Harp music

A manuscript music book, with some annotations in pencil, containing lessons, songs, dances and airs for the harp in the hand of Elizabeth Giffard (1766-1842) of Nerquis Hall, Flintshire (for Elizabeth Giffard's dates of birth and death see e.g. Peter Howell Williams, 'Elizabeth Giffard of Nerquis Hall' in Hanes Bro Clwyd, 27 (Autumn 1991), pp. 2-11; cf. her signature in NLW Caerhun collection, 240-1, and in her will (NLW SA 1844/158)).
The title of each work and, in some cases, the name of the composer, is noted for each piece. Several of the pieces (pp. 17, 24, 26, 29, 30, 33, 39, 66 (titled the 'Nerquis March'), 69, 75, 89) are by Benjamin Cunnah (will proved 1840), organist of Ruabon, Denbighshire, and composer of New Welch Music: Consisting of Three Sonatas, Chase Minuets, Siciliano, Rondos, Marches, Airs with Variations for the Harp or Piano Forte (London, 18--). Several Welsh airs are included (pp. 10, 12, 21 ('Ar Hyd y Nos'), 22 ('Codiad yr Ehedydd'), 23 ('Nos Galan'), 25 ('Pen y Rhaw'), 71 ('Ar Hyd y Nos'), 84-85 ('The March of [the] Men of Harlech'), 280-1 ('Morfa Rhuddlan')). Above the piece entitled 'Midnight Cerus' (p. 89) Elizabeth Giffard has noted 'Blowed June 29 1807 at Nerquis Hall'. At the end of the volume (pp. 278-286) are some technical exercises for the harp together with instructions for tuning the instrument and for pedalling. Staves ruled in ink on pp. 1-286; pp. 1-91, 278-286 completed with music. See also Peter Howell Williams, 'Elizabeth Giffard of Nerquis Hall' [Part 1] in Hanes Bro Clwyd, 27 (Autumn 1991), pp. 2-11, in which a family tree, ending with Elizabeth and her sister Eleanor, is included (p. 3), together with an account of a legal wrangle and religious dispute between Elizabeth Hyde, Elizabeth's maternal grandmother, and her father, John Giffard; and Peter Howell Williams, 'Elizabeth Giffard of Nerquis Hall' [Part 2] in Hanes Bro Clwyd, 28 (Spring 1992), pp. 12-17, which largely involves family legal matters such as inheritance rights and marriage settlements, and which also includes tables showing the pedigrees of Elizabeth's Wynn of Nerquis forebears and their connections to the Williams family of Pont-y-Gwyddel and to the Wynns of Gwydir (p. 17). See also Patrick J. Doyle, 'The Giffards of Nerquis' in Flintshire Historical Society Publications, 24 (1969-1970), pp. 79-85.

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Justin Croft, Antiquarian Books; Faversham; Purchase; March 2010; 004972676.

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 24006A.

Stub of one leaf between pp. 26-27.

June 2010 and January/February 2011.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifan, and revised by Bethan Ifan.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales