traditional welsh flute - ioan rhagfyr
last year llio rhydderch gave me a photocopy of a manuscript she had been looking at from the library of the university of wales, bangor (Llsg 2299). it contains nine tunes composed by the self styled ioan rhagfyr, or the more anonymous sounding john williams as he was christened, 'perthynol i'r german flute scale' (appertaining to the german flute scale) and a hornpipe by one thomas davies. here is ioan's entry in y bywgraffiadur cymreig.
WILLIAMS, JOHN (‘Ioan Rhagfyr ’; 1740-1821); g. 26 Rhagfyr 1740, yn Hafoty Bach, plwyf Celynnin, Meirionnydd, mab William Robert Williams, a'i fam yn berthynas i Edward Samuel, Llangar [q.v.]. Symudodd y teulu i fyw i Dalywaen, ger Dolgellau. Gwneuthurwr hetiau brethyn ydoedd y tad, a dysgodd y mab y grefft. Arferai masnachwyr gwlân o Amwythig letya yn Nhalywaen, a thynnwyd eu sylw at ddawn John Williams i ddysgu, a thalasant am dri mis o addysg iddo yn Amwythig. Cafodd wersi mewn cerddoriaeth, a dysgodd ganu'r trwmped a'r ffliwt. Wedi dychwelyd gartref dechreuodd gyfansoddi cerddoniaeth a barddoniaeth. Yn 1763 priododd â Jane, merch William Jones, Bryn Rhyg, Dolgellau. Yn 1772 rhoddodd ei grefft i fyny ac aeth yn glerc at Edward Anwyl, cyfreithiwr, ac wedi hynny bu'n cadw ysgolion yn Nhrawsfynydd, Abermaw, Dolgellau, a Llanelltyd. Efe oedd cerddor enwocaf ei gyfnod, a chyfansoddodd lawer iawn o gerddoriaeth offerynnol, anthemau, a thonau. Bu rhai o'i anthemau yn boblogaidd am amser hir, a cheir ei donau ‘Sabath,’ ‘Cemaes,’ a ‘Dyfroedd Siloah’ yn ein casgliadau tonau. Ceir ei ddarnau offerynnol — yr ymdeithganau, gavottes, a minuets — yn Y Cerddor Cymreig (‘Ieuan Gwyllt’). Yn llyfr Ffoulk Robert Williams (‘Eos Llyfnwy’ [q.v.]) ‘Cerddoriaeth o Gerddi Seion’ mewn llawysgrif sydd yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol ceir 59 o donau a 21 o anthemau o waith John Williams. Bu f. 11 Mawrth 1821 a chladdwyd ef ym mynwent Llanfair Bryn Meurig.
Llyfryddiaeth:
Ser. G., Mai 1822;
Y Cerddor, Chwefror 1889;
M. O. Jones, Byw. Cerdd. Cymr.;
Em. W.;
Enw. F.;
Y Gwyddoniadur;
J.T.J., ii, 645-6.
Awdur:
Robert David Griffith, M.A., (1877-1958), Hen Golwyn
Atodiadau a chywiriadau:
WILLIAMS, JOHN (‘Ioan Rhagfyr ’; Bywg., 985) Sylwer mai yn Ser. G., Mai 1822 (nid ‘Ser. Cym.’) y ceir ei hanes.
and in english
WILLIAMS, JOHN (Ioan Rhagfyr ; 1740-1821), musician; b. 26 Dec. 1740 at Hafoty Bach, parish of Celynnin, Mer., the son of William Robert Williams and his wife, who was related to Edward Samuel, Llangar (q.v.). The family moved to Tal-y-waun, near Dolgelley. The son learned his father's craft — that of making cloth hats. Wool merchants from Shrewsbury used to lodge at Tal-y-waun and some of these, after observing that John Williams had a gift for teaching, paid for three months' schooling for him at Shrewsbury; he also received lessons in playing the trumpet and the flute. After returning from Shrewsbury he began to write music and poetry. In 1763 he m. Jane, daughter of William Jones, Bryn Rhyg, Dolgelley. He relinquished the craft of hat-making in 1772 to become a clerk to Edward Anwyl, solicitor, Dolgelley; he afterwards kept schools at Trawsfynydd, Barmouth, Dolgelley, and Llan-elltyd. John Williams was probably the most prominent musician of his time in Wales. Anthems which he wrote remained popular for a long time, his hymn-tunes ‘Sabath,’ ‘Cemaes,’ and ‘Dyfroedd Siloah’ are found in many collections, whilst instrumental pieces by him (marches, gavottes, and minuets) were published in Y Cerddor Cymreig (Ieuan Gwyllt). In Foulk Robert Williams (Eos Llyfnwy, q.v.), ‘Cerddoriaeth o Gerddi Seion’ (in manuscript form in N.L.W.) are preserved fifty-nine hymn-tunes and twenty-one anthems by him. He d. 11 March 1821, and was buried in Dolgelley parish churchyard.
