Calon Lân is one of the most beloved Welsh hymns—rich in heritage and deeply moving in both words and melody. But did you know the version we all know and love wasn’t the original?
The hymn was written in the late 19th century. The lyrics were penned in 1891 by Daniel James (1848–1920), a Welsh poet who wrote under the bardic name Gwyrosydd.
Interestingly, the hymn was originally set to a different melody by James’ friend, Thomas Bedford Richards, before the now-familiar tune composed by John Hughes (1872–1914) became widely adopted.
We thought you might enjoy hearing a version of Calon Lân using the original Richards melody, performed by a friend of the Garw Valley Heritage Society.
Press the play button below to listen.