Cornish Language Section
Welcome to the Cornish language section. This archive embraces a wide range of music that reflects and celebrates Cornwall’s distinctive cultural heritage. If there’s a bit of the language in the lyrics, (or the title if instrumental), of some work then it is Cornish – and that’s the magic of our language. It can take something known to the world like Beatles songs, and through translation, create music that very Cornish indeed.
Firstly, there were anthems like Trelawny (from English), Bro Goth (from Welsh) and songs of the Gorsedh Kernow ceremony – more than a hundred years old. Next came all the folk songs much loved by us, e.g. Camborne Hill, Lamorna, The White Rose, etc. especially at closing time in the pub! This is useful for teaching Kernewek because not every singer is fluent but with well-known tunes there’s no excusefor you not to join in.
There’s a corpus with translations of every sort of music; from Chapel and Church there’s hymns and carols, (the St Ive Carol Service began in 1975). Also there’s songs for children from collections such as Canow Fleghes, Planet Kernow, Keur Kernewek, etc. but many are often sang by adults!
There’s Motorhead, Britney Spears, Gary Numan and many others for karaoke, sea shanties and opera as well as music that supports film and theatre.
Some songs such as Ow Avon Splann by Brian Webb and Sav yn-bann by Matthi Clarke are without English translation.
The music scene in Cornwall is enriched by Kernewek and Kernewek is enriched with music – long live Cornish music.
Pol Hodge, Bardh Meur, Mys Gortheren 2020
If you have songs for this section or would like to help with translations, please contact Merv Davey here.
Rann Gernewek
Dynnargh dhe’n rann Gernewek. An argh ma a syns kammneves a ilow a dhasplan ha merkya ertach gonisogethek diblans Kernow. Mars usi tamm an yeth y’n geryow (po yn titel mars yw heb geryow) a neb ober yth yw kernewek – ha hemm yw an hus a’gan yeth ni. Hi a yll kemeres neppyth aswonys dhe’n bys kepar ha kanow Beatles, ha dre dreylyans, gul ilow pur gernewek yn hwir.
Yn kynsa, yth esa antempnys avel Trelawny (dyworth Sowsnek), Bro Goth (dyworth Kembrek) ha’n kanow yn solempnita Gorsedh Kernow – moy ages kans bledhen koth. Nessa, y teuth oll an kanow gwerin meur gerys genen ni, r.e. Bre Gammbronn, Lamorna, An Rosen Wynn, h.e. yn arbennek prys degea yn diwotti! Hemm yw dhe les rag dyski Kernewek drefen nag yw pub kaner freth yn taves mes gans an tonyow aswonys yn ta nyns eus askus ma nag os ta omjunya.
Yma korf gans treylyansow a bub eghen a ilow; dyworth Chapel hag Eglos yma hymnys ha karols, (an Gonis Sen Iv a dhallathas yn 1975). Ynwedh yma kanow fleghes dyworth kuntellesow Canow Fleghes, Planet Kernow, Keur Kernewek, h.e. mes lies yw kenys yn fenowgh gans tevesigyon!
Yma Motorhead, Britney Spears, Gary Numan ha lies erel rag karaoke ha morganow ha gwari kan hag ynwedh ilow dhe skoodhya fylm ha gwariva.
Nebes kanow kepar hag Ow Avon Splann gans Brian Webb ha Sav yn-bann gans Matthi Clarke yw heb treylyans Sowsnek.
An gwel ilow yn Kernow yw rychhes gans Kernewek ha Kernewek yw rychhes gans ilow – bewnans hir dhe ilow kernewek.
Pol Hodge, Bardh Meur, Mys Gortheren 2020
Mars eus dhis kanow Kernewek rag an rann ma po hwans dhe weres gans treylyans res yw dhis kestava gans Merv Davey mar plek.
