THE WELSH BARDS

...the alliterative patterns original: "concatenations" of the language; to avoid all errors; and to sing twenty-one of the meters with harmony and in parts.

To the Pencerd original: "Pencerd," a Doctor of Poetry or Chief Singer, or Doctor of Poetry, who obtained his degree at the end of the same period, belonged the entire mystery of the art. He knew how to sing in parts and harmony and was well-versed in complex transposed alliteration. Among his qualifications were creativity in choosing poetic subjects, a wealth of knowledge and invention, the authority to make artistic decisions, and a talent for composing praises for the nobility that would be delightful to hear or read and long remembered.

If a Disgybl a disciple or student of any degree was caught in taverns or secret places gambling for money with dice or any other game, anyone was authorized to take whatever money was found in his purse. For mockery, insults, or the invention and spreading of lies, the Disgyblion the plural of Disgybl were also punished with fines and imprisonment. For, says the law, the Bards shall be well-behaved and peaceful in their manners, friendly in their disposition, and humble in their service to the prince and his followers.

Only those Bards who had earned the degree of Pencerd were authorized to teach, and no more than a single pupil was allowed for each Pencerd. The pupils were expressly ordered to refrain from mocking their teachers for the "absent-mindedness" or inattention that is natural to a contemplative mind. But the most valued privilege of the Eisteddfod a traditional Welsh festival and competition for bards and musicians was the exclusive right to the "chair." All those who aspired to the honor of presiding over the Bards came forward (as the statute prescribes) at the triennial assembly to compete with each other and with the Chief Bard who already held the position. The successful candidate was seated in a magnificent chair and was thereafter called the Bardd Cadeiriog, or "Chair-Bard." At the same time, he was presented with a small silver or gold chair, which he wore on his chest as the badge of his office. As his rank was high, his earnings original: "emoluments" were considerable. These came from the Disgyblion when they finished using the horsehair-strung harp and were admitted to professional practice; from brides at their weddings; and from the marriage fines of the daughters of all the Bards within his jurisdiction. Additionally, his own daughter received a marriage portion from the prince.

Whoever desired to advance to degrees in music was presented to the Eisteddfod by a musical Pencerd who vouched for his ability. During his three-year apprenticeship original: "noviciate", he was called a Disgybl Yspás hebrádd, a probationary student of music without a degree. If he learned to play the harp, he was only allowed to use an instrument strung with horsehair—likely so that his clumsy attempts at harmony would not torment the ears of the masters, and to motivate him to study harder in hopes of eventually playing a harp with more resonant and pleasing strings.

His next step was the degree of Disgybl Yspás graddol, a graduated probationary student of music. For this, he was required to know ten cwlums musical pieces or themes, one colofn a major musical composition, literally a "column", five cwlums of cydgerdd ensemble or accompanied music, one cadair a masterwork piece, literally a "chair", and eight caniads songs or tunes.

He then became a Disgyblaidd, or Bachelor of Music, but was first required to master twenty cwlums, two colofns, ten cwlums of cydgerdd, two cadaïrs, sixteen caniads, and the twenty-four measures of music, and to play them with ease and accuracy.

He next became a Pencerdiaidd, or Master of Music, a degree which required a preparatory knowledge of thirty cwlums, three colofns, fifteen cwlums of cydgerdd, three cadaïrs, twenty-four caniads, and four goftlegs a specific type of complex musical composition, as well as the skill to define them properly and distinctly.

Lastly, he was admitted as a Pencerd, or Doctor of Music. He was obliged to know forty cwlums, four colofns, twenty cwlums of cydgerdd, four cadaïrs, thirty-two caniads, and four goftlegs. He had to understand all the laws and variations of harmony, especially the twenty-four Measures of Music, and explain them as they were written in the book of musical theory. He had to compose a caniad judged flawless by the expert Bards and demonstrate all its properties: its divisions, subdivisions, rests, natural notes, flats, sharps, and every change of movement through the various keys. If the Pencerd was a harper, he was required to know the three "excellent Meichiau" advanced musical pieces or technical standards, which were equal to the four cadaïrs, and the three "new Meichiau." He had to know and perform all of this in a masterly way, so that the professors would declare him competent to be a composer original: "author" and a teacher of his art.

The Eisteddfod was a strict school. A poetic or musical student who, at the end of his three-year term, could not earn a higher degree, was condemned to lose the degree he already held.

We know that before the time of Gruffudd ap Cynan, the musical Bards were secondary to the Chief Bard of the Poets.

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• This manuscript, called Llyfr Dosparth The Book of Classification, no longer exists.

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