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The Story
The story of the words and music is best told by his son Taliesin in a letter to
John Crockett dated 4th December 1910:
'I have often heard my father say that on a Sunday afternoon in that month and year
(January 1856), he went for a walk up the Rhondda Road and that the melody came
to his mind. Returning to my grandfather's house, but a few doors from his own,
he said to him,
"Father, I have composed a melody which is in my opinion a very fitting one
for a Welsh patriotic song. Will you write some verses for it?"
"Let me hear it" said grandfather, who added, "Fetch your harp, James."
My father brought the harp to the Factory House and played the air on that instrument.
My grandfather was greatly struck by it, and at once took down the slate, which
I dare say you know, always hung aside of his armchair by the fireplace, and in
a few minutes the words of the first verse were written ...The second and third
verses were written the next day'
Whether the story is completely correct we will never know, but the fact is that
the father and son collaborated in producing what is probably the best-known song
in Wales.
After James James died in 1902, it was suggested that a memorial should be erected
to both the father and son. It took almost 30 years to see this completed when the
memorial designed by Sir William Goscombe John sited in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd
was unveiled on the 23rd of July 1930.
The beautiful memorial consisting of two life size figures of bronze represents
poetry and music fixed in Blue Pennant stone. The inscription reads: In memory of
Evan James and James James, father and son, of Pontypridd, who, inspired by a deep
and tender love of their native land united poetry to song and gave Wales her National
Anthem, 'Hen Wlad fy Nhdau'
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