Annotation:Harry Dhu
X:1 T:Syr Harri Ddu M:3/4 L:1/8 R:Air N:Indicated air for the song “Trewch Fysedd Cain” B:https://viewer.library.wales/5726991#?c=&m=&s=&cv=12&manifest=https%3A%2F%2Fdamsssl.llgc.org.uk%2Fiiif%2F2.0%2F5726991%2Fmanifest.json&xywh=-313%2C-459%2C3489%2C2833 Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:C V:1 c2 ce A2|B2 Bd G2|Ac FA GB|c4 z2|Bc de fd| c>d ef ge|f dec dB|c6|:B2 BG Bc|dB cA !fermata!G2|e2 ec ef| ge fd c2!fermata!|B2 GA Bc|dB cA G2|Ac FA GB|c4 z2:| V:2 E2 EG E2|G2 GF E2|FA DF EG|E4 z2|GA Bc dB| c>B cd ec|dB cE GD|E6|:G2GE GA|BG Gc E2|c2 cG cd| ec dB c2!fermata!|G2 GD GA|BG AF E2|EG DF EG|E4 z2:| V:3 clef = bass C,2 C,C, C,2|E,2 E,F, G,2|F,C, D,D, E,D,|C,4 z2|G,G, G,G, D,G,| E,D, C,B,, C,E,|D,D, G,G, G,,G,,|C,6|:D,2 D,E, D,C,|G,D, E,^F, G,2|CC, E,E, A,A,| G,A, D,D, E,2|G,2 C,F, E,C,|B,,D, E,F, G,2|C,E, F,D, G,G,,|C,4 z2:|
HARRY DHU. AKA - "Syr Harri Ddu." Welsh, Air (3/4 time). C Major (Jones): B Flat Major (Thomas). Standard tuning (fiddle). ABB (Thomas): AABB (Jones). Edward Jones records: "Black Sir Harry, or Henry Salisbury, of the family of Llewenny in Denbigshire, lived in the latter part of the 14th century." Sir Henry Salisbury--Syr Harri Dhu--founded the family that lived for many generations at Lleweni Hall, near Denbigh. The National Song Book, edited by C.V. Stanford (1906, p. 219) prints the song "Harri Dhu", remarking:
Syr Harri Ddu was a man of swarthy complexion, as represented in his picture which formerly hung in the old Gothic Hall at Lleweny, where he was dressed in a suit of black armour. This Henry Salisbury was brother to Sir Thomas Salisbury of Lleweny, Denbighshire. There is an Ode addressed to him by the bard Lewys Môn, who lived about 1500.
The words to the song (in The National Song Book, with English words revised by Alfred Percival Graves) go:
Du oedd ei bryd a'i dar-ian gref,
Ni bu dewrach dan y bef;
Er i'r saethau chwyrnu yn gâd o'i ddeutu,
Anorchfygol ydoedd ef.
Llef y gorchfyfedig nid yn ofer bu,
Am gael gwen trvgaredd gan Syr Harri Ddu;
Ffyddlon i'w gyfeillion oedd hyd angeu erch,
Ni bu neb mwy pur mewn serch.
Mewn llawer llys, gan faint ei swyn,
Ocheneidia'r merched mwyn;
Gydag, iaith y galon
Cabai i'w gariadon
Odlau serch mewn llawer llwyb.
Awen bêr y bardd a fythol gân ei glodv Ac mewn didranc gerdd ei enw byth gaiff fod:
Bydd Syr Harri guda'r llygaid llawn o dân,
Yn anfarwol fel ein cân.
Black was his plume, black was his shield,
Braver ne'er did fauchion wield;
Show'rs of shafts would rattle
Round him in the battle,v Yet he knew not how to yield.
When a gallant foe lay conquer'd on the plain,v Mercy from Sir Harry he ne'er asked in vain;
Constant to his friends, whate'er the cost he proved.
None more faithful lived and loved.
Ay! though when he proudly went past,v Sparkled many a lady's eye,
Through that starry shower,v To his dear one's bower
He but made the fonder haste.
Long the bard shall sing the praises of his fame,v And in deathless verse preserve his noble name:
Black Sir Harry, with the dark and sparkling eye,
Like our song shall never die!
The tune was also printed in Blind Parry's [1] (1710-1782) Twelve Airs for one and two Guitars, 1781 edition.
