by Barrie Jones
The following is a transcript of an obituary for Aladdin Gibbs by John Devonald printed in the Merthyr Express on the 23rd of May 1931. The author, John Devonald (Eos Ynysowen), (1863-1936) was a professional singer and musical director who in his later years was a regular contributor of articles for Y Cerddor (The Musician) titled “Notes from Merthyr”, as well as writing pieces for the Merthyr Express[i].
What John Devonald does not mention in the obituary, is that Aladdin was of Romany descent, his parents, Deladdus (Aladdin) Lovele/Gibbs and Pheobe Colin, migrated to South Wales from the Welsh Marches in the mid-nineteenth century. Aladdin senior was also a knife and scissor grinder and may also have been a harpist. The account of Ladin y Telynwr and his son and grandson is an example of the rich contribution Romany harpists made to the long musical tradition of harp playing in both Merthyr and Wales.
Aladdin Gibbs – An Appreciation by Mr. John Devonald
A few weeks ago (23rd April 1931), one of Merthyr’s most notable characters in the last century was buried at Llanfabon churchyard (Nelson)– Aladdin Gibbs (1851-1931). At one time in his career, he was noted as a runner and walker and held the record for the one mile walk for some years. He was known far and wide as “Ladin Gibbs y raswr (racer),” “Ladin Gibbs y cerddor (musician),” or “Ladin Gibbs y telynwr (harpist).” His profession was that of knife and scissor grinder and repairer of umbrellas, and he carried on his trade almost to the end. Last year I saw him at it in Aberfan, although he told me he was 82 years of age. I remember him coming to Aberdare when I was a boy. He was different to all other grinders inasmuch as he had a shaft attached to his machine and a fine pony in it, while it was one mass of glittering brass. He himself was always spick and span. He was supposed to be one of the best built men in Merthyr: indeed, Drs. Ward and Webster, the old Merthyr surgeons, said he was. But what drew me to Aladdin Gibbs was his passion for the harp. He played for years on a harp made by himself and would frequent the fairs in the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire towns, when it was the custom to have a “telyn ymhob tafarn” (a harp in every public-house). He believed in the old triple string harp[ii], and insisted that his son Aladdin, should be taught in that method, that is, playing with the instrument resting on the left shoulder, and not on the right, like the more modern pedal harp, although his teacher was one of the most up-to-date in Wales, Mr. Taliesin James[iii], who is still with us, and the son of Mr. James James, the composer of “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.” Aladdin Gibbs would not be considered by Merthyr Eisteddfodwyr as an eisteddfodwr, yet he probably attended more National Eisteddfodau than any other Merthyr man. Be the eisteddfod in North or South, Gibbs would be there with his son. The later competed in the harp solo contests and won more than once. I shall always remember the pride of the old gentleman at the Bangor National (1890), when the boy won and was invested by the then Queen of Romania (Carmen Sylvia)[iv], who kissed him. The last time I saw them was at the Caernarfon National Eisteddfod. The son did not win, and the father, like a true sportsman, did not complain.
Aladdin Gibbs junior was a member of a troupe[v] travelling the United Kingdom and Ireland, of which I was musical director, and the question often came, “What’s the matter with your harpist?” The answer was always the same, “He is playing in the Welsh style.” I mentioned to his father once that his insistence must have been a drawback to the son, but his answer was, “The Welsh way is the correct way.” His name would not suggest that of a Welshman, yet how many of our countrymen are prepared to stick to a Welsh custom with the same tenacity?
Aladdin Gibbs was born in Caerleon in Monmouthshire, came to Merthyr when he was very young, and although an enthusiast in running, walking, boxing – his son-in-law being Patsy Perkins[vi], once well known in the boxing world – and all sport, yet his great passion was the harp. His last conversation with me was concerning his son’s harp, which he described as a beauty. His son[vii] is a harpist of great ability, and he has a son 10 years of age who is coming on very well indeed on the same instrument.
[i] More information on John Devonald can be gleaned from notes compiled by Dr. Fred Holley in the Merthyr Historian, Volume 22 (2011), pp. 87-123.
[ii] Triple harp (telyn deires), commonly known as the Welsh harp, comprising of three parallel rows of strings.
[iii] Taliesin James, also known as “Professor James”, of Aberdare was a renowned music tutor, his father James was a harpist who together with his father Evan composed Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
[iv] Elisabeth of Wied, Queen of Romania (1843-1916), she was a prolific writer under the name Carmen Sylva.
[v] Either the “Four Royal Welshmen” or the “Welsh Wanderers”.
[vi] George (Patsy) Perkins, featherweight boxer and boxing promoter was married to Aladdin’s daughter Rhoda Gibbs.
[vii] Aladdin Gibbs (1874-1939) was also landlord of the Rose and Crown, Quar, and later the Brecon House Inn, Brecon Road. His son Reginald (1921-1999) studied music in London and was a professional harpist performing with leading British orchestras.
We very easily forget people on our own patch who tried to make a difference and to make the world a better place. One of those was Gwilym Davies, who was born in Bedlinog – though in his day (he died in 1955) Bedlinog was not part of the Merthyr Tydfil region patch, as it is now.
& Pastimes in the 18th & 19th Century, Merthyr Tydfil by Geoffrey Evans
1. A Visit to Merthyr Tydfil in 1697 by Brynley F. Roberts
1. Vince Harris, 1904-1987 by Margaret Lloyd
1. Elphin, Literary Magistrate: Magisterial Commentator by Brynley Roberts
1. The Merthyr Tydfil 1835 Election Revisited, Lady Charlotte Guest’s Account by E (Ted) Rowlands
1. Three Generations of a Dowlais Medical Family 1860-1964 by Stuart Cresswell
