The Robert ap Huw ms

by Wire Branch - 10:26 on 08 May 2006
A Welsh tablature for harp c.1623

In c.1623 Robert ap Huw compiled a book of harp music including technique and theory. It is written using a tablature that puzzled scholars for centuries but is now better understood. A horizontal line divides the music for each hand: treble hand above, bass hand below. Few, if any, of  the contents are Robert ap Huw’s original work: his manuscript is a collection of music and material, some passed to him by his harp teachers and some probably copied from a book by Wiliam Penllyn. Most of the pieces date from the 14th and 15th centuries.  

 

 

The music in the manuscript is composed using the 24 measures of string music (pedwar mesur ar hugain cerdd dant). These define repeated patterns of tension and resolution.
– Each piece of music is in a particular tuning which is used for the entire piece with no accidentals. There are five warranted and established tunings (pum cywar safedig a gwarantedig) and many other tunings.
– The favoured harp in 15th and 16th century had a mares skin soundboard, horsehair strings and bone tuning pins. The manuscript specifies 25 strings c to g" but lacking the lower octave e.
– a fingernail technique with rigourous damping is required to execute the finely detailed figuration.
– the finger movements listed bear resemblance to the Gaelic finger movements.

There are both similarities and differences with the music of the Gaelic harp. Historical evidence points to a strong Irish influence on Welsh bardic music in the early twelfth century.  

Resource Material

Online facsimile of the entire manuscript.

Bill Taylor is a leading interpreter of the manuscript. He has recorded two CDs with music from the manuscript:  Two Worlds of the Welsh Harp and Musica.  He plays historical gut-strung harps on the recordings, including a 21-string romanesque harp, a 26-string late-medieval bray harp and a 29-string renaissance bray harp. 

David Finnamore's main area of interest is music in the fantasy world of J.R.R.Tolkien, but he has a good page about Robert ap Huw's music, with audio clips from a radio interview with Bill Taylor.

 Pekka Toivanen's newly completed dissertation, "The Pencerdd's Toolkit- Cognitive and Musical Heirarchies in Medieval Welsh Harp Music", has been published as Jyväskylä Studies in the Arts no. 78, ISBN 951-39-1072-5, available for FIM 180 (approx. E30) from the University Library of Jyväskylä , PO Box 35, FIN-40351 Jyväskylä , Finland, email

The University of Wales has published some studies: "Welsh Music History/Hanes Cerddoriaeth Cymru 3: Robert ap Huw Studies." (contains a substantial bibliography of articles written about the manuscript and also contains a list of manuscripts relating to cerdd dant) and Peter Crossley-Holland, "The Composers in the Robert ap Huw Manuscript: The Evidence for Identity, Dating and Locality.". Both are available from Dr Sally Harper, CAWMS, Yr Adran Gerdd, Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor LL57 2DG. Tel 01248 382181; Fax 01248 370297

 

 

Add your comment

Your Name


Your Email (only if you are happy to have it on the site)


Your Comment - no HTML or weblinks


Enter this number in the box below and click Send - why?Unfortunately we have to do this to prevent the system being swamped by automated spam

 
Please note that whenever you submit something which may be publicly shown on a website you should take care not to make any statements which could be considered defamatory to any person or organisation.
Clarsach Society - Comunn na ClàrsaichTo promote and encourage the playing of the clarsach.
Scottish Charity Number SCO11819
Clarsach Society Comunn na Clarsaich