Menegva Kanow Kernewek – Cornish Song Catalogue
Hanow (Name)
Click title to go to pageKomposydh/es (Composer)
po Hengovek (traditional)Gwydhyow (Video) Sonskrif (recording) Geryow (lyrics) Ilow Skrifys (Music Score)
Skeus Jakka Teylu Teylu *
Duw Genes Anna Teylu Teylu *
Bys Jenna Teylu Teylu *
An Tenna na Teylu Teylu *
Sav Yn Ban Skwardya Skwardya *
Athelstan Skwardya Skwardya
Trelawny Robert Stephen Hawker / Henry Jenner St Ives Community Choir
Skwardya* *
Lowender a Dheu Robert Morton Nance Buccas Four
Arta Ev a Dheu Robert Morton Nance Buccas Four
Can Palores Robert Morton Nance & Ralph Dunstan * *
Kerra Kernow Richard Gendall / Brenda Wootton Brenda Wootton *
De Sul Vyttyn Richard Gendall / Brenda Wootton Brenda Wootton *
Karol, Karol, Kristyon Matthew Burrows / John Parker Keur Heb Hanow * *
Rond Sen Peran Kenneth Pelmear John Bolitho *
Hayl dh’agan Mammvro Kenneth Pelmear / Richard Jenkin Buccas Four * *
Tansys Golowan Jon Mills Pyba * *
Chambour bys y’n Bedh Inglis Gundry / John Parker / Steve Penhaligon Keur Heb Hanow * *
Bro Goth Agan Tasow Henry Jenner Buccas Four John Bolitho * *
Dur ha Tan Hengovek- Bretonek / Mick Paynter * *
Whelyow an Garoryon Hengovek /Merv Davey * *
Dean Younk A Gernow Hengovek / Tony Snell Dalla
Tri Marghek Hengovek / Tony Snell Jon Mills - Pyba * *
Plema ‘n Jawl Hengovek / Tony Snell Ryb An Gwella * *
Oghen Gwylls Hengovek / Tony Snell * *
Melinor Hengovek / Tony Snell * *
Lowena Dhywgh Kernowyon Hengovek / Tony Snell * *
Klipper Aberfala Hengovek / Tir ha Tavas Tir Ha Tavas *
When ha Bleujennow Hengovek / Merv Davey * *
Tansys Golowan Hengovek / Merv Davey * *
Hungan Hengovek / Merv Davey * *
Estren Hengovek / Merv Davey * *
De Hala Me Hengovek / Merv Davey * *
Damon Hengovek / Merv Davey * *
Jowan Bunt Hengovek / Julyan Holmes * *
Tri Gorhel Hengovek / Jon Mills Kescana * *
An Gwydh Mar Ughel – The Trees High Hengovek / Jon Mills Jon Mills - Pyba * *
Kan Kanoryon Nos Hengovek / Jon Mills Kescana * *
Kan an Cider Hengovek - Bretonek / Tony Snell * *
Wassel Resrudh Hengovek / Merv Davey Keur Heb Hanow * *
When Eyndek Hengovek * *
Tre Bosvenna Hengovek * *
Terryans Syllan Hengovek * *
Rosenik Gwer – Green Cockade Hengovek /Tavas * *
Own Den Koth Da Hengovek * *
Naw Map Harth – Nine Brave Boys Hengovek / Merv Davey John Bolitho * *
Mowes a Vri Hengovek * *
Maggie May Hengovek Mabe Ladies Choir John Bolitho * *
Lamorna Hengovek Oll An Gwella * *
Helygen Hengovek * *
Hal dhe ves Joe Hengovek Aggie Boys - Ragdres Morgannow *
Ha My Ow Mos Hengovek * *
Goos Nelson Hengovek Matt Blewett - Ragdres Morgannow *
Galargan Kostentin Hengovek / Robert Morton Nance / Steve Penhaligon Keur Heb Hanow * *
Deulagas Vyghan / Little Eyes / Little Lise Hengovek Oll an Gwella * *
Delyow Sevi Hengovek Brenda Wootton & Ben Luxon * *
Bre Gammbronn Hengovek Oll an Gwella * *
Antemna Kaswydh/a> Hengovek Oll an Gwella * *
An Gwythyas Hengovek * *
An Awhesyth Hengovek * *
Adam Hag Eva Hengovek * *
Kernow Ow Dhre Harry Glasson Matthie Clarke *
Wassel Kernow Dee Brotherton Tir Ha Tavas
Kernow Bedroom Choir* *
Warnas Mutations Brian Webb Brian Webb
Ow Avon Splann Brian Webb Brian Webb *
Goslowyn orth Nowodhow Trist Brian Webb Brian Webb
Frutys ha Bleujennow Brian Webb Brian Webb
Farwel genes Wella Brian Webb Brian Webb
An Tir yw dha vro Brian Webb Brian Webb *
Morgan Farwel Alan Molyneaux / Dee Brotherton Tir Ha Tavas - Ragdres Morgannow * *
Avorrow Korolli My A Vynn Hengovek / Steve Penhaligon Keur Heb Hanow * *
Telyn Arthur Esme Francis Esme Francis * *
Ha My Ow Quandra Esme Francis Esme Francis * *
Torrey Canyon Esme Francis * *
Pyu us ow Kelwel? Esme Francis Esme Francis * *
May Nyj An Gullas Gwyn Esme Francis Esme Francis * *
May Cry and Edhen Esme Francis Esme Francis
Kan Gabriel Ordinalia / Merv Davey John Bolitho John Bolitho & Merv Davey - Ordinalia Perran Round 1996 *
Kan Marya Ordinalia / John Page John Bolitho Ordinalia / Merv DAvey John Bolitho *
Porth Enys (hymn tune) by Lorgh Vras Lorgh Vras * *
Eglos Kernow (hymn tune) by G R Sinclair G R Sinclair * *
Kan Dilly – The Dilly Song Hengovek * *
An Vorvoren Senor Julyan Holmes & Penny Knight Quylyn Tew * *
Kevrynyow Keltek Lorna West / John Pengilley John Bolith0 * *
Merv Davey- 29 April 2020
- Merv Davey
- 23 April 2020
- Merv Davey
- 21 April 2020