Gymanfa Ganu

Q: WHAT is a Gymanfa Ganu ?

A: A full session of community congregational singing in four-part harmony. The gymanfa will typically include fifteen to twenty hymns, sung by the congregation in both English & Welsh.Special music is often also performed by virtuoso soloists with regional or even international reputations.

Q: So is a Gymanfa Ganu a religious service, or a concert, a community singalong, or what?

A: It is a unique kind of almalgam of a religious service, a concert, and a community singalong -- it has important elements of all of these. It does generally include an invocation, and a benediction, by a pastor, and it is typically (but not necessarily) held in a traditional church sanctuary. Community singing and participation by all those present is an important element, too -- so the Gymanfa is not a "spectator sport" in the sense that a traditional concert is. Unlike some community singalongs, attendees bring special hymnbooks, issued by the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA), and they expect to sing in parts - SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass). But like a traditional concert, there is special music by honored soloists, a formal printed program, and lots of applause.

Q: CAN I come to a Gymanfa? I don't speak Welsh, or own a WNGGA hymnbook! Will I be welcome?

A: YES! Our Welsh tradition is to welcome all who wish to join us in song. You don't need to speak Welsh -- about half of the singing is in English, and singing "La" for the Welsh part works just fine. And as for the music, loaner copies of the hymns being sung are available free of charge at the Gymanfa.