the hand in the ms is fluid and beautiful and similar to the hand of the many fiddlers' tune books that peppered england, wales, scotland and ireland during the period. the notes by llio point out that the ms was owned by his brother robert and that the tunes were collected by a third brother, ythyr. it dates from 1767, making this a particularly early ms of welsh flute music in particular, and flute music in general in the british isles, outside of a military or courtly context. folk music in fact.
it may be slightly predated by the 'aria de camera per flauto solo' published in london in 1735, but the printers, daniel wright snr and jnr, if not exactly crooks were nothing if not unscrupulous and were certainly cashing in on a) fancy modern italian fashions and b) the new vogue for all things 'celtic', in this hotch potch of italianate celtica featuring all the usual suspects; fanny dillon by carrolan, moggy lauther, meillionnen etc. and it has to be said that the contributors' (three flute players playing their new national airs) names are somewhat suspect; mr alex. urquahart of edinburgh, mr derm.t o'connar of limerick and mr hugh edwards of carmarthen, are all in all only slightly more believable than jock mactavish, paddy o' riley, and taffy jones. ioan rhagfyr is the real deal, though. nontheless being compositions, the tunes reflect to no small degree the italian atmosphere also.
they are also nearly contemporary to the tunes collected by flute player edward williams (iolo morganwg) of glamorganshire, but although iolo's tunes are beautiful to play on the instrument, the tunes he collected are not specificaly flute repertoire. it does indicate however quite a fashion for the (presumably) now easy to aquire instrument in wales. iolo's tunes - unlike hugh edwards and ioan rhagfyr however, not only sound far from italianate but reflect iolo's highly developed critical sense of the native esthetic, an esthetic he romantically ascribed to the ordinary folk of south wales, deriding the pompous baroque music of north wales as exemplified by edward (humstrum) jones the harper. iolo could hold a grudge longer and deeper than most and the king's harper had particularly irritated iolo. ioan's tunes would certainly not have incurred the gwentian wrath.
here is an abc transcription i made last year. i have copied the music faithfully as pricked down in the ms and any musical corrections i leave to those who know better. i love the rhythms these transcriptions give to the minuets particularly. correct at your peril.
X:1
T:Gavot by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Gavot
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
f2a2^g2b2|afge dcBA|f2a2^g2b2|gfge d4:|
d'2b2=c'2a2|bgaf edea|d'2b2c'2a2|fba^ga4|
f2a2^g2b2|afge dcBA|f2a2^g2b2|gfge d4:|
X:2
T:Air by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgelleu c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by llio Rhydderch.
