Esme Francis

Esme Francis
Born
Cornwall

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. One of her collections includes the song "Black and Gold". In 1978, Francis was made a Bard of Gorsedh Kernow, taking the bardic name Ylyades or Ylades (Songwriter). She has served as harpist for Gorsedh Kernow for over 40 years. She retired in 2019.

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

Francis lives in St Just.

Works

Non-fiction

Scores

Fiction

Discography

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. 1 2 "The Celtic Spirit of Cornwall 90th anniversary year" (PDF). Gorsedh Kernow.
  4. 1 2 "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.