Eisteddfod

eisteddfod (īstĕth`vəd, –vôd) [Welsh,=session], Welsh competitive festival. Contests traditionally are held in all the arts and crafts, with special emphasis on music and poetry. The National Eisteddfod is held annually for one week in August, alternately in the north and the south, but local eisteddfods are held throughout Wales during the year. A historical institution (12th cent.), it is important in maintaining national feeling and preserving the Welsh language and culture and is enthusiastically supported by all the Welsh. Its outstanding ceremony is the "chairing" of the winning bard. The bardic assembly (gorsedd) has been a part of the National Eisteddfod since 1819. The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, begun in 1947 at Llangollen, Denbighshire, is held annually in July, and features choral and folk music and dance performed by some 200 choirs and other artists.

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eisteddfod

(Welsh; “session”)

Formal assembly of Welsh bards and minstrels that originated in the traditions of medieval court bards. Early eisteddfods were competitions of musicians (especially harpists) and poets from which new musical, literary, and oratorical forms emerged. The assembly at Carmarthen in 1451 authoritatively established the arrangement of the strict metres of Welsh poetry. The modern annual National Eisteddfod, revived in the 19th century, includes awards for music, prose, drama, and art, but the investiture of the winning poet remains its high point.

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Eisteddfod

ancient congress of bards, still held annually in Wales. [Music Hist.: Benét, 305]

See : Festival, Music

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Eisteddfod

Early August

The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales dates back to the 12th century. Its purpose is to encourage the preservation of Welsh music and literature, and only those who sing or write in Welsh may enter the competitions. The annual event opens with the blowing of trumpets, followed by all kinds of musical and literary contests—harp playing, solo and choral singing, dramatic presentations, and poetic composition. Prizes and degrees are awarded to the winners.
The National Eisteddfod is held in northern Wales one year and southern Wales the next. Other Eisteddfodau are held in Welsh communities elsewhere from May to November.
See also Cynonfardd Eisteddfod

CONTACTS:
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
40 Parc Ty Glas, Llanisien
Cardiff, Wales CF4 5WU United Kingdom
44-29-2076-3777; fax: 44-29-2076-3737
www.eisteddfod.org.uk

SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 147
BkFest-1937, p. 60
BkHolWrld-1986, Aug 3
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 342
GdWrldFest-1985, p. 100
IntlThFolk-1979, p. 191
MusFestEurBrit-1980, p. 150