R:Air
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
a4b2|a2gfed|Ag/a/bgda|Gf/g/afeg|Fe/f/gedf|
Gg/e/dcBA|a4b2|a2gfed|Ag/a/bgda|Gf/g/afeg|
Fe/f/geAc|d2AFD2:|
dcdgaf|ecefge|dcdfed|edcBA2|
FaGbAd'|b2c'2d'2|ab c'2>b|a4>"DC"||
X:3
T:Dolgelley Minuet by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Minuet
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
dfa2g2|ceg2f2|dfgf ed|cdec A2|
dfa2g2|ceg2f2|egfedc|d4>:|
fad'2b2|egb2a2|fad'c'ba|g2fge2|
fad'2b2|egb2a2|fba2g2|a4|dfa2g2|
ceg2f2|dfafed|cdec A2|dfa2g2|
ceg2f2|eg fe dc|d4>:|
dfafed|cegedc|dfafed|cdec A2|
dfafed|cegedc|egfedc|d2A2D2:|
fad'c'ba|egbage|fad'c'ba|g2fge2|
fad'c'ba|egbage|fbagf^g|a4|
dfafed|cegedc|dfafed|cdec A2|
dfafed|cegedc|egfedc|d2A2D2:|
(3def (3agf (3fed|(3cde (3gfe (3edc|(3def (3bgf (3fed|(3cde (3edc A2|
(3def (3agf (3fed|(3cde (3gfe (3edc|(3efg (3fed (3edc|d2A2D2:|
X:4
T:Air by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Air
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
B^ABc dcde|fefg f2>a|b^abc' bfgf|e2d2cedc|
B^ABc dcde|fefg f2>a|bfgf edcB|A2^G2F2>:|
c|cde fefg|f2d'2^a2b2|fbbb eaaa|dggg fedc|
B^ABc dcde|fefg f2>a|gfdc BdcB|F2^A2B2:||
X:5
T:A Hornpipe by Thomas Davies
C:Thomas Davies
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Hornpipe
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
d2AAd2A2|defga2gf|gbag f2ed|edcBA4|
d2AAd2A2|defga2gf|gbag f2ed|A2c2d4:|
gbgg f2dc|gabc' d'2c'b|a^gaba2gf|edef e4|
d2AAd2A2|defga2gf|gbagf2ed|A2c2d4:|
X:6
T:Bugeiliaid oed(d) yn gwylio
C:John Williams
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Hornpipe
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:A
A4D2E2|A2D2GAB2|A4|
"solo"(FGAF)G2FG|
W:Ha le liw ia
(F2E2)D4|F4G2A2|B2A2G2F2|E4|
"solo"(F>GAD)G2FG|
W:Ha le liw ia
(F2E2)D4|d4c2d2|e2A2d2e2|"ed"d4|
"solo"c>deAd2cd|
W:Ha le liw ia
(d2c2)A4|A4ABcA|d2F2G>AB2|A4|
dcdABcde|
W:Ha le liw ia
(d2c2)(d4|d8)
X:7
T:Nannau Minuet by John Williams
T:Illtyd Minuet
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Minuet
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|fdgedc|d2A2G2|
FAdfed|Acegfe|Bdfagf|e2dcBA|
d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|fdgedc|d2A2G2|
FA dcdB|Acedec|Agfedc|d4>:|
A4de/f/|e2d2c2|d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|
f4bc'/d'/|c'2b2a2|gfedcB|A4>|
d4fe/d/|cdAcB^d|e4gf/e/|dfBdce|
f4ag/f/|eg^cedf|efgefd|e2dcBA|
d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|fdgedc|d2A2G2|
FA dcdB|Acedec|Agfedc|d4>||
X:8
T:Gavot by John Williams (9)
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Gavot
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
d2fde2ag|fdBdc2Bc|dAfd ecaf|gbBe dcBA|
d2fde2ag|fdBdc2Bc|dfaf dBag|FdEcd4:|
f2afg2eg|fdafe2dc|dfafdfed|c2B>AA4|
fdafgbeg|ecgefadf|gbd'bafed|AaG^ga4"DC"||
X:9
T:Hengwrt (?) Minuet
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Minuet
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N: Enw'r darn yn aneglur yn y llsg.
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:G
g2g2g2|(gab) d4|(efg) dBcA|(Bcd) G4|
B2c2d2|ecfdge|fdbgd'b|adefga|
(bd'b) (ac'a) (gbg)|a2g2f2|(bd'b) (ac'a) (gbg)|a2g2fd'|(bag) f2 e2|d4>:||
d2d2(de=f)|edcBAa|e2e2(efg)|fgdcBb|
f2f2(fga)|gfedcc'|bgd'baf|gec'abg|
afd'bca|bgcbag|fgadef|(gbg) (faf) (ege)|
d2c2B2|(gbg) (faf) (ege)|d2c2Bg|(edc)B2A2|G4||
X:10
T:Cynedda M.C.C
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:G
d4|B4A4|G4c4|A4A4|G4d4|
B4c4|d4d4|^c8|d4||
B4|d4d4|d4B4|c4B4|
A4A4|G4A4|B4c4|A8|G4||
llio recorded nannau minuet on her first cd called telyn.
