Bragodi, a medieval Welsh word denoting the mingling of flats and naturals to create the scales and modes of medieval Welsh music. Bragod was a drink of mingled liquids e.g. ale and mead or the wine and water of the sacrament.
Bragod is a musical collaboration between Welsh instrumentalist Robert Evans and a Trinidadian singer Mary-Anne Roberts. They are unique in interpreting Welsh music and poetry from the 6th century to the 19th century, using original instruments and sources. They play the strummed, six-stringed lyre of North-Western Europe and the crwth, a six-stringed bowed lyre, esteemed in Wales for 800 years.
In their vital performances they dance the formal structures of the music, singing Welsh poetry ranging from stanzas of the Gododdin (6th century) to ritual and popular songs of the 18th and 19th century. Bragod also makes settings of modern poems. They play and sing in Pythagorean tuning.
The duo’s key to Welsh medieval music is the Robert ap Huw Manuscript. Robert Evans is responsible for the revival of the crwth as a viable historical instrument. Mary-Anne Roberts has evolved a striking voice production which combines with the close harmonies and the buzzing tone of the crwth. They have given recitals and lecture/recitals at concert venues and academic conferences in Wales and internationally, and are often called upon to provide ritual music by their local community. Bragod has presented material to infants, school children, and formally, to university students. They have been featured on Welsh television and radio stations and the BBC World Service.
Their first CD – ‘Bragod’ (2001) the first CD of Welsh crwth music, and their later CD – ‘Kaingk’ (2004), are played regularly on Late Junction, BBC Radio 3 and Radio Tre Italia. They have made live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3. Their second CD – ‘Kaingk’ has two discs, video on two tracks and a lavish booklet and may be bought by clicking on this link.