Maria Jane Williams of Aberpergwm was a fine singer and harpist, and a pioneer in the field of Welsh folk music. She won a prize at the 1837 Abergavenny eisteddfod for a collection of folk tunes, which was published in 1844 as Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morgannwg. This was the only published collection of tunes with original Welsh lyrics until the twentieth century.