nannau farm (the farm associated with the nannau minuet, also called the illtyd minuet in the ms, incidentaly) is the farm next door to one of the young students i worked with in the project described below. she informed me of this with great excitement, realising the closeness of the relationship between the tune and her own life.
on a tangent, i was told after a recent gig at ty siamas with the group i play in, fernhill, by a member of the audience afterwards that nannau farm is also associated with the great oak, the king of the trees, y brenhinbren as described in the traditional penillion verses below, inasmuch as a table that was fashioned from the great trunk was housed at nannau farm and the locals of my generation when they were young were taken on school trips to sit at the mighty table and marvel at its magnificent girth. here are the words as written down by me from memory and in my morgannwg, rather than the original meirionydd welsh.
ma llawer pen bencyn o'r dinas i benllyn
a dolydd i'w dilyn hyd lawr dyffryn clwyd
er garwed yw'r creigie sy o gwmpas dolgelle
gerwinach nag unlle yw'r ganllwyd
brenhinbren y ganllwyd oedd dirion a dorrwyd
mewn barieth fe'i bwrwyd o'r aelwyd lle'r odd
fe dyfodd yn gapten - ni fishodd un fesen
yn nolydd glyn eden glan ydoedd
yr odd yn bren gwrol a'i fodde'n rhyfeddol
a phawb yn ei ganmol o bobol y byd
a'r hen dade dywiol - rhai doethion odiaethol
a gadwodd yn fywiol ei fywyd
er claddu'r brenhinbren dan gwys y ddaearen
cynyddws un fesen yn gangen deg wych
ar hon y tyf gwyrdd-ddail - bydd mynych ei manddail
ma'r gwraidd mewn hen adfail hynodwych
later in the year, i will be starting an exciting project based in ty siamas, the national centre for welsh folk music, and the primary school in dolgellau. a pilot project has already taken place with the young students to considerable success. nearly eighty young people each built and began to learn to play their own flute alongside myself and john glennydd. the new project is a continuation of this work and involves a deeper, broader and slower aquaintance with the musical inheritance exemplified by ioan rhagfyr in particular and flute music and dance music in general.
we'll be learning to play tunes!
there will be individual tuition for the students at ty siamas during the schooltime afternoon and similar tuition for anyone else from about four pm till eight. there then follows a session till closing time.
ty siamas show commitment and vision for co-ordinating this project. the project is named in commemoration of one of the earliest flute players known in that area, sesiwn ioan rhagfyr
below follows their press and also dates of the upcoming sessions. please contact them for more info or to book a session
Tŷ Siamas, Eldon Sq, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 1PU Phone: 01341421800
Sesiwn Ioan Rhagfyr
Lleoliad: Ty Siamas
7.30yh Sesiwn Anffurfiol yn y bar o dan arweiniad Ceri Rhys Matthews. O'r Hydref ymlaen bydd Ceri yn dod i Dy Siamas i gynnig gwersi ar y ffliwt i blant yr ardal. Bydd hefyd cyfle i oedolion ddechrau canu'r bib, y ffliwt neu'r pibau dan arweiniad Ceri cyn i weithgareddau'r diwrnod ddod i ben mewn sesiwn anffurfiol yn y bar. Mae croeso cynnes i bawb ymuno yn y sesiwn hon. Os oes gennych ddiddordeb yn y gwersi yna cysylltwch a Ty Siamas.
Location: Ty Siamas
7.30pm An informal session in the bar led by Ceri Rhys Matthews. From October Ceri will visit Ty Siamas every fortnight offering tuition to local children. There will also be the opportunity for adults to have lessons on the whistle, flute or pipes. The days's activities will culminate in an informal session in the Ty Siamas bar. Everyone is welcome to join in the lessons please contact Ty Siamas.
