Robert Williams

WILLIAMS, Robert. b. Mynydd Ithel, Llanfechell, Anglesey, 27 October 1782; d. Mynydd Ithel, 15 July 1818. He was blind from birth. He was a basket maker by trade, and a good musician. He is associated with the tune LLANFAIR, which is found in a manuscript book belonging to him, although it may have been a folk tune and he may not have been the composer of it. It had the name BETHEL, and was dated 14 July 1817. It was used by Vaughan Williams* for Charles Wesley*’s ‘Hail the day that sees him rise’* in EH (1906). In RCH (1927) and other books (CP, HP) it has been used for ‘Praise the Lord, His glories show’* by Henry Francis...