Canu Rhydd
Canu Rhydd is the fifth studio album by Welsh folk group Fernhill. It was recorded in July 2010 at Dartington College of Arts and released on 1 May 2011 on disgyfrith Records. The album is the first to feature Christine Cooper on fiddle and spoken word, joining Julie Murphy, Ceri Rhys Matthews, and Tomos Williams, who also appeared on the band's live album Na Prádle.
Canu Rhydd means "free poetry" in Welsh and is described as poetry written by the free will of the poet, not constrained by patronage or bardic tradition. The songs are sung in both Welsh and English, and this is Fernhill’s first release on disgyfrith; their earlier albums were on Beautiful Jo Records.
Each track blends different traditional songs, giving new emphasis and context to the originals. The music is seen as focusing on the expression of ordinary Welsh people rather than past aristocratic patronage, drawing on verses and fragments about love, place, birds, forests, and everyday life. The album is described as touching and beautiful. Huw Stephens called it "another wonderful Fernhill album" on BBC Radio 1, and Verity Sharp called it "a very beautiful album" on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:01 (CET).