"In Shakespeare's time most music - particularly peasant music - was very short."
 --Virgil (quoting myself from the previous page in order to imbue this dissertation with the illusion of scholastic pedantry)

However in the case of Welsh music, the words were more important than the tune. So the tune often needed to wander in some very fanciful directions indeed in order to keep up. But the overall piece of music was usually still far shorter than, say, a trumpet voluntary by Henry Purcell.

Unfortunately for us incomplete folk who speak not the Welsh form of Gaelic (nor any form at all if sad truth be told), the words have been left behind (the most important part, remember - sigh), leaving us to ponder the mysterious twists and turns of some lovely, but very fanciful melodies.

Bishop of Bangor's Jigg
Can y Fron
Gwel Yr Adeilad
Meillionen
Roaring Hornpipe
Welsh Morris Dance