When I think about the Romany, I remember a neighbour’s story about her brother and his friend struggling to return to their home in Llanybydder during the great snow of 1947. The pair managed to reach Carmarthen by vehicle but had to complete their journey on foot. The friend had started to faint in the intense cold, but they were both revived by a group of Romany who gave them tea, and they finally got home safely.
Romany camping, 1953 (Geoff Charles Collection)
This was not the only good deed performed by the Romany; they also succeeded in reviving Welsh traditional music when it was in danger of disappearing completely during religious revivals. This was the subject of Lord Thomas of Gresford when he came to the Library to deliver his lecture, ‘Teulu Abraham Wood : how the Gypsies saved Welsh harp, song and dance’. The lecturer revealed that he is himself a descendant of Abraham Wood.
Saiforella Wood’s depiction of her great-grandfather, Abraham Wood, was enchanting. I was also touched by her description of the old man’s funeral and the way in which a host of his relatives played the harp and fiddle as they accompanied his coffin all the way down from Bryncrug to Llangelynnin Church.
John Roberts (‘Telynor Cymru’) and his family, ca. 1890
It is amazing how so many of Abraham Wood’s descendants became musicians of renown. According to the Companion to Welsh literature, at least twenty of them joined the ranks of eminent Welsh harpists. The most famous of all was John Roberts, ‘Telynor Cymru’, who formed the musical group ‘Cambrian Minstrels’ from members of his own family. Howel Wood became famous for his dancing and Lord Thomas showed an excerpt from the film ‘Last Days of Dolwyn’ in which some of his talents are recorded.
During the period of the Methodist revivals, traditional singing and dancing were considered sinful by some, but this didn’t bother the Romany. They kept the tradition alive by mastering Welsh instruments, borrowing Welsh tunes and then returning these treasures safely back into the hands of the Welsh. David Wood, for example, gave lessons to Nansi Richards, one of our most iconic Welsh harpists. Other gifted harpists like Llio Rhydderch and Robin Huw Bowen also benefited from Romany guidance.
If you make a request to listen to the Library’s recording of this lecture, you will have an experience to remember.
Heini V. Davies