             
Copyright
Helen Forder
2004 |
| The
Harp ... continued |
page
2 |
More
support for the triple harp was given through
competitions for the instrument. In 1866 there
was an eisteddfod in Neath, where Thomas Gruffydd
was one of the harpists. Lord Llanofer gave an
'extra' prize of £2 'to
the one who shall best play on the
triple-stringed Harp of Wales, the old Welsh air Triban
Gwyr Morganwg.'
From the Cambrian - thanks to Brian
Wagstaffe |
| There was a Grand Harp Contest at Llanofer in 1869, when 'A large party of the nobility
and gentry assembled at Llanover Court ... Lady
Llanover having invited them to be present at a
sort of musical tournament of Welsh harpers.'
There was some discontent
amongst the nine competitors, two of whom had
played the pedal harp, and, as was usual when
Lady Llanofer set the rules, were disqualified.
John Roberts of Newtown was dis-satisfied with
the result of the competition and not even the
offer of £3 to himself and £1 to his son -
which he refused to accept - could console him. |
In 1886 the
Royal Welsh Eisteddfod of Wales was held in Caerwys, 'an
event which has been looked forward to with no
little interest on account of the historic
associations of Caerwys with the congess of
bards '.
The harp competition
was specially arranged by Lady Llanofer '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.'
'[Lady Llanofer] takes the greatest interest in
competitions of this nature, and, indeed, in
everything connected with the eisteddfodau.' |
| Not content
with employing a family harper, giving valuable
prizes at eisteddfodau and holding competitions
for triple harpers, Lady Llanofer also gave
scholarships to promising young people. |
One of
these was Ed. Davies of Taibach, who, in 1884 had
to have a trial with Thomas Gruffydd, Lady
Llanofer's harper before he was granted a
scholarship. He was instructed to be at Llanofer
from Saturday evening until Wednesday morning,
for Gruffydd to assess him. Should he be given a
scholarship, he would need to be 'sober, honest, obedient and
respectful'.
Lady Llanofer
received a 'very
hopeful report' from
Gruffydd and Ed Davies was offered a scholarship,
to begin on 1st June 1884. The conditions of the
scholarship were as follows:
To find himself in
Lodging & food - & have his Scholarship
renewed every Quarter for One Year, if deserving
& well conducted or otherwise dismissal. |
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