AVANC and the Welsh Traditional Music Collection at the National Library of Wales
An important aspect of traditional music is researching and discovering music that has been collected by musicologists of the past. The National Library of Wales holds an extensive collection of manuscripts containing such music, much of which has been digitised. AVANC – the first iteration of our Youth Folk Ensemble of Wales, spent several sessions with Nia Mai Daniel Head of Manuscripts, Visual Images, Maps and Music Unit at NLW exploring their digital archives and many of the tunes found in this incredible resource have made their way into AVANC’s repertoire. We have collated the tunes that AVANC found and presented them here, each melody having been chosen by a member of the project. On this resource page, you will find copies of the tunes in their original manuscripts as well as transcriptions and links to view the digitised archives.
All images of original scores belong to the National Library of Wales and have been reproduced with permission. For more music in the collections of the National Library, click here!
Tramp o Dre
Tramp O Dre was collected by Nicholas Bennett and published in his 1896 collection Alawon Fy Ngwlad (Melodies Of My Land).
Nicholas Bennett (1923-1899), ‘Alawon fy ngwlad - The lays of my land’, 1896.
Malldod Dolgelleu
Malldod Dolgelleu is found in John Jenkins’s (Ifor Ceri) manuscript of 1825, Melus Seiniau Cymru (Sweet Sounds of Wales).
Manuscript of John Jenkins (Ifor Ceri, 1770–1829), Melus-seiniau Cymru (Llsgr. NLW 1940iA)
Dydd Llun Y Boreu
Dydd Llun Y Boreu is found in John Jenkins’s (Ifor Ceri) manuscript of 1825, Melus Seiniau Cymru (Sweet Sounds of Wales).
Manuscript of John Jenkins (Ifor Ceri, 1770–1829), Melus-seiniau Cymru (Llsgr. NLW 1940iA)
Craig Y Ddinas
Craig Y Ddinas is a song collected by Maria Jane Williams and published in her 1844 collection Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morgannwg.
Maria Jane Williams (c.1795 – 1873), ‘Ancient national airs of Gwent and Morganwg being a collection of original Welsh melodies, hitherto unpublished, which obtained the prize at the Eisteddvod held in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Abergavenny Cymreigyddion, October, 1838 : to which are added the words usually sung thereto’, 1844.
Blodeu Gwynedd
Blodeu Gwynedd was published by Edward Jones, Bardd Y Brenin, in his 1802 collection of melodies for the harp, The Bardic Museum.
Edward Jones (Bardd Y Brenin 1752 – 1824), ‘The bardic museum, of primitive British literature; and other admirable rarities forming the second volume of the musical, poetical, and historical relicks of the Welsh bards and druids: … containing, the bardic triads; historic odes; eulogies; songs; elegies; memorials of the tombs of the warriors; of King Arthur and his knights; regalias; the wonders of Wales, et caetera : with English translations and historic illustrations : likewise, the ancient war-tunes of the bards; … to these national melodies are added new basses; with variations’.
Y Galon Cawen
Y Galon Cawen is found in John Jenkins’s manuscript of 1825, Melus Seiniau Cymru (Sweet Sounds of Wales). Jenkins was known by his bardic name Ifor Ceri.
Manuscript of John Jenkins (Ifor Ceri, 1770–1829), Melus-seiniau Cymru (Llsgr. NLW 1940iA)
Torried Y Dydd
Torried Y Dydd is found in John Parry’s (Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon) manuscript of 1741, British Harmony.
John Parry (Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon 1710 – 1782), ‘British harmony being a collection of antient Welsh airs, the traditional remains of those originally sung by the bards of Wales’.
Caer Y Waen
Caer Y Waen is found in John Parry’s (Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon) manuscript of 1741, British Harmony.
John Parry (Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon 1710 – 1782), ‘British harmony being a collection of antient Welsh airs, the traditional remains of those originally sung by the bards of Wales’.
Y Llygad Glâs
Y Llygad Glas was published in the second volume of The Welsh Harper, by John Parry (Bardd Alaw), in 1848.
John Parry (Bardd Alaw 1776 – 1851), ‘The Welsh harper being an extensive collection of Welsh music, comprising most of the contents of the three volumes published by the late Edward Jones : with numerous historical annotations, also several airs from the publications of the late John Parry, of Ruabon, harper to the Wynnstay family, together with many others never before printed : to which are prefixed observations on the character and antiquity of the Welsh music, also an account of the rise and progress of the harp from the earliest period to the present time’.
Ystrad Fflur
Ystrad Fflur is a hymn tune which appears in John Jenkins’s manuscript of 1825, Melus Seiniau Cymru (Sweet Sounds of Wales).
Manuscript of John Jenkins (Ifor Ceri, 1770–1829), Melus-seiniau Cymru (Llsgr. NLW 1940iA)
Morfa Rhuddlan
Morfa Rhuddlan is found in John Parry (Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon) and Evan Williams’ published collection of tunes of 1742, British Harmony.
John Parry (Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon 1710 – 1782), ‘Antient British music or, a collection of tunes, never before published, which are retained by the Cambro-Britons, (more particularly in North-Wales) and supposed, by the learned, to be the remains of the music of the antient druids, so much famed in Roman history Part 1 Containing twenty-four airs, set for the harp, harpsichord, violin, an all within the compass of the German flute; and figured for a thorough-bass. To which is prefixed; an historical account of the rise and progress of music among the antient Britons; wherein the errors of Dr. Powel, and his editor Mr. Wynne, on that subject, in their History of Wales, are pointed out, and confuted; and the whole set in its true and proper light’.
