cerdd

Cerdd is a Welsh term that denotes music or the musical arts. In Welsh-language usage, cerdd is a general reference to music as a discipline and cultural practice, and it forms the basis of several common compounds, such as cerddoriaeth (music) and cerddor (musician). The word sits at the center of both traditional and contemporary Welsh music discourse.

A prominent traditional tradition associated with cerdd is cerdd dant, a form in which poetry is recited with string-based musical accompaniment, historically harp. Cerdd dant is a feature of Welsh bardic culture and the national Eisteddfod movement, and continues today in modern performances that blend historical metres with contemporary instruments.

In modern Wales, cerdd is used by educators, broadcasters, and cultural organizations as an umbrella term for music education and programming. Welsh universities offer courses in cerddoriaeth and related subjects, and arts bodies promote Welsh-language music across genres including classical, folk, and popular music. The term also appears in discussions of Welsh identity and languages in media, reflecting the enduring importance of music in Welsh culture.