Welsh Journals

A NOTABLE MUSICIAN, RICHARD CARTE BY H. LLEWELYN HOWELL, M.A. IT may interest musical readers to be reminded that one of the most gifted native instrumentalists of the nineteenth century was, for a time, an inhabitant of Welshpool. Richard Carte was born in 1808. His father, Richard Cart, as the name was then spelt, joined the Royal Horse Guards Blue, and attained the rank of Quarter-Master. On being pensioned from that regiment, he travelled abroad; an adventurous journey, apparently, for he was shipwrecked, and lost his personal belongings. He, however, got safely back to England, and was ultimately appointed Adjutant of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Cavalry, and stationed at Welshpool. The house occupied by the family was that known as Maesygarreg, near the Gungrog Road, and as it contained a cart or several carts, it promptly became known to the facetious inhabitants of Pool as the Wainhouse." Young Carte was, as a child, a most proficient whistler, and at an early age displayed remarkable aptitude for instrumental music. This coming to the notice of the Commanding Officer of The Blues," resulted in his obtaining opportunities for instruction, and he was placed under Griesbach, a professor of repute, and a member of the Royal Private Band, for lessons on the piano and violin. He must have tackled the difficulties of the latter instrument with unusual success, for before he was in his teens he was capable of taking his place creditably in provincial orchestras.