Nansi Richards Jones (14 May 1888 – 21 December 1979) was a Welsh

harp The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing or sitting, and in orchestras or ...

ist, sometimes known as the " Queen of the Harp"Folktrax 351
"Nansi Richards, Triple Harp"
or by her bardic name "Telynores Maldwyn".

Early life and education

Jane Ann "Nansi" Richards was born at Pen-y-bont-fawr, Montgomeryshire. An expert on both the triple and

pedal harp The pedal harp (also known as the concert harp) is a large and technologically modern harp, designed primarily for use in art music. It may be played solo, as part of a chamber ensemble, or in an orchestra. It typically has 47 strings with sev ...

s, she always maintained that the greatest influences on her life were her father Thomas Richards, the Kale (Welsh Roma) who stayed on their farm, and Tom Lloyd (Telynor Ceiriog, 1848–1917), who taught her to play the harp. She also studied at the

Guildhall School of Music The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a music and drama school located in the City of London, England. Established in 1880, the school offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in all aspects of classical music and jazz along with dram ...

in London, with harpist John Thomas.

Musical career

She won the

National Eisteddfod The National Eisteddfod of Wales ( Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competito ...

competition three times in succession. After a year at the Guildhall School of Music, she toured with American comedian "Happy" Fanny Fields. The two young women devised tricks for Nansi to do while playing the harp, such as playing with her back turned, or playing two harps simultaneously. Richards was appointed Royal Harpist to the Prince of Wales in 1911, a title she held until her death; the role remained vacant until it was reinstated in 2000. She was awarded the MBE in 1967. In 1972 she published an autobiography ''Cwpwrdd Nansi''. Richards is credited as teaching traditional triple-harp technique to several musicians, including entertainer

Ryan Davies Ryan Davies (22 January 1937 – 22 April 1977) was a Welsh comedian, actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. Though his career lasted just 11 years, he became widely known in Wales through his work with Ronnie Williams as the comedic double ...

, Dafydd and Gwyndaf Roberts of the folk band Ar Log, and triple harpist Llio Rydderch.

Kellogg's cockerel

A frequently told, but possibly apocryphal, story about Richards involves one of Richards' overseas trips, when she visited the home of

corn flakes Corn flakes, or cornflakes, are a breakfast cereal made from toasting flakes of corn (maize). Originally invented as a Breakfast, breakfast food to counter indigestion, it has become a popular food item in the American cuisine, American diet and ...

manufacturer Will Kellogg, who was looking for a marketing idea. Richards suggested the cockerel (later named Cornelius Rooster), inspired by a pun on the name Kellogg and the Welsh word "ceiliog", meaning "cockerel".

Personal life and legacy

in 1928 Nansi Richards married Cecil Maurice Jones (1902–1963); they settled in

Tremadog Tremadog (formerly Tremadoc) is a village in the Community (Wales), community of Porthmadog, in Gwynedd, north west Wales; about north of Porthmadog town centre. It was a urban planning, planned settlement, founded by William Madocks, who boug ...

. She spent her last years in Parc, Cecil's home village near Bala. She died late in 1979, age 91. Her remains were buried in the churchyard at St Melangell's Church, Pennant Melangell near

Llangynog Llangynog (; ) is a village and community at the confluence of the Afon Eirth and the Afon Tanat at the foot of the Berwyn range in north Powys (previously Montgomeryshire), Wales. It lies at the foot of the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass ...

. There is an annual Nansi Richards Harp Scholarship competition for young harpists. A recording of Nansi Richards playing "Pen Rhaw" was included on the 2000 album ''The Rough Guide to Music of Wales.'' In 2015, ''Nansi'', a play about the life of Nansi Richards, written by Angharad Price, was staged by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru at the National Eisteddfod.Eryl Crump
"Review: Nansi, Stiwt, Llanfair Caereinion"
''Daily Post'' (4 August 2015).

Discography

*''The Art of Nansi Richards – Celfyddyd Telynores Maldwyn '' ( Qualiton Records SQUAD115, 1973) *''The Bells of Aberdovey'' (Folktrax FTX-351, 1980) *''Telynores Maldwyn Brenhines Y Delyn – Queen Of The Welsh Harp'' ( Sain SCD2382, 2003)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Nansi Welsh folk harpists 1888 births 1979 deaths People from Montgomeryshire