Robert ap Huw Courses 2026
The music in the Robert ap Huw manuscript contains the earliest harp music from anywhere in Europe. The pieces were composed in the Late Middle Ages, taught aurally for several hundred years, written down in the 16th century and copied by Robert ap Huw himself in the early 17th century. We will learn how to read the tablature, allowing us to interpret both the letters, giving the names of the strings on the harp, and also the signs indicating the figuration. These provide instructions for moving between the strings, using a rigorous damping technique to distinguish between more-important and less-important strings.
The Wire Branch continues to offer online courses via Zoom with Bill Taylor in playing music from the Robert ap Huw manuscript. As in previous years, these consist of six sessions on Saturdays. The courses accommodate two playing levels, welcoming both players who are new to the manuscript, and intermediate players, who have had some previous experience learning and playing from the tablature. The six dates will be 17January, 7 February, 28 February, 21 March, 18 April, and 9 May.
Elementary Players Course: 13.00-14.30 UK time
New players will start from the beginning, with a firm introduction to the history of the manuscript, as well as a comprehensive overview of reading the tablature and playing the figuration. We’ll start with Kaniad y Gwyn Bibydd/The Song of the White Piper (pp. 36-37), which is an excellent introduction to the larger pieces. We’ll contrast that with two of the shorter pieces, Y Ddigan y Droell/Harmony of the Spindle-whorl (pp. 56-57) and Kaingk Daydd Broffwyd/Cainc of David the Prophet (p. 57). Ideally, a harp with a range from c-g’’ (19 strings) would be best; but adjustments can be made to use smaller harps.
Intermediate Players Course: 10.30am-12 noon UK time
Intermediate-level players will have had some prior tuition in the tablature, will understand how to read the letters of the strings, and will know how to identify the different figures according to the particular icons. It is assumed that intermediate players will not need an introduction to the tablature, although questions are certainly welcome.
This course will look at the majestic and monumental Kaniad Pibau Morfydd/The Song of Morfydd’s Pipes (pp. 90-96), one of three pieces in the collection with a woman’s name in the title, and one of two tunes referring to the pipes. It’s a big piece, over 18 minutes long, but it will so exhilarating to play this magnum opus! Students will receive a performing edition to facilitate understanding – and playing – the piece in the proper route. The range of the piece is three octaves, from G-g’’ (22 strings), but as with previous pieces, it is possible to re-arrange the phrases containing the highest strings if they aren’t found on your harp.
All of the sessions will be recorded as videos, which can be viewed or downloaded until 30 June 2026. If you are unable to join us for a live session you can always catch up via the videos. Students will receive study audio recordings throughout the course to support the material examined during each session. Students are invited, and encouraged, to send recordings to evaluate progress.
You can download a free copy of the manuscript from lulu.com (search for ‘Robert ap Huw manuscript’). Please also download and print a free copy of Bill’s booklet Sources for Fingernail Technique from Wales & Ireland. Please contact Bill to reserve a space, to request an invoice, or to ask any questions wirebranch@gmail.com
Wire Branch members pay £100 for a course; non-members pay £120. Payment can be made via Paypal, bank transfer or cheque. Non-members may wish to join the Wire Branch via the Clarsach Society to obtain the member discount. To join, please visit https://www.clarsachsociety.co.uk/join