02/10/2007
16/10/2007
30/10/2007
13/11/2007
WILLIAMS, JOHN (‘Ioan Rhagfyr ’; 1740-1821); g. 26 Rhagfyr 1740, yn Hafoty Bach, plwyf Celynnin, Meirionnydd, mab William Robert Williams, a'i fam yn berthynas i Edward Samuel, Llangar [q.v.]. Symudodd y teulu i fyw i Dalywaen, ger Dolgellau. Gwneuthurwr hetiau brethyn ydoedd y tad, a dysgodd y mab y grefft. Arferai masnachwyr gwlân o Amwythig letya yn Nhalywaen, a thynnwyd eu sylw at ddawn John Williams i ddysgu, a thalasant am dri mis o addysg iddo yn Amwythig. Cafodd wersi mewn cerddoriaeth, a dysgodd ganu'r trwmped a'r ffliwt. Wedi dychwelyd gartref dechreuodd gyfansoddi cerddoniaeth a barddoniaeth. Yn 1763 priododd â Jane, merch William Jones, Bryn Rhyg, Dolgellau. Yn 1772 rhoddodd ei grefft i fyny ac aeth yn glerc at Edward Anwyl, cyfreithiwr, ac wedi hynny bu'n cadw ysgolion yn Nhrawsfynydd, Abermaw, Dolgellau, a Llanelltyd. Efe oedd cerddor enwocaf ei gyfnod, a chyfansoddodd lawer iawn o gerddoriaeth offerynnol, anthemau, a thonau. Bu rhai o'i anthemau yn boblogaidd am amser hir, a cheir ei donau ‘Sabath,’ ‘Cemaes,’ a ‘Dyfroedd Siloah’ yn ein casgliadau tonau. Ceir ei ddarnau offerynnol — yr ymdeithganau, gavottes, a minuets — yn Y Cerddor Cymreig (‘Ieuan Gwyllt’). Yn llyfr Ffoulk Robert Williams (‘Eos Llyfnwy’ [q.v.]) ‘Cerddoriaeth o Gerddi Seion’ mewn llawysgrif sydd yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol ceir 59 o donau a 21 o anthemau o waith John Williams. Bu f. 11 Mawrth 1821 a chladdwyd ef ym mynwent Llanfair Bryn Meurig.
Llyfryddiaeth:
Ser. G., Mai 1822;
Y Cerddor, Chwefror 1889;
M. O. Jones, Byw. Cerdd. Cymr.;
Em. W.;
Enw. F.;
Y Gwyddoniadur;
J.T.J., ii, 645-6.
Awdur:
Robert David Griffith, M.A., (1877-1958), Hen Golwyn
Atodiadau a chywiriadau:
WILLIAMS, JOHN (‘Ioan Rhagfyr ’; Bywg., 985) Sylwer mai yn Ser. G., Mai 1822 (nid ‘Ser. Cym.’) y ceir ei hanes.
and in english
WILLIAMS, JOHN (Ioan Rhagfyr ; 1740-1821), musician; b. 26 Dec. 1740 at Hafoty Bach, parish of Celynnin, Mer., the son of William Robert Williams and his wife, who was related to Edward Samuel, Llangar (q.v.). The family moved to Tal-y-waun, near Dolgelley. The son learned his father's craft — that of making cloth hats. Wool merchants from Shrewsbury used to lodge at Tal-y-waun and some of these, after observing that John Williams had a gift for teaching, paid for three months' schooling for him at Shrewsbury; he also received lessons in playing the trumpet and the flute. After returning from Shrewsbury he began to write music and poetry. In 1763 he m. Jane, daughter of William Jones, Bryn Rhyg, Dolgelley. He relinquished the craft of hat-making in 1772 to become a clerk to Edward Anwyl, solicitor, Dolgelley; he afterwards kept schools at Trawsfynydd, Barmouth, Dolgelley, and Llan-elltyd. John Williams was probably the most prominent musician of his time in Wales. Anthems which he wrote remained popular for a long time, his hymn-tunes ‘Sabath,’ ‘Cemaes,’ and ‘Dyfroedd Siloah’ are found in many collections, whilst instrumental pieces by him (marches, gavottes, and minuets) were published in Y Cerddor Cymreig (Ieuan Gwyllt). In Foulk Robert Williams (Eos Llyfnwy, q.v.), ‘Cerddoriaeth o Gerddi Seion’ (in manuscript form in N.L.W.) are preserved fifty-nine hymn-tunes and twenty-one anthems by him. He d. 11 March 1821, and was buried in Dolgelley parish churchyard.
