Welsh folklore, Wirt Sikes
Morgan’s Magic Harp
Fairies disguised as tired travellers test Morgan ap Rhys’s hospitality. After he offers bread and cheese, they grant his wish for a harp that will play lively music regardless of his ability. When Morgan plays, his neighbours and family dance uncontrollably, bounding and spinning until they beg him to stop. The gift gives the player mastery of music without ensuring considerate use of the power.
Also known as Magic Harp of Morgan ap Rhys
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalFairies disguised as tired travellers test Morgan ap Rhys’s hospitality. After he offers bread and cheese, they grant his wish for a harp that will play lively music regardless of his ability.
Further detail
TraditionalWhen Morgan plays, his neighbours and family dance uncontrollably, bounding and spinning until they beg him to stop. The gift gives the player mastery of music without ensuring considerate use of the power.
Context & interpretation
The entry follows the Morgan ap Rhys magic-harp story recorded by Sikes. It keeps the musical compulsion within the tale and does not combine the harp with other fairy instruments as though they were one object.
Original passages
Source 1
British Goblins
no matter how ill I strike itOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Wirt Sikes, British Goblins (1880), active reader leaf 111
Exact passage checked against active scan text and its original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0044-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0044-E001-P0111
- Original scan leaf
- 112
- Recorded leaf number
- 112
- Current Reader position
- 110
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
British Goblins
they began to pray to him to stopOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Wirt Sikes, British Goblins (1880), active reader leaf 112
Exact passage checked against active scan text and its original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0044-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0044-E001-P0112
- Original scan leaf
- 113
- Recorded leaf number
- 113
- Current Reader position
- 111
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
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