Maria Jane Williams facts for kids

Maria Jane Williams, around 1865

Maria Jane Williams (born around 1795 – died 1873) was a talented Welsh musician. She was also a folklorist, which means she collected old stories, songs, and traditions. Maria Jane Williams was born in Glynneath, South Wales. She is famous for saving many old Welsh songs from being forgotten. Some of these include Y Deryn Pur (The Gentle Bird) and Y Ferch o'r Sger.

Her Life Story

Maria Jane Williams was born in 1794 or 1795. Her family home was Aberpergwm House in Glynneath. She was the second daughter of Rees Williams. Later in her life, she lived at a house called Ynys-las. This house was also near Aberpergwm House. Maria Jane Williams passed away in 1873. She was buried at St Cadoc's Church, Glynneath, which is on the grounds of Aberpergwm House.

A Gifted Musician and Scholar

Maria Jane Williams received a very good education. She strongly supported the Welsh language and its old traditions. She knew a lot about music and was an amazing singer. She also played the guitar and the harp very well. A famous harp player named Parish-Alvars taught her.

A music critic, Henry Fothergill Chorley, once said she was the "most exquisite amateur singer" he had ever heard. People even gave her the nickname ‘Llinos’. This is the Welsh word for a linnet, which is a small songbird. Maria Jane Williams was also part of a Welsh cultural group called Cymreigyddion y Fenni. Her home became a popular place for people interested in Welsh culture and history.

Collecting Welsh Fairy Tales

In 1826 and 1827, Maria Jane Williams gathered many fairy tales. These stories came from the Vale of Neath area. Her collection was first printed in a book by Crofton Croker. Later, a shorter version appeared in a book called ‘Fairy Mythology’. Thomas Keightley, who wrote that book, had actually suggested she collect the tales.

Saving Welsh Folk Songs

In 1837, Maria Jane Williams won a special prize. She received it at an event called an eisteddfod in Abergavenny. The prize was for collecting the best unpublished Welsh music. This collection was published in 1844. Its title was ‘The Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morgannwg’.

This book is still very important for understanding traditional Welsh music. It has 43 songs with Welsh words. It also includes music for the harp or piano. The book helped save many songs from being lost. The most famous ones are Y Deryn Pur (The Gentle Dove) and Y Ferch o'r Sger (The Maid of Sker). In 1838, she won another prize. This was for arranging a Welsh song for four voices.

Maria Jane Williams believed in keeping the songs as original as possible. She said: "The songs were given as...obtained,...in their wild and original state; no embellishments of the melody have been attempted, and the accompanying words are those sung to the airs."

She also helped other musicians. She worked with John Parry on his book, ‘The Welsh Harper’. John Thomas also asked for her advice. He did this before publishing his own books of Welsh songs.