Traditional Musical Instruments

The poems and music of Wales have always recorded and perpetuated the beliefs and history of her people and as such, the bards and musicians of Cymru have long been regarded as belonging to an important clan apart from the rest of society. Ancient Chronicles and documents from as far back as the 13th century mention the individual names of pipers, crwthers, & harpers. As in most other things, tradition was transmitted orally from teacher to pupil, down the generations.

Musicians, especially harpers, were regularly welcomed into the homes of gentry, especially at times of church festivals. Poets, harpers, and other instrumentalists would visit the taverns at festivals and fairs. Besides the harp, other popular and widely played instruments were the Pibgorn, and bagpipes, and the six - stringed Crwth, and the isle of Anglesey was the stronghold of both Pibgorn and Crwth until the late 18th century.

Wales is unique in having maintained an unbroken lineage of harpers that run from at least the 14th century to the present day. Fortunately, like the Tripple Harp, both the Pibgorn and Crwth are enjoying something of a revival and are being both made and played in Wales again by a few dedicated specialist musicians and makers.