The Music Book of Denise Nankivell – Barbara Griggs and Mike O’Connor
AD2301/5/1
In a Georgian house near the top of Quay Street, Truro, lived John and Denise Nankivell. There they raised a family, and there Denise made music with her friends, and danced country dances, waltzes and quadrilles. Denise’s family had Welsh roots and her repertoire was strongly influenced by the Welsh cultural revival of the early 19th century. She may even have been instructed by Edward Jones, Bardd y Brenin, the King’s Bard. Denise played harp and piano and sang. She played solos and ensemble music; she accompanied songs. She swapped tunes with her friends. She knew and heard the leading musicians of Cornwall: Joseph Emidy, Charles Hempel and Ann White.
Mike O’Connor and Barbara Griggs have transcribed Denise’s music and added commentary and insight: a valuable addition to our understanding of music-making in early 19th century Cornwall.
List of music scores:
| The March of the Men of Harlech | The Silver Miners’ Waltz |
| The Camp of the Palace | Mathilda Waltz |
| Ar Hyd y Nos | Pantheon Slow Waltz |
| Nos Galan | Mrs Brandling’s Waltz |
| Cynghansail Cymry. The Welsh Ground. | March by J.E.Weipperts |
| Hob y Deri Dando | O Nanny Wilt Thou Gang with Me |
| Ar Hyd y Nos | Hindoo Air |
| La Musette de Nina | Variations by George Kiallmark |
| The Dove | Allegretto de la Rosa Bianca |
| Ah Vous Dirai-je Maman | Cnott y Coed |
| Waltz | Codiad yr Hedydd |
| Duncan Grey with Variations | Pleyel’s Rondo |
| Go, You May Call it Madness | Irish Air |
| Sicilian Hymn | Spanish Sarabande |
| Waltz | Lullaby |
| Waltz | The Portuguese Hymn |
| Quant’e Piu Bello, Mozart | Love and Glory |
| The Maid of Lodi | A French March |
| Rondo 3 | The Eloisa |
| Llwyn On | Janie’s Bawbee |
| Cease Your Funning | Mary’s Dream |
| Count Koburg’s March | Though Love is Warm Awhile |
Notes
The Quay Street Harper is published by Lyngham House, St Ervan,Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7RT
Kresen Kernow ref: Shelf no 780.14237 Standard pamphlets
The original manuscript of Denise Nankivell’s music is held by Kresen Kernow, Little Vauxhall, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 1AS: catalogue number AD2301/5/1
The manuscript is a book of handwritten harp music, In the 19th century it was the property of Denise Nankivell, née Griffiths. The book contains dance tunes, solos, ensemble music and accompaniments to popular songs, nearly all entered by Denise. It was probably taken to Carwinion House, Mawnan Smith, Cornwall by Denise’s longest surviving child, Mary Frances Rogers. It remained at the house until her descendants left in 2013, when it was sold at auction and purchased by the then Cornwall Record Office.