Personal Memories of The Blind Harpist
Article in Llais Ardudwy - April 1979

PORTREAD - a conversation recorded on tape, November 1978 - personal memories of Dafydd Roberts - Telynor Dall Mawddwy by Mr Dafydd Gwilym Williams, Tanymarian, Soar, Talsarnau.

Dafydd Roberts (1879 - 1958) spent a period at Plas Llanofer - where he mastered the art of playing the triple harp. In 1911 he published a handbook of cerdd dant music called "Y Tant Aur" which reflected the simple settings of the time. It is clear that the book has sold thousands as it had to be reprinted. This second edition was actually a very different version, and the most obvious thing is the effort made to create countermelodies of a higher musical standard. The changes made between the first and second editions of Y Tant Aur were a key turning point in the history of cerdd dant music.

The Conversation
DGW - The first memory I have of him coming to Talsarnau years ago, I was very young, and two men, if I remember correctly - Wmffra Williams and my father, going to meet him and carrying his harp up to Talsarnau where a concert was being held at the school . I remember the concert. It was a lot of fun, with all kinds of singing, and everyone there were very pleased.

Questioner - Were you raising money for any cause at the time?

DGW - Yes, for Capel Soar, yes.

Questioner - You don't remember which year?

DGW - It was from somewhere around I would say 1910, before that maybe. 1910 quite close I'd say....I went to work then....I served in Bermo in 1916 and 1917 and I came into very close contact with him - I used to receive a parcel - clean clothes from Talsarnau from my mother and there was a girl who attended Barmouth School - Lili I called her - Lilian Go' was her name and Lilian would bring me the parcel and put it in Dafydd Roberts' shop and we would go there to get it from her. Lilian would come and go like that when I was in Barmouth - attending the school. Then there was a girl from Talsarnau, sister of Wili Ifans, Cefntrefor Isaf, she was a helper for Dafydd Roberts in the shop I would go and visit Magi and I was always welcome. Dafydd Roberts had come to recognise me and my voice from a distance. As soon as I entered the shop he would shout without hesitation, "Hello Deifi. How are you?" and he always enquired about Talsarna' and the minister - always asking about the minister.

Questioner - He thought the world of the chapel. You have a story about Colwyn Bay don't you ....

DGW - I would always go to Wesleyan Chapel in Barmouth and to a provincial meeting and that is how I had so much contact with him. I think he was present at every provincial meeting and I had gone to the Colwyn Bay provincial meeting - staying with my sister in Old Colwyn and going to the meeting on Monday morning. When I went into the bus, who was sitting in the bus but Dafydd Roberts, and I went over to him and sat beside him. "Hello Mistar Roberts" "Hello Deifi - it's you is it?" "Well, yes" I said "Are you going to the provincial meeting?" "Yes" "Can I come with you?" " You're very welcome" I said. "All day" he said" "Yes until night time if you like" I replied.

And so it was.... He had a son (Dafydd Eilio) at the school as a teacher as far as I can remember, Pendorlan School at that time. He wanted to go to the school. I don't think he wanted to go in or show himself to anyone there. I took him to the school yard and described the school to him "That's it, there, Deifi. Thank you very much" I was with him all day for lunch and tea and everything. He knew everyone there. He made one mistake as I recall that I know... he mistook two brothers. Said Enoch to one and Daniel instead of Enoch to the other. (Enoc is Reverend Enoc Davies, Bryn Awel, Talsarnau).

Questioner - He had music at his fingertips.

DGW - Music was his world. Coming back from Colwyn Bay and sending Dafydd Roberts to the bus and shaking hands and he was very proud and grateful to me for being with him all day. "Well you're welcome now Deifi bach and thank you very much. I've seen more of Colwyn Bay today than I've ever seen."

Questioner - You had wonderful experiences in his company when he came to Capel Soar didn't you? You were a very young elder at that time.

DGW - Late in life he came very often to Soar to preach and usually stayed with Katie and Dafydd Elwyn in Gwndwn. He was delighted. They were very musical and they had an instrument and he loved being among them. I went to Soar Chapel on Sunday and he had found that I sat not far from the pulpit. Sometimes he would fail to remember correctly. He would recite all the hymns and read part of the scripture (obviously from memory). This Sunday he didn't remember very well, and he shouted to me "Deifi, please can you read chapter and chapter for me", and other times the hymn that he couldn't remember. But I sometimes thought that he was testing me! At first when this happened I would feel very nervous, but I always looked forward to him coming. He was delighted to preach that Christ had come into his life and had shown him many things that we do not see today with our natural eyes!