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Copyright
Helen Forder
2004
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1886 - Royal Welsh Eisteddfod at
Caerwys
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In September 1886 The Royal
Welsh Eisteddfod of Wales was held at Caerwys in Flintshire. The harp competition was specially
arranged by Lady Llanofer ... 'who takes
the greatest interest in competitions of this nature, and, indeed, in
everything connected with the eisteddfodau.'
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Report from the
Denbighshire Free Press
'The ancient city of Caerwys, in Flintshire, many centuries ago a place of
great importance and one of the strongholds of the Welsh people during the
period of the Roman invasion, is this week the scene of the congress of
bards, musicians, and patriots.
The rules of the competition on the Welsh triple-stringed harp of Wales
have been specially arranged by Lady Llanofer (Gwenynen Gwent), who is
intensely interested in these contests, and they set forth that no one
would be qualified to compete who had been a player on the pedal harp the
object being to restore to its proper position the national instrument of
the principality, and to encourage the cultivation of the pure and simple
style in which ancient Welsh music ought to be played.'
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'As the president took his
seat on the platform an appropriate and popular air was rendered with great
effect by the harpists, nine in number, led by Gruffydd, harpist to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. The other
harpists were composed of the harpist to Lady Llanofer and his pupils,
together with the North Wales harpists. The ladies of the party were
dressed in the old Welsh costume. The first item in the programme
Wednesday, was a performance by Lady Llanover’s harpists, who, under the
leadership of the clever blind harpist Gruffydd, harper by special
appointment to the Prince of Wales and the Llanover family harpist, played
the popular air “Captain Morgan”.'
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Mrs. Gruffydd
Richards
and Elizabeth Ann Williams
Caerwys Eisteddfod 1886
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'The principal event of the
evening followed, in the shape of a competition on the Welsh triple
stringed harp for a prize of £10 offered by the committee, and a second
prize of £5 offered by Lady Llanover and the Marquis of Bute. There were
seven competitors, and after an interesting competition, lasting over an
hour, the first prize was awarded by the adjudicator, Dr. Parry, to Mrs.
Richards of Llanover, who appeared in Welsh costume.
In the contest on the Welsh harp for prizes given by Lady Llanofer and the
Marquis of Bute, the adjudicator, Dr. Parry (of Swansea), awarded the first
prize to Morganwg (of Taibach), and the second to Ap Tudor (Holyhead). The
winners were invested by Lady Mostyn.
In the competition of the domestic harpers for prizes offered by Lord
Tredegar, the successful competitor was Elizabeth Ann Williams, of
Llanover, a girl who had only commenced to study the instrument two months
previously under Gruffydd. The adjudicator was Dr. Parry, of Swansea.'
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