Edward Jones: Bardd y Brenin – Elinor Bennett

Join Elinor Bennett to hear the fascinating story of Edward Jones, a farmer’s son from Gwynedd, who rose to become harpist to King George IV.

A renowned harpist, teacher and music collector, Jones worked passionately to ensure that generations after him would know the traditional tunes of his native country.

Without his detailed and meticulous work in collecting music and poetry from harpists, poets and singers, and publishing them, it is almost certain that much of the traditional music of Wales, including Llwyn Onn, Ar Hyd y Nos and Chodiad yr Ehedydd, would have been forgotten long before now.

In September 1824, Edward Jones, dubbed ‘The King’s Bard’, died in poverty and loneliness in London. This lecture-recital remembers one of the greatest benefactors of Welsh music, and celebrates the fact that children and young people in Wales today know and sing our traditional tunes.

Elinor Bennett is amongst Wales’ foremost harpists, and has played with all major British orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia and English Chamber Orchestras. She was the Artistic Director of Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias until 2008, and has been Visiting Professor of Harp at the Royal Academy of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music, London.

This event is part of the Friends of the National Library of Wales programme of events.

A Welsh language event, with simultaneous translation provided.

#europeanfolkday   #europeanfolkday2024