The Aberdare Leader

Musical Aberdare. THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE CYMANFA GANU. In view of the fact that Aberdare has played such au important part in the musical development of Wales, and that the town still maintains its reputation as a craile of musicians, the appended P- article will, no doubt, be of interest to our readers. It is reproduced by the kind permission of Mrs. W. Lloyd, High- land Place, from "The Aberdare Illus- trated Almanack for the year 1893, and is written by Mr. D. M. Richards, Wen- allt. Aberdare has for many years new a distinguished, position in the Welsh musical world, and has been considered as the fore-runner, to a great extent, of the intense devotion to the sublime art which at present pervades the Princi- pality. The present year (1893) will wit- ness the holding of the twenty-first annual Singing Festival in connection with the Calvinistic Methodist Churches of the Valley, and will also at Christmas witness the twenty-first Oratorio per- formance given by the Aberdare, Choral Union. A suitable opportunity therefore presents itself for narrating the history of music at Aberdare for the past ha f- century, and for briefly tracing, through the biographies of a few representative leaders, the various forms of musical pcr- formmees for which Aberdare has dur- ing that period been so noted. It will be • eadily seen that the sketch can only be tu imperfect one, but brief as it is, every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Up to the latter part of the first half ot the present century Welsh music was practically confined to the itinerant harpist and the singing of the Sanctu- ary, and choral competitions at Eis- teddfodau were unknown. As far as can be ascertained, the celebrated serieis of Eisteddfodau held at Abergavenny in the forties was the first place where choirs were induced to enter the arena. One of the earliest prize-winners at the Aber- gavenny Eisteddfodau was the Rhymney Choir, conducted by Mr. William Mor- gan (Billy iShon Morgan), the oldest hother of Mrs. Jones, Abergwawr Brewery. This gentleman subsequently settled at Aberdare, and formed the first 1tnitedthoir in the town. Up to thpt date there was nothing to mark out Aberdare from the other towns and ham- tets in the neighbourhood, although be- fore that there were a number of choir leaders in some of the churches whose Danaes are still lovingly mentioned by the elder musicians who were taught their first rudiments of psalmody under them. Among the earliest of these whose "anies are still preserved were John Rees (hon Llwynmoch) and his brother Thomas, the latter of whom died in 