Esme Francis

Esme Francis
Born

Esme Francis is a Cornish language songwriter, composer, lyricist, music teacher, and harpist who has contributed significantly to the traditional music of Cornwall.

Biography

Francis is a songwriter in the Cornish language.[1] One of her collections includes the song "Black and Gold".[2] In 1978, Francis was made a Bard of Gorsedh Kernow, taking the bardic name Ylyades or Ylades[3] (Songwriter).[4] She has served as harpist for Gorsedh Kernow for over 40 years.[5] She retired in 2019.[3]

In 2006 she was nominated in the Gorsedd Competition for her book Seny: Cornish Celtic Songs.[6][7] In 2014, she was nominated by the Holyer an Gof Publishers' Awards for her work Trewarveneth.[8] She received the Awen Award for her services to Cornish music in 2016.[9][10]

Francis lives in St Just.[4]

Works

Non-fiction

  • 1998 – Kan: Cornish Celtic song
  • 1999 – Rakka: Cornish Celtic song[11]

Scores

  • 2005 – Seny: Cornish Celtic Songs[12]
  • 2008 – Where Seagulls Cry: six classical songs for soprano
  • 2009 – Where the Lark Rises: six classical songs for tenor
  • 2010 – Trelawny: Celtic Cornwall in Song[13]
  • 2011 – Summer nights : six classical songs for mezzo-soprano/contralto
  • 2013 – Trewarveneth: six classical songs for baritone and bass
  • 2013 – Keltek Kan: Cornish Celtic Song[14]
  • 2017 – Land's End Suite: for harp

Fiction

  • 2007 – Southwest by Southwest[15]
  • 2015 – Rialobran: a play

Discography

  • 2004 – Kernow: Cornish Song[16]
  • 2004 – Keltek: Cornish Music[17]

References

  1. ^ Davey, Merv (1983-01-01). Hengan: traditional folk songs, dances and broadside ballads collected in Cornwall.
  2. ^ Cumpas – Cornish Music Projects – Cornish Song Lyrics 1 Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b "The Celtic Spirit of Cornwall 90th anniversary year" (PDF). Gorsedh Kernow.
  4. ^ a b "Kresen Kernow". Kresen Kernow. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  5. ^ "Pyu us ow Kelwel?". Cornish National Music Archive. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  6. ^ "Gorseth Kernow - The Gorseth of Cornwall: Award Winners, 2006". gorsedhkernow.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  7. ^ "Gorsedd competition results". Falmouth Packet. 2006-08-07. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  8. ^ "Holyer an Gof". gorsedhkernow.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  9. ^ "Esme Francis - Ylyades". Cornish National Music Archive. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  10. ^ "Gorsedh Kernow - the Celtic Spirit of Cornwall". gorsedhkernow.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  11. ^ "Rakka: Cornish Celtic Song". Cornish National Music Archive. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  12. ^ Davey, Merv (2021-07-30). "Seny: Cornish Celtic Songs". Cornish National Music Archive. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  13. ^ Davey, Merv (2021-07-30). "Trelawny: Celtic Cornwall in Song". Cornish National Music Archive. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  14. ^ Davey, Merv (2021-07-30). "Keltek Kan: Cornish Celtic Song". Cornish National Music Archive. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  15. ^ "Rakka: Cornish Celtic Song". Cornish National Music Archive. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  16. ^ "Esme Francis – Kernow". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  17. ^ "Esme Francis – Keltek - Cornish Music". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-03.