In support of the Wales’ National Rugby team at the Rugby World Cup, a digital music campaign is going live today. #calonlan is being launched on www.calonlan2019.com to encourage Wales and the world to sing their support for our team and raise the profile of Wales to the world.
The film is a snippet of the culture behind rugby in Wales.
Lead Guitarist Mei Gwynedd is the author of the new version and he called on the help of Côr y Gleision, Cardiff Blues Rugby team Choir and drummer Zack Mather, CHROMA, to drum up support for the team in Japan, directed artistically by Griff Lynch.
Mei Gwynedd said “I’ve relished this opportunity to inject new energy into one of our most popular hymns. Let’s hope it strikes a chord with people of all ages.”
It’s the team and the nation’s instinct to sing in harmony that inspires the #calonlan campaign. Our national rugby team enjoyed a singing lesson to learn to sing Calon Lan with passion with Welsh Opera Maestro Bryn Terfel before leaving for Japan. We hope they are feeling and enjoying all the support from Wales.
Thousands of Welsh rugby fans will be visiting Japan this autumn, many of whom will be singing the well-known hymn Calon Lan (Pure Heart) to support the team in Japan.
“It’s an invitation to the people of Wales, Japan and the world to enjoy and sing our unofficial rugby hymn” says producer Glenda Jones. “We are encouraging people to take up this opportunity to show their support whilst enjoying the nation’s other favourite passion, music. Whether you’re with family, friends, classmates, rugby clubs, choirs or all by yourself you can sing-a-long to Mei Gwynedd’s wonderful #calonlan karaoke track.”
Now, people in Japan and all over the world, who are touched by the beauty of Calon Lan, can now join in through the #calonlan Karaoke campaign website www.calonlan2019.com
Wales has been embraced by the people of Japan in the lead up to the World Cup.
Welsh Rugby Union’s cultural and educational work over the past two years, with the cities of Oita and Kitakyushu, has raised the profile of Wales in these important cities and is generating support for the team as the campaign develops. Thousands of people and children in Kitakuyshu sang an impressive welcome to the team to Japan.
Even fire engines, buses and ambulances in Kitakyushu are wishing “Pob Lwc” (good luck) to Wales as their adopted second team.
Executive Producer, Eluned Hâf, Head of Wales Arts International, said:
“#calonlan is a cultural advert for a small nation with a big heart. The lyrics boast the virtues of happiness, honesty, wellbeing and generosity –values at the heart of our cultural and civic life.
“And when the rugby starts this land will come alive, as it always does, in song. We wanted to capture and share with the world how people and choirs north and south break out in instinctive harmony, a tonic at times like these.
Our culture is nurtured in our communities and is rooted in our communitarian values. Music and culture raise the spirit and aspiration of our nation. We call this “codi hwyl”.