WILLIAMS, FOULK ROBERT (Eos Llyfnwy ; 1774-1870), musician;
b. at Hendreforion-bach, Llanllyfni, Caerns. (and christened 6 Oct. 1774), the son of Robert William, weaver, and Lowry his wife. Owing to his gift as a singer he came to be called ‘Ffowc bach y canwr’; later he was known as Foulk Roberts. When he was 17 he received music lessons for a period of three months from John Williams (Ioan Rhagfyr, q.v.), these lessons being paid for by some gentleman. For many years he visited certain districts in Anglesey and Caernarvonshire to teach congregational singing. The National Library of Wales has a 1,158-page manuscript called ‘Llyfr Cerddoriaeth o Gerddi Sion …, compiled c. 1834 by Foulk Roberts; this manuscript contains anthems, hymn-tunes, carols, old airs, etc., the compiler and collector being designated as ‘Foulk Roberts (Eos Llyfnwy), Llanrug.’ After his marriage he moved to Clegir, in the upper part of the parish of Llan-rug, and it was there that he d. 11 Dec. 1870; he was buried in Llan-rug churchyard.
Bibliography:
- M. O. Jones, Byw. Cerdd. Cymr..
Author:
Robert David Griffith, M.A., (1877-1958), Old Colwyn
