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OF THE MUSIC, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE WELSH. the priests alone; and we find they performed, this office in the war against the Midianites".

"Sound an alarm, your filver Trumpets found,

"And call the brave, and only brave; around.”

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I have now concluded the account I intended of the Mufical Inftruments of the Ancient Britons, or Welsh, viz. the Harp, the Crythau, the Bagpipes, the Pibgorn, (or Cornicyll,) the Bugle-Horn, and the Tabret, or Drum; that is, Six in number; the two Crwths being the fame fpecies of inftrument; the Pibgorn, and the Cornicyll likewise, so fimilar to each other, that I include them as one. Two of the above inftruments were unfortunately omitted in the mufical trophy, at the beginning of this Differtation; that is, the Bagpipes, and the Cornicyll, as they are now but rarely to be seen in Wales, and confequently were forgot to be delineated, till after the engraving was executed.

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The following are the National Melodies, or Bardic Tunes and Songs of the Aboriginal Britons, (or Welsh, who formerly inhabited all this island,) which have been handed down to us by tradition, and fome of them from very remote antiquity: These have often refounded through the Cambrian halls, in the days of festival, with an unlimited harmony of Harps, Crwths, Pipes, and Voices. The original melodies of the Airs are preserved here with the most scrupulous fidelity: the only licence I have taken, is the addition of new Baffes, and have given Variations to many of the Tunes; because, fince the regular Eisteddvodau, or Bardic Congreffes, have been discontinued, which were the confervators, and correctors of our Mufic, Poetry, and History, the performers on the Harp, and Crwth of the latter ages had forgot, and mutilated the original harmony of these ruins of genius. Most of them were never before committed to writing, at least not .in modern notes. I have collected these Bardic Songs, and Tunes, with infinite pains, from hearing the old Muficians, or Minstrels of Wales, play them on their inftruments, and from their being chaunted by the Peafantry, as well as the Pennillion, or Poetical Blossoms, which are usually fung to these Melodies, and were retained in the fame oral manner. What is most pleasing to the generality of people, is that which is most familiar and common, and this accounts, in some degrée, for these venerable remains of Mufic, and Poetry, having fo long been preserved by tradition.

The striking merit of many of these native Melodies, is that of their being fo extremely characteristic of their origin: fome of them probably were extempore compofitions of the Bards, excited by incidental events, on various occafions, at different periods. Some are Mournful, and Pathetic; others breathe a spirit of Heroism; fome are tinctured with Gaiety and Mirth; others again with Rurality, Simplicity and Love, as refined tafte is always most favourable to love, and friendship. But, the choicest style of music of the Welsh themselves, is that in the Bragod Gywair, (in the compound, or minor key,) which generally expreffes a plaintive content, or a pleafing tranquillity". Even the most inferior of these Tunes, and Ballads are not destitute of harmony, or nature. Some of the Airs undoubtedly are very ancient; and the latest of them were probably compofed previous to the reign of Elizabeth'. See more on the subject in the preceding pages 54, and 55, alfo among the following Mufic; and in the Second Volume of this Work. "Such were the sounds, that o'er the crested pride "As down the steep of Snowdon's fhaggy fide "Of the first Edward scatter'd wild dismay,

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"He wound with toilsome march his long array." Gray's Bard. In the early ages, the character of a Druidic-Bard was perhaps the most revered, and accomplished of all others; it appears alfo, that Mufic was fo united with Poetry, Mythology, Philofophy, Government, Manners, and Science in general, that an universal knowledge was requifite to qualify a Bard for the attainment of fo exalted a rank and station".

" And the Levites stood with the inftruments of David, heard. The Welsh terms for a Trumpet are Udgorn, Tolgorn, or and the priests with Trumpets." 2d Chronicles, Chap. XXIX. Llú gorn; and a Trumpeter is called Bardd-birgorn, or the Long v. 26. And feven priests shall bear before the ark fevenTrum- Horn Bard; therefore, probably the Welsh Heralds foundpets of rams-horns: And the feventh day ye fhall compafs the ed the Trumpet.-See alfo the preceding pages 30 and 58.-2 city feven times, and the priests fhall blow with the Trum-Chronicles, XX. v. 21, 28.-And 1 Chronicles, XV. v. 5 and 28. pets." Jofbua, Chap. VI. v. 4.-1 Kings, Chap. I. v. 34 and 39:

Blow up the Trumpet in the new moon, in the time ap pointed, on our folemn feaft-day."- Pfalm LXXXI. v. 3.Numbers, Chap. XXXI. v. 6.-2 Chronicles, Chap. V. v. 12. Deuteronomy, Chap. XX. v. 2.-1 Maccabees, Chap. III. v. 58.-Exodus, XIX. v. 19.——

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By the loud Trumpet which our courage aids, "We learn that found, as well as fenfe, perfuades." Waller. The Cornet was a different inftrument from the Trumpet, and probably blown by the Chiefs. See the 2d Book of Samuel, Chap. VI. v. 5.-Daniel, Chap. III. v. 5.-1 Chronicles, Chap. XV.-Judges, Chap. VII. v. 18. and 22.

