Great Britain
This years British entry celebrates that our island is in fact a Union of four equal members, each with their own culture, language and traditions that must be protected for future generations. This years entry is from the Valleys of Wales with an all male choir performing a classic Welsh hymn, Calon Lan, originally written in 1890 by Welsh poet Daniel James and put to music by Welsh composer John Hughes. The tradition of all male Welsh choirs is a proud Welsh symbol and it is protected by the Welsh Association of Male Choirs, whose patron is the Prince of Wales.
This years entry is sung by 'Only Boys Aloud' and is taken from their 2012 Christmas Album, with the performance below coming from a welsh language television programme in 2014. This version also features a guest Welsh female singer, Elin Fflur.
Calon Lan - Only Boys Aloud
Lyrics
Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur y byd na'i berlau mân:
Gofyn wyf am galon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân. Cytgan:
Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:
Dim ond calon lân all ganu-
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.
Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Hedyn buan ganddo sydd;
Golud calon lân, rinweddol,
Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.
Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Gwyd i'r nef ar edyn cân
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon lân.
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I don't ask for a luxurious life,
the world's gold or its fine pearls:
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.
Chorus:
A pure heart is full of goodness,
More lovely than the pretty lily:
Only a pure heart can sing -
Sing day and night.
If I wished worldly wealth,
He has a swift seed;
The riches of a virtuous, pure heart,
Will be a perpetual profit.
Late and early, my wish
Rise to heavan on the wing of song,
To God, for the sake of my Saviour,
Give me a pure heart.