the hand in the ms is fluid and beautiful and similar to the hand of the many fiddlers' tune books that peppered england, wales, scotland and ireland during the period. the notes by llio point out that the ms was owned by his brother robert and that the tunes were collected by a third brother, ythyr. it dates from 1767, making this a particularly early ms of welsh flute music in particular, and flute music in general in the british isles, outside of a military or courtly context. folk music in fact.
it may be slightly predated by the 'aria de camera per flauto solo' published in london in 1735, but the printers, daniel wright snr and jnr, if not exactly crooks were nothing if not unscrupulous and were certainly cashing in on a) fancy modern italian fashions and b) the new vogue for all things 'celtic', in this hotch potch of italianate celtica featuring all the usual suspects; fanny dillon by carrolan, moggy lauther, meillionnen etc. and it has to be said that the contributors' (three flute players playing their new national airs) names are somewhat suspect; mr alex. urquahart of edinburgh, mr derm.t o'connar of limerick and mr hugh edwards of carmarthen, are all in all only slightly more believable than jock mactavish, paddy o' riley, and taffy jones. ioan rhagfyr is the real deal, though. nontheless being compositions, the tunes reflect to no small degree the italian atmosphere also.
they are also nearly contemporary to the tunes collected by flute player edward williams (iolo morganwg) of glamorganshire, but although iolo's tunes are beautiful to play on the instrument, the tunes he collected are not specificaly flute repertoire. it does indicate however quite a fashion for the (presumably) now easy to aquire instrument in wales. iolo's tunes - unlike hugh edwards and ioan rhagfyr however, not only sound far from italianate but reflect iolo's highly developed critical sense of the native esthetic, an esthetic he romantically ascribed to the ordinary folk of south wales, deriding the pompous baroque music of north wales as exemplified by edward (humstrum) jones the harper. iolo could hold a grudge longer and deeper than most and the king's harper had particularly irritated iolo. ioan's tunes would certainly not have incurred the gwentian wrath.
here is an abc transcription i made last year. i have copied the music faithfully as pricked down in the ms and any musical corrections i leave to those who know better. i love the rhythms these transcriptions give to the minuets particularly. correct at your peril.
X:1
T:Gavot by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Gavot
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
f2a2^g2b2|afge dcBA|f2a2^g2b2|gfge d4:|
d'2b2=c'2a2|bgaf edea|d'2b2c'2a2|fba^ga4|
f2a2^g2b2|afge dcBA|f2a2^g2b2|gfge d4:|
X:2
T:Air by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgelleu c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by llio Rhydderch.
R:Air
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
a4b2|a2gfed|Ag/a/bgda|Gf/g/afeg|Fe/f/gedf|
Gg/e/dcBA|a4b2|a2gfed|Ag/a/bgda|Gf/g/afeg|
Fe/f/geAc|d2AFD2:|
dcdgaf|ecefge|dcdfed|edcBA2|
FaGbAd'|b2c'2d'2|ab c'2>b|a4>"DC"||
X:3
T:Dolgelley Minuet by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Minuet
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