The tone of the Bugle Horn is more melodious and fofter than the brazen Trumpet, and poffibly it would be farther

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3 See the Pennillion and Sonnets in p. 60, &c. «These venerable ancient Song-enditers "Soar'd many a pitch above our modern writers; "With rough majestic force they mov'd the heart, "And ftrength and nature made amends for art." Rowe. If Heroic Songs had ftill been continued to be fung, as they were formerly, I am well perfuaded that our modern warriors would have fought with greater fuccefs than they sometimes have done:-

The refources in mufic are inexhaustible; and Dr. Johnfon fays, that Mufic is the only fenfual pleasure without vice.

7 Vide the explanatory notes to the different Tunes.

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See theseven excellencies in p. 83; the games in p. 36: And, the feparation of the Bardic profeffion in pp. 29, 83,84, and 85.

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ERRORS, and OMISSIONS, which the Reader is requested to correct, and to add.

In page 4, the firft word of the verse, instead of Beneathe, correct, Beneath. -And in note 21, inftead of Brich, write Birch.

The following Triad was omitted to be inferted, as the firft Triad, in page 10.

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-In page 17,

"The three great modellers of the Iland of Britain: Corvinwr, the Bard of Ceri Hir, of Llyngwyn, who first made a ship,
with a fail and a helm, for the race of the Cymry. Mordial Gwr Gweilgi, the architect of Ceraint, the fon of Greidial; who
first taught the race of the Cymry, the work of ftone, and lime; (at the time when Alexander the Great was fubduing the world.)
And Coll, the fon of Cyllin, (the fon of Caradawe, the fon of Brán,) who firft made a mill with a wheel, for the race of the
Cymry: And these three were Bards.' Triad 91. And, fee the word Breuan, in Richard's Dictionary.
In page 12, the catch-word at bottom, inftead of as, read, at.- -In page 14, the 9th line, correct Vortigern..
at the end of the first line, inftead of Berds, read Bards; and in note t, at the end of the 2d line, instead of th, read the
In page 23, the 6th, and 14th lines of the notes, inftead of Ninnius, corre&t Nennius.- -In page 28, the text catch-word to be,
revolution; and that of the notes to be Llyma.-In page 30, the firft word of the last line but two of the notes fhould be,
Incurfive. In page 50, at the end of note I, write, the late Sackville Gwynn, Efq. of Glanbrân.In page 59, the catch-word
fhould be Tlyfau.- In page 77, the last verse, correct, Rhyd-ychen.In page 81, the 11th line of the 2d column, read, the
primary Triad of tens :- In page 83, the following note to be added to the 10th line, of the twelve true words; fee Genefis,
chap. II. III. and the Revelation, chap. XXII. v. ii. (of 12 forts of fruit )—In page 113, the catch-word should be, The
Page 121, in the 18th line, instead of Cambria, read Cumbria.

Strahan and Preston, Printers-Sreet, London.

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Harlech Caftle, in Merionethfhire, was formerly a celebrated Fortrefs, and is faid to have been built by that war. -like Prince, Mael gwn Gwynedd about A.D.530. In the beginning of the Sixth Century it was called Twr Bronwen y Brenhinoedd, from Bronwen, the Daughter of Prince ILŷr of Harlech, who probably lived in the Caftle; and the highest Turret of it, to this day, goes by the name of Bronwen's Tower. This Fortrefs was rebuilt, or repaird, about the Year 877, by Collwyn ab Tangno, one of the fifteen Tribes of North Wales, and Lord of Evionydd, Ardudwy and part of ILŷn; and from him it was called Caer-Collwyn, or Collwyn's Caftle. This venerable Caftle is perhaps the oldeft remains of all the British Forts; and a moft ftately Structure of invulnerable ftrength both by Art and Nature, being fituated on a lofty Rock which commands a fine Bay of the Sea, and the Pafsage of entrance upon that Coast.— Nennius's Brit: Hift: and from Ancient M. S.

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The County of Merionedd has always been famed for Mufis, Poetry, and Hofpitality.

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Erddigan Caer Waun. The Minstrelsy of Chirk (Castles

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Caftell y Waun,or Chirk Caftle, in Denbighshire, is the grand Manfion of the Middletons, and the moft perfect habitable Caftle in Wales; It ftands upon an eminence, and commands a moft beautiful picturefque Country. When it was occupied by its anciert Barons it appears to have been the receptacle of Bards.

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