GRUFFYDD
,
THOMAS
(
1815
-
1887
),
one of the best known harpists of his period
;
b. at
Llangynidr
,
Brecknock
, grandson of the
rector
of that parish. The fact that he
lost his sight
at an early age did not hinder his progress. A pupil of
John Wood
Jones
(see under
Wood
),
family harpist
at
Glanbran
near
Llandovery
, he subsequently occupied a similar position at
Llanover, Mon.
Most of his life, apparently, was spent in
Llanover
, where he also
kept a smallholding
. He
won the triple harp
in the
Abergavenny eisteddfod
of
1836
. He became very popular as
harpist
and
penillion
singer
in
Monmouthshire
and
Glamorgan
. In
1843
Gruffydd
and his
teacher
played at
Buckingham Palace
, being accompanied on their visit by
Thomas
Price
(
Carnhuanawc
, q.v.)
;
Gruffydd
also gave a number of recitals at
Marlborough House
. In
1867
he was the guest of the
Comte de la Villemarqué
in
Brittany
, and was presented by the
Comte
, who spoke
Welsh
, with an engraved ring to mark the occasion. One of his songs, ‘
Gwlad y Beirdd
,’ was published. He d.
30 Aug. 1887
, and was buried in the churchyard at
Llanover
.
Bibliography:
-
‘Dictionary of Welsh Biography.’ 27
vols., N.L.W. MSS. 9251–77
;
-
Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography
;
-
Y Geninen
,
1888
, 189;
-
Notable Welshmen (1700–1900)
,
1908
Author:
Miss Ray Looker, (Mrs Ray Morgan), Cardiff / Rhymni