dfa2g2|ceg2f2|dfgf ed|cdec A2|
dfa2g2|ceg2f2|egfedc|d4>:|
fad'2b2|egb2a2|fad'c'ba|g2fge2|
fad'2b2|egb2a2|fba2g2|a4|dfa2g2|
ceg2f2|dfafed|cdec A2|dfa2g2|
ceg2f2|eg fe dc|d4>:|
dfafed|cegedc|dfafed|cdec A2|
dfafed|cegedc|egfedc|d2A2D2:|
fad'c'ba|egbage|fad'c'ba|g2fge2|
fad'c'ba|egbage|fbagf^g|a4|
dfafed|cegedc|dfafed|cdec A2|
dfafed|cegedc|egfedc|d2A2D2:|
(3def (3agf (3fed|(3cde (3gfe (3edc|(3def (3bgf (3fed|(3cde (3edc A2|
(3def (3agf (3fed|(3cde (3gfe (3edc|(3efg (3fed (3edc|d2A2D2:|
X:4
T:Air by John Williams
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Air
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
B^ABc dcde|fefg f2>a|b^abc' bfgf|e2d2cedc|
B^ABc dcde|fefg f2>a|bfgf edcB|A2^G2F2>:|
c|cde fefg|f2d'2^a2b2|fbbb eaaa|dggg fedc|
B^ABc dcde|fefg f2>a|gfdc BdcB|F2^A2B2:||
X:5
T:A Hornpipe by Thomas Davies
C:Thomas Davies
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Hornpipe
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
d2AAd2A2|defga2gf|gbag f2ed|edcBA4|
d2AAd2A2|defga2gf|gbag f2ed|A2c2d4:|
gbgg f2dc|gabc' d'2c'b|a^gaba2gf|edef e4|
d2AAd2A2|defga2gf|gbagf2ed|A2c2d4:|
X:6
T:Bugeiliaid oed(d) yn gwylio
C:John Williams
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Hornpipe
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:A
A4D2E2|A2D2GAB2|A4|
"solo"(FGAF)G2FG|
W:Ha le liw ia
(F2E2)D4|F4G2A2|B2A2G2F2|E4|
"solo"(F>GAD)G2FG|
W:Ha le liw ia
(F2E2)D4|d4c2d2|e2A2d2e2|"ed"d4|
"solo"c>deAd2cd|
W:Ha le liw ia
(d2c2)A4|A4ABcA|d2F2G>AB2|A4|
dcdABcde|
W:Ha le liw ia
(d2c2)(d4|d8)
X:7
T:Nannau Minuet by John Williams
T:Illtyd Minuet
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Minuet
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|fdgedc|d2A2G2|
FAdfed|Acegfe|Bdfagf|e2dcBA|
d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|fdgedc|d2A2G2|
FA dcdB|Acedec|Agfedc|d4>:|
A4de/f/|e2d2c2|d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|
f4bc'/d'/|c'2b2a2|gfedcB|A4>|
d4fe/d/|cdAcB^d|e4gf/e/|dfBdce|
f4ag/f/|eg^cedf|efgefd|e2dcBA|
d4fg/a/|g2f2e2|fdgedc|d2A2G2|
FA dcdB|Acedec|Agfedc|d4>||
X:8
T:Gavot by John Williams (9)
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Gavot
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:D
d2fde2ag|fdBdc2Bc|dAfd ecaf|gbBe dcBA|
d2fde2ag|fdBdc2Bc|dfaf dBag|FdEcd4:|
f2afg2eg|fdafe2dc|dfafdfed|c2B>AA4|
fdafgbeg|ecgefadf|gbd'bafed|AaG^ga4"DC"||
X:9
T:Hengwrt (?) Minuet
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
R:Minuet
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N: Enw'r darn yn aneglur yn y llsg.
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:G
g2g2g2|(gab) d4|(efg) dBcA|(Bcd) G4|
B2c2d2|ecfdge|fdbgd'b|adefga|
(bd'b) (ac'a) (gbg)|a2g2f2|(bd'b) (ac'a) (gbg)|a2g2fd'|(bag) f2 e2|d4>:||
d2d2(de=f)|edcBAa|e2e2(efg)|fgdcBb|
f2f2(fga)|gfedcc'|bgd'baf|gec'abg|
afd'bca|bgcbag|fgadef|(gbg) (faf) (ege)|
d2c2B2|(gbg) (faf) (ege)|d2c2Bg|(edc)B2A2|G4||
X:10
T:Cynedda M.C.C
C:Ioan Rhagfyr (John Williams)
M:C
L:1/8
Q:200
S:Ioan Rhagfyr, Robert Williams (John Williams, Robert Williams Flute MS. Dolgellau c.1760) Llsg2299 Bangor. From a photcopy of the original given to me by Llio Rhydderch.
O:Wales
A:Sir Feirionnydd
N:Nodyn ar dudalen 1. Y 5 alaw hyn allan o lyfr Ioan Rhagfyr perthynol i'r German Flute scale pa un a geir yw ei dechreu.
Nodyn ar dudalen 2 yn llaw Ll.Rh. Casglwyd gan Ythyr Williams o waith John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr), Dolgellau. Ceir nodyn yn y llsg hon yn dweud bod y dyddiad 1767 ar lyfr Robert Williams, brwad Ioan Rhagfyr-Ll.Rh
Z:CRM
K:G
d4|B4A4|G4c4|A4A4|G4d4|
B4c4|d4d4|^c8|d4||
B4|d4d4|d4B4|c4B4|
A4A4|G4A4|B4c4|A8|G4||
llio recorded nannau minuet on her first cd called telyn.
nannau farm (the farm associated with the nannau minuet, also called the illtyd minuet in the ms, incidentaly) is the farm next door to one of the young students i worked with in the project described below. she informed me of this with great excitement, realising the closeness of the relationship between the tune and her own life.
on a tangent, i was told after a recent gig at ty siamas with the group i play in, fernhill, by a member of the audience afterwards that nannau farm is also associated with the great oak, the king of the trees, y brenhinbren as described in the traditional penillion verses below, inasmuch as a table that was fashioned from the great trunk was housed at nannau farm and the locals of my generation when they were young were taken on school trips to sit at the mighty table and marvel at its magnificent girth. here are the words as written down by me from memory and in my morgannwg, rather than the original meirionydd welsh.
ma llawer pen bencyn o'r dinas i benllyn
a dolydd i'w dilyn hyd lawr dyffryn clwyd
er garwed yw'r creigie sy o gwmpas dolgelle
gerwinach nag unlle yw'r ganllwyd
brenhinbren y ganllwyd oedd dirion a dorrwyd
mewn barieth fe'i bwrwyd o'r aelwyd lle'r odd
fe dyfodd yn gapten - ni fishodd un fesen
yn nolydd glyn eden glan ydoedd
yr odd yn bren gwrol a'i fodde'n rhyfeddol
a phawb yn ei ganmol o bobol y byd
a'r hen dade dywiol - rhai doethion odiaethol
a gadwodd yn fywiol ei fywyd
er claddu'r brenhinbren dan gwys y ddaearen
cynyddws un fesen yn gangen deg wych
ar hon y tyf gwyrdd-ddail - bydd mynych ei manddail
ma'r gwraidd mewn hen adfail hynodwych
later in the year, i will be starting an exciting project based in ty siamas, the national centre for welsh folk music, and the primary school in dolgellau. a pilot project has already taken place with the young students to considerable success. nearly eighty young people each built and began to learn to play their own flute alongside myself and john glennydd. the new project is a continuation of this work and involves a deeper, broader and slower aquaintance with the musical inheritance exemplified by ioan rhagfyr in particular and flute music and dance music in general.
we'll be learning to play tunes!
there will be individual tuition for the students at ty siamas during the schooltime afternoon and similar tuition for anyone else from about four pm till eight. there then follows a session till closing time.
ty siamas show commitment and vision for co-ordinating this project. the project is named in commemoration of one of the earliest flute players known in that area, sesiwn ioan rhagfyr
below follows their press and also dates of the upcoming sessions. please contact them for more info or to book a session
Tŷ Siamas, Eldon Sq, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 1PU Phone: 01341421800
Sesiwn Ioan Rhagfyr
Lleoliad: Ty Siamas
7.30yh Sesiwn Anffurfiol yn y bar o dan arweiniad Ceri Rhys Matthews. O'r Hydref ymlaen bydd Ceri yn dod i Dy Siamas i gynnig gwersi ar y ffliwt i blant yr ardal. Bydd hefyd cyfle i oedolion ddechrau canu'r bib, y ffliwt neu'r pibau dan arweiniad Ceri cyn i weithgareddau'r diwrnod ddod i ben mewn sesiwn anffurfiol yn y bar. Mae croeso cynnes i bawb ymuno yn y sesiwn hon. Os oes gennych ddiddordeb yn y gwersi yna cysylltwch a Ty Siamas.
Location: Ty Siamas
7.30pm An informal session in the bar led by Ceri Rhys Matthews. From October Ceri will visit Ty Siamas every fortnight offering tuition to local children. There will also be the opportunity for adults to have lessons on the whistle, flute or pipes. The days's activities will culminate in an informal session in the Ty Siamas bar. Everyone is welcome to join in the lessons please contact Ty Siamas.
02/10/2007
16/10/2007
30/10/2007
13/11/2007
posted by yscolan at 5:56 pm
