Robert ap Huw
Encyclopedia
Robert ap Huw was a Welsh
harp
ist and copyist
. He is most notable for compiling a manuscript, now known as the Robert ap Huw manuscript, which is the main extant source of cerdd dant
and is a late medieval collection of harp music. It is one of the most important sources of early Welsh music.
on the island of Anglesey
. The grandson of the poet Sion Brwynog, Robert was related to the Tudors of Penmynydd
. In his later life he moved to Llandegfan
where he became a gentleman farmer. He was an able poet, but was best known as a harpist, having graduated pencerdd (chief musician) by c. 1615.
to survive. The compositions within the manuscript include 31 in tablature
notation which are supplemented by a series of exercises on the 'twenty-four measures' of cerdd dant. The compositions all date from between 1340 and 1500, and have clear associations with the eisteddfod repertory mentioned by Gruffudd ap Cynan.
During the 18th century the manuscript came into the possession of Welsh poet and antiquary Lewis Morris. Morris had the manuscript bound with extra leaves added to the front and back, to which he added his own notes on the antiquities of Welsh music
. Upon Morris' death in 1765 the manuscript passed to his brother Richard, who at one stage leant the work to the noted Welsh harpist John Parry
. The manuscript eventually found itself in the ownership of the London Welsh School, whose Governors presented it to the British Museum
in 1844.
The manuscript continues to be held by the British Museum, and is designated B. M. Additional Ms. 14905. It is recognised as one of the key sources of early Welsh music.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist and copyist
Copyist
A copyist is a person who makes written copies. In ancient times, a scrivener was also called a calligraphus . The term's modern use is almost entirely confined to music copyists, who are employed by the music industry to produce neat copies from a composer or arranger's manuscript.-Music...
. He is most notable for compiling a manuscript, now known as the Robert ap Huw manuscript, which is the main extant source of cerdd dant
Cerdd dant
Cerdd Dant or Canu Penillion is the art of vocal improvisation over a given melody in Welsh musical tradition. It is an important competition in eisteddfodau. The singer or choir sings a counter melody over a harp melody.Cerdd Dant is a unique tradition of singing lyrics over a harp accompaniment...
and is a late medieval collection of harp music. It is one of the most important sources of early Welsh music.
Life history
Robert ap Huw was born circa 1580, growing up in the settlement of LlanddeusantLlanddeusant
Llanddeusant may refer to:*Llanddeusant, Anglesey, North Wales*Llanddeusant, Carmarthenshire, West Wales...
on the island of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
. The grandson of the poet Sion Brwynog, Robert was related to the Tudors of Penmynydd
Penmynydd
Penmynydd is a village on Anglesey situated on a slight hill on the B5420 road between Menai Bridge and Llangefni, at...
. In his later life he moved to Llandegfan
Llandegfan
Llandegfan is a village on the south of Anglesey, North Wales.The original village Hen Llandegfan was on the ancient way from the crossing of the Menai Strait at Porthaethwy via Pentraeth to Beaumaris...
where he became a gentleman farmer. He was an able poet, but was best known as a harpist, having graduated pencerdd (chief musician) by c. 1615.
The Robert ap Huw Manuscript
Around 1613, Robert ap Huw compiled a retrospective manuscript of harp music, the only reliable source of cerdd dantCerdd dant
Cerdd Dant or Canu Penillion is the art of vocal improvisation over a given melody in Welsh musical tradition. It is an important competition in eisteddfodau. The singer or choir sings a counter melody over a harp melody.Cerdd Dant is a unique tradition of singing lyrics over a harp accompaniment...
to survive. The compositions within the manuscript include 31 in tablature
Tablature
Tablature is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches....
notation which are supplemented by a series of exercises on the 'twenty-four measures' of cerdd dant. The compositions all date from between 1340 and 1500, and have clear associations with the eisteddfod repertory mentioned by Gruffudd ap Cynan.
During the 18th century the manuscript came into the possession of Welsh poet and antiquary Lewis Morris. Morris had the manuscript bound with extra leaves added to the front and back, to which he added his own notes on the antiquities of Welsh music
Music of Wales
Wales has a strong and distinctive link with music. The country is traditionally referred to as "the land of song". This is a modern stereotype based on 19th century conceptions of Nonconformist choral music and 20th century male voice choirs, Eisteddfodau and arena singing, such as sporting...
. Upon Morris' death in 1765 the manuscript passed to his brother Richard, who at one stage leant the work to the noted Welsh harpist John Parry
John Parry Ddall
John Parry , known as Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon was born in the Llŷn Peninsula, Caernarfonshire, now Gwynedd, in Wales, and was blind from birth....
. The manuscript eventually found itself in the ownership of the London Welsh School, whose Governors presented it to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in 1844.
The manuscript continues to be held by the British Museum, and is designated B. M. Additional Ms. 14905. It is recognised as one of the key sources of early Welsh music.