JONES, Edward. ~ Musical and poetical Relicks of the Welsh Bards: preserved by Tradition, and authentic Manuscripts, from remote Antiquity; never before published. To the Tunes are added Variations for the Harp, Harpsichord, Violin, or Flute. With a choice Collection of the Pennillion, epigrammatic Stanzas, or, native pastoral Sonnets of Wales, with English translations. Likewise a History of the Bards from the earliest Period to the present Time, and an Account of their Music, Poetry, and musical Instruments, with a delineation of the latter... London: Printed for the Author, and to be had of him at No. 9, Princes-Street, Hanover-Square, 1784.
Folio (324 × 240 mm), pp. [6], 78, plus engraved frontispiece (after Loutherbourg) and dedication, pp. 45-78 being engraved music (printed on both sides), one engraved illustration. Some spotting to frontispiece and the engraved music, but generally very clean. Early mottled calf, rebacked, later endpapers, upper cover with the monogram of the Duke of Portland, engraved bookplate of William Arthur, sixth duke of Portland. A very good copy.
First edition. An extensive survey of the Welsh musical tradition by a celebrated Welsh harpist and antiquary in London. ‘Edward Jones moved to London in 1774 or early 1775, under the patronage of the London Welsh circle. The harp was very fashionable in London at the time, and Jones quickly established himself in some of the most eminent circles as a popular performer and teacher of the instrument’ (ODNB). He became harpist to the prince of Wales (later George IV). Musical and poetical Relicks, a rather costly production with an extensive subscriber’s list, contains a major essay on bardic poetry with texts and songs in both Welsh and English. An engraved plate shows the principal instruments of Welsh music, including the harp and lyre, while the second part of the book mainly comprises engraved music for some 60 Welsh tunes, some Jones’s variations, all on two staves and thus suitable also the keyboard.
‘Jones’s most important work was in the preservation of traditional Welsh music. He collected and published over 200 traditional melodies, many of which he transcribed from having heard them sung and played at home in north Wales. His concern for the protection of Welsh cultural life is also evident in his strong belief in the eisteddfod as a safeguard of Welsh cultural traditions and the purity of the Welsh language. He invariably attended eisteddfodau on his regular summer visits to Wales, often acting as an adjudicator; and on several occasions he provided and presented prizes for competitions such as singing with the harp and the best collection of penillion’.
This copy is from the library of the Dukes of Portland, containing the bookplate of William Arthur, sixth duke of Portland (1857-1943), but with an earlier gilt supralibros denoting the presence of the book in the Portland collection at an earlier date. It is quite likely to have formed part of the celebrated subterranean library collections at Welbeck Abbey of the eccentric John Bentinck fifth duke of Portland.