Robin Huw Bowen

The eighteenth century Welsh triple, a fully chromatic harp with three rows of strings, has been transformed into instrument of beauty by Liverpool-born and Wales-based harper Robin Huw Bowen. A former member of traditional Welsh band, Mabsant, Bowen has continued to weave his multi-stringed melodies as a soloist and with the duo, Cusan Tan, featuring Ann Morgan Jones (vocals, flute) and Sue Jones (harmony vocals). Bowen is the youngest of three triple harp-playing brothers. His older brothers, Dafydd and Gwandaf Roberts, played the instrument with the traditional group, Ar Log. In addition to what he learned from his brothers, Bowen studied with influential gypsy harp player Nansi Richard. His first opportunity to show what he had learned came in 1986 when he joined the traditional band, Mabsant. Bowen remained with the group for two years, recording one album, Trwy'r Weiar, in 1987. Much of Bowen's repertoire was collected while he was supplementing his income as a musician by working at the Welsh National Library. After discovering a treasure-trove of ancient Welsh tunes, he opened a press, Gwasg Teires (Triple Harp Press) to publish them. A collection of two hundred hornpipes was published as Tro Llaw.