In this episode, Nina Cnockaert-Guillou talks to Llewelyn Hopwood, a DPhil student at the University of Oxford, about his doctoral research, which focuses on ‘Sound and Control’ in medieval Welsh poetry during the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr period (c. 1300–1600). Llewelyn first explains how he got the idea for such an innovative research project and talks about Celtic Studies in Oxford. He then discusses sound studies and his own research in more detail, and treats us with a few readings from medieval Welsh poems!

This episode was recorded in August 2022.

Host: Nina Cnockaert-Guillou

Guest: Llewelyn Hopwood

Languages: English, with poetry readings in Welsh

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org

Poems, songs and films referenced by Llewelyn:

Dafydd ap Gwilym ‘Trafferth Mewn Tafarn’ ll. 31–46, ed. and trans. Dafydd Johnston

Lewys Glyn Cothi, ‘Marwnad Phelpod ap Rhys’ ll. 1–2, 49–52, ed. Dafydd Johnston, trans. Llewelyn Hopwood

Ieuan ap Rhydderch, ‘Awdl i Fair’ ll. 65–68, ed. R. Iestyn Daniel, trans. Llewelyn Hopwood

Iolo Goch, ‘Dychan i’r Gwyddelyn’ ll. 91, 32, 86, ed. and trans. Dafydd Johnston

For the translations of the above extracts, please visit our blog 

Blackkklansman (2018)

Sorry to bother you (2018)

Alvin Lucier, I Am Sitting in a Room (1969)

Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18, Joia! (2019)

Voicing the Verse / Y Gerdd ar Gân (2010)