Maria Jane Williams
Encyclopedia
Maria Jane Williams was an 18th century Welsh
musician and folklorist born at Aberpergwm House
, Glynneath
in Glamorgan
, south Wales
.
, Glynneath. She was born into the Williams family, originally of Blaen Baglan but lived, in her later years, at a house called Ynys-las, near Aberpergwm House. She died in 1873 and is buried at St Cadoc
’s Church in the grounds of Aberpergwm House
.
and traditions and had an extensive knowledge of music. She was especially acclaimed for her singing and was an accomplished player of the guitar
, and the harp
, having been taught by the famous harpist Parish-Alvars. She acquired the name ‘Llinos’ (the Welsh word for linnet
), and was associated with the Welsh cultural society known as Cymreigyddion Y Fenni and made her home a focus for ‘Celtic Renaissance
’ enthusiasts.
eisteddfod of 1838 and was awarded a prize by Lady Llanover, who later became her friend. Despite later criticisms this book remains an important contribution to the knowledge of traditional Welsh music. The book contains 43 songs with Welsh words and accompaniments for the harp or piano. and also provides notes on the songs and a list of persons for whom copies of the work had been printed, which evidenced how well patronised Welsh folk song was during this period. The book has since been re-issued by the Welsh Folk Song Society with a contemporary introduction and notes by Daniel Huws.
Lucy Broadwood
, an ex-president and mentor of the Folk Song Society, and one of the earliest collectors of Celtic folk songs, in a scathing attack on the folklorists of the day, claimed that during the period 1800 to 1850, in Wales, as in the rest of Britain
, ‘a mass of “traditional” and so-called “Druid
ical” songs was published which does not bear critical investigation.’ She claimed, however, that Maria Jane Williams was one of only two people in Britain at this time who were the exception to this rule. Maria Jane Williams claimed that: ‘The songs were given as...obtained,...in their wild and original state; no embellishments of the melody
have been attempted, and the accompanying words are those sung to the airs.’
Maria Jane Williams also assisted John Parry
to produce the ‘Welsh Harper’ and John Thomas
consulted her before publishing his two volumes of Welsh airs.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
musician and folklorist born at Aberpergwm House
Aberpergwm House
Aberpergwm House is an abandoned and ruinous country house located in Glynneath, Wales. Within the grounds of the house sits the church of St. Cadoc, which is possibly of late medieval origin.-Origins:...
, Glynneath
Glynneath
Glynneath , also spelt Glyn Neath, is a small town, community and electoral ward lying on the River Neath in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It was formerly in the historic county of Glamorgan...
in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, south Wales
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...
.
Life
Maria Jane Williams was born in 1794, or 1795, at Aberpergwm HouseAberpergwm House
Aberpergwm House is an abandoned and ruinous country house located in Glynneath, Wales. Within the grounds of the house sits the church of St. Cadoc, which is possibly of late medieval origin.-Origins:...
, Glynneath. She was born into the Williams family, originally of Blaen Baglan but lived, in her later years, at a house called Ynys-las, near Aberpergwm House. She died in 1873 and is buried at St Cadoc
Cadoc
Saint Cadoc , Abbot of Llancarfan, was one of the 6th century British Christian saints. His vita twice mentions King Arthur. The Abbey of Llancarfan, near Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, which he founded circa 518, became famous as a centre of learning...
’s Church in the grounds of Aberpergwm House
Aberpergwm House
Aberpergwm House is an abandoned and ruinous country house located in Glynneath, Wales. Within the grounds of the house sits the church of St. Cadoc, which is possibly of late medieval origin.-Origins:...
.
Education and scholarly studies
Maria Jane Williams was well educated, a supporter of the Welsh languageWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and traditions and had an extensive knowledge of music. She was especially acclaimed for her singing and was an accomplished player of the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and the 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...
, having been taught by the famous harpist Parish-Alvars. She acquired the name ‘Llinos’ (the Welsh word for linnet
Linnet
The Linnet is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.The Linnet derives its scientific name from its fondness for hemp and its English name from its liking for seeds of flax, from which linen is made.- Description :...
), and was associated with the Welsh cultural society known as Cymreigyddion Y Fenni and made her home a focus for ‘Celtic Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
’ enthusiasts.
Book of Welsh folk songs
In 1844, she published a collection of Welsh airs under the title of ‘The Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morgannwg’, and for this she won the AbergavennyAbergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
eisteddfod of 1838 and was awarded a prize by Lady Llanover, who later became her friend. Despite later criticisms this book remains an important contribution to the knowledge of traditional Welsh music. The book contains 43 songs with Welsh words and accompaniments for the harp or piano. and also provides notes on the songs and a list of persons for whom copies of the work had been printed, which evidenced how well patronised Welsh folk song was during this period. The book has since been re-issued by the Welsh Folk Song Society with a contemporary introduction and notes by Daniel Huws.
Lucy Broadwood
Lucy Broadwood
Lucy Etheldred Broadwood was principally an English folksong collector and researcher during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As one of the founder members of the Folk-Song Society and Editor of the Folk Song Journal, she was one of the main influences of the English folk revival of that...
, an ex-president and mentor of the Folk Song Society, and one of the earliest collectors of Celtic folk songs, in a scathing attack on the folklorists of the day, claimed that during the period 1800 to 1850, in Wales, as in the rest of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, ‘a mass of “traditional” and so-called “Druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
ical” songs was published which does not bear critical investigation.’ She claimed, however, that Maria Jane Williams was one of only two people in Britain at this time who were the exception to this rule. Maria Jane Williams claimed that: ‘The songs were given as...obtained,...in their wild and original state; no embellishments of the melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
have been attempted, and the accompanying words are those sung to the airs.’
Maria Jane Williams also assisted John Parry
John Parry
John Parry may refer to:*John Parry , Welsh harpist and composer, and father of John Orlando Parry*John Parry , Bishop of Ossory 1672–1677*John Parry Ddall John Parry may refer to:*John Parry (Bardd Alaw) (1776–1851), Welsh harpist and composer, and father of John Orlando Parry*John...
to produce the ‘Welsh Harper’ and John Thomas
John Thomas
-Education:* John Martin Thomas , Twelfth president of Rutgers University* John R. Thomas , American intellectual property professor- Military history :* John Thomas , American general in the American Revolutionary War...
consulted her before publishing his two volumes of Welsh airs.