Correspondence, 1899-1945, reflecting the various aspects of J. Lloyd Williams's interest in the music of Wales. Amongst the topics discussed are singing festivals, lectures, concerts, broadcasting and the publication and performance of his own works. Some letters also include references to Y Cerddor, and to the work of the Welsh Folk-Song Society.
A few fragments and transcripts of diaries, 1880-1934. Some contain additional data to that found in the rest of the series and the transcripts may have been used during the compilation of J. Lloyd Williams's memoirs.
Folk songs, stanzas and melodies, a few carols, hymn-tunes and lists of tunes and miscellaneous notes, from various manuscript, printed and oral sources.
Printed, manuscript and cyclostyled copies of folk songs, some being arrangements for choirs and published by the Welsh Folk-Song Society. Only a few items contain information relating to provenance.
Correspondence relating to folk songs in general and individually, and to the work of the Welsh Folk-Song Society, consisting of letters to J. Lloyd Williams mainly in his role as editor of the Society's Journal. Letters addressed to other members of the Society, which had been forwarded to J. Lloyd Williams, are also included. Songs are often enclosed with letters.
Mainly folk songs and a few press cuttings. A number of songs were recorded by J. Lloyd Williams from the singing of family members and some items are transcripts from Mrs Grace Gwyneddon Davies's manuscripts. Provenance notes are included.
Numerous collections of folk songs and hymn tunes accumulated by J. Lloyd Williams before and during his period as Editor of the Journal of the Welsh Folk-Song Society, including material which he himself had recorded and items submitted to him by others. Indexes, lists, related notes and press cuttings are also included.
Scripts of broadcasts, 1941, by J. Lloyd Williams on musical topics, some including related contracts and correspondence. The titles include 'Caneuon Gwerin: Cyngerdd'; a series entitled 'Music of Britain: Wales', including 'The Origin of the Welsh Folk Song Movement'; 'Welsh Chords' (contract only); 'Canu'r Eisteddfod' (contract only); 'The Music of the National Eisteddfod during the last 40 years' / 'Cerddoriaeth yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn ystod y Deugain Mlynedd Diwethaf'; 'Hela Alawon' and 'Hela Hen Ganeuon'. A radio script, dated 11 March 1938, of a discussion between E. Morgan Humphreys and J. Lloyd Williams on Welsh folk songs is also included, together with a typescript copy of a list of suggestions for broadcasts.
Two card indexes. The first and longer sequence is arranged alphabetically by title of songs/airs with detailed references to printed collections such as the works of John Parry, Edward Jones and Nicholas Bennett, and some manuscript collections such as Ifor Ceri's 'Melus Seiniau'. The sol-fa notation of first lines is often included. The second sequence, again in alphabetical order by title, includes references to various sources in which the songs or airs are named, including J. H. Davies's 'Bibliography of Cerddi' and Bangor Library holdings.
A composite volume containing two treatises in Welsh on angling and musical theory, three lists of tune titles, and a large collection of tunes, compiled by John Thomas for the violin, some from printed sources and others written down from oral tradition. The tunes have been published, with related notes, in Cass Meurig (ed.), Alawon John Thomas: a fiddler's tune-book from eighteenth-century Wales (Aberystwyth, 2004).
Correspondence, 1880-1945, between J. Lloyd Williams and close family members, especially his brothers Bob, Huw (Hugh), Owen, Richard/Dic (Richard Conway Williams) and William (who became an Inspector of Schools). The letters relate mainly to personal and family matters, but some discuss J. Lloyd Williams's memoirs, his proposed history of Welsh music and a few relate to folk songs and singing. One volume of copy letters, 1890-1891, mainly to his brothers and sister, are also included.
A volume of mainly Welsh and English airs and songs collected by Evan Jones ('Ifan y Gorlan'), harpist, of Gorlan, near Llanrwst. A list of contents in J. Lloyd Williams's hand is included.
