw mor anarferol.
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This melody is called ‘Margared fwyn ych Evan’ which roughly translates to ‘Fair Margaret, Evan’s Daughter’. It is found on page 5 of manuscript Bangor Ms. 2294 which is Maurice Edwards’ manuscript (see more information on Maurice Edwards and his manuscript here) I’ve edited the title to begin with a capital letter for consistency with the rest of the tunes on the blog.
Interestingly, although this melody is in the key of A minor, it finishes on the fifth note, E. This makes the tune feel unresolved, but also makes it unusual among other Welsh tunes.
An intriguing and slightly different version of this tune appears on page 25 in Richard Roberts’ collection, Cambrian Harmony (Dublin&Carnarvon, [1829]), so it must have been well known for many years. You can see a copy of this on Brigham Young University’s website here.
Apparently verses exist that mention the character of fair Margaret. Please get in touch if you know of any, it would be interesting to learn more about the person who inspired such an unusual tune.
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Ewch yma i weld yr alaw mewn nodiant safonol/Click here to see the tune in standard notation: Margared fwyn ych Evan
Dyma nodiant abc o’r alaw/Here’s the melody in abc notation: Margared fwyn ych Evan
Dyma recordiad WAV o’r alaw, ar gyfer dysgu wrth y glust:
Here’s a WAV recording of the melody, for learning aurally:
Alawon Bangor 
Mae Marged Ferch Ifan yn gymeriad adnabyddus yn Nyffryn Nantlle ac mae rhywun dwi’n nabod sy’n dod o bentref Nantlle wedi nodi lleoliad adfail ei thafarn i mi ar y map, er mwyn i ni gael mynd yno ar bererindod! Dyma’r cerddi:
http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/cym/a-sense-of-place/myths-and-legends/marged-ferch-ifan
Gwych! Diolch Catrin. Crafanc i dorri esgyrn pobl?! Jiw jiw!
For English speakers, here’s the link Catrin(above)’s shared with us about Marged Evan’s daughter, who is a well known character in the Nantlle Valley
http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/a-sense-of-place/myths-and-legends/marged-ferch-ifan
It’s a crackin’ song – I have yet to try singing it to the weirdly wonderful tune you’ve found, Mari. Dyma rhai o’r geiriau/here are the traditional Welsh lyrics interspersed with an English translation by Cary B. More verses exist but this will give you the general idea.
MARGED FERCH IFAN (1696 – 1788 or 1801)
Hen Benillion
Mae gan Marged fwyn ach Ifan
Glocsen fawr a chlocsen fechan,
Un i gicio’r cwn o’r gornel,
A’r llall i gicio’r gwr i gythrel.
[Iron Marged daughter of Ifan
Has a big clog and a little clog,
One to kick the dogs by the corner
Another to kick her hubby to the devil.]
Mae gan Marged fwyn ach Ifan
Grafanc fawr a chrafanc fechan,
Un i dynnu’r cwn o’r gongl,
A’r llall i dorri esgyrn pobol.
[Gentle Marged daughter of Ifan
Has a big clutch and a little clutch,
One to drag the dogs from the corner
Another to break people’s bones.]
Mae gan Marged fwyn ach Ifan
Delyn fawr a thelyn fechan;
Un i ganu yng Nghaernarfon,
A’r llall i gadw’r gwr yn fodlon.
[Dear Margaret daughter of Ifan
Has a big harp and a small harp,
One to play within Carnarvon
Another to keep her hubby fond.]
Ac mae ganddi, heblaw corlan,
Geffyl mawr a cheffyl bychan;
Un i gario’r gwr o’r dafarn,
A’r llall i gario’r god o arian.
[And she has, besides a sheepfold,
A big horse and a small horse
One to carry hubby from the tavern,
Another to carry the pouch of money.]