Merêd and Phyllis’ Index Cards
How many of these folk songs, carols and nursery rhymes do you know?
Dr Meredydd Evans, or Merêd, and his wife Phyllis Kinney played a key role in the field of traditional music in Wales. Merêd spent his life contributing to Welsh life and culture as an avid collector, historian, musician, editor, nationalist and campaigner for the Welsh language. Phyllis Kinney is the author of ‘Welsh Traditional Music’ (2011) the most important study of Welsh traditional music. Both were pivotal figures in the development of music in Wales and were responsible for the detailed study of Welsh folk songs.
In 2018 their invaluable archive was transferred to the care of The Welsh Music Archive at The National Library of Wales.
Their archive includes thousands of index cards containing information on folk songs, carol lyrics and nursery rhymes. Most of these list the names of tunes / songs / carols in alphabetical order with information on their origin, the first sentence of the piece or at times the whole verse.
The National Library of Wales aims to make the information contained in the indexes readily available online to those who wish to research Welsh folk songs.
By taking part in our new and exciting volunteering project, initially on the Nursery Rhymes, you will be responsible for transcribing text so that we can provide searchable access to this vital archive in the future.
https://blog.llyfrgell.cymru/helar-hen-ganeuon/