Owain Phyfe & NWRB ~ "Ddoi Di Dai" a lament for Owain & for David the last Prince of Wales

Owain Phyfe & the New World Renaissance Band perform the traditional Welsh song "Ddoi di Dai", a lament for David (Daffydd ap Gruffydd), the last independent Prince of Wales who was executed by Edward "Longshanks" in 1283 (this King Edward I was the same English King who also later executed William Wallace in Scotland). "Dai" is Welsh for the name "David". This performance of "Ddoi di Dai" was filmed live on May 26, 2012 at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival, in Waxahachie, Texas.

The New World Renaissance Band is the band Cantiga when joined by Owain Phyfe and other musicians. This performance features Owain with the vocals in Welsh and playing his Italian renaissance guitar (the Chitarra Battente), the Cantiga band members Alex Korolov on viola da gamba, Bob Bielefeld on flute, Martha Gay on harp, Sick on fiddle, Jamal Mohammed on dumbek (small goblet-shaped hand drum), and also includes Jake Cooper of the band Wine and Alchemy on drum. Please note that I accidentally switched Jake and Jamal in the ending credits embedded in the video. Jamal is playing dumbek behind Jake, and Jake is the one in the foreground on the left playing the big drum. I'm sorry but once uploaded to youtube I can no longer edit the embedded video, so I cannot now correct the video end credits, unless I reload the whole thing and lose all comments, stats, etc., which I don't want to do.

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Alas, as you undoubtedly know by now, Owain Phyfe passed away on September 5, 2012, from pancreatic cancer. He was a dear man, a brilliant musician, and a kind and gentle soul. He embodied what a true Bard should be, and he left us a legacy of musical performance that will be cherished for generations. He leaves behind his beloved Lady Paula and two children, as well as a multitude of friends and fans.

This is only the second video we've posted since his death, and is one of the last performances of his that I was able to film. I have always especially loved this particular song whenever he performed it, and at least in my mind it was one of Owain's signature pieces. I therefore offer this video to you not just as a lament to the last Prince of Wales, but also as a lament for the late Owain Phyfe himself. He will be sorely missed.

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Owain, like many Faire musicians, performers and artisans, had no health insurance. If you wish to help his family cover his remaining medical expenses, please consider either purchasing the Owain Phyfe benefit CD released by his fellow musicians, or contributing to a fund set up by friends of Owain on Facebook. Owain was also helped by the RESCU foundation, as have many Ren Faire artists faced with the expense of medical emergencies. You might also wish to consider donating to RESCU in Owain's memory.

Owain Phyfe benefit CD
http://renfairepictorial.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/benefit-cd-for-owain-phyfe/

"weloveowainphyfe" Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/groups/314018545360069/

R.E.S.C.U. Renaissance Entertainers Services Crafters United
http://www.rescufoundation.org/home.html

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Lyrics and Lines Notes by Owain Phyfe from the album "Tales from the Vineyard":

"Dai" in Welsh is short for "David". I sing this haunting ballad as a lament to David, the last prince of Wales, executed in 1283 under the authority of Edward "Long Shanks" of England. Author Sharon Kay Penman beautifully captures the events of this tragic story in her book, "The Reckoning".

I would like to thank Brian Hill for his English translation of this song and for assistance in Welsh pronounciation.
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"Ddoi di Dai" (Traditional) Lyrics in Welsh:

Ddoi di Dai i blith dy flodau? Ddoi di Dai?
Ddoi di Dai i blith dy flodau? Ddoi di Dai?
Dyma flodyn bach yn wylo
Lliw un hywrach wedi ei ddrigo
Dagrau aur sydd ar ei rudd o. Weld di Dai?

Pwy fy'r plannu'r blodau gwylltion? Wy'st di Dai?
Pwy fy'r plannu'r blodau gwylltion? Wy'st di Dai?
Nhad sy'bua'r Rhos a'r Tansi
Fo a fi fy'yn eu plannu
Bodau'r ddol, pwy blannodd rheini? Wy'st di Dai?

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English Translation of Welsh Lyrics for "Will You Come David":

Will you come (home), David, among the flowers? Will you David?
Will you come (home), David, among the flowers? Will you David?
Here is a little flower, crying,
the color of one that lately died.
Golden tears are on its cheek. Do you see, David?

Who plants the wild flowers? Do you know, David?
Who plants the wild flowers? Do you know, David?
My father owns the Rose and Tansy.
He and I planted them.
(But,) the meadow flowers, who planted them? Do you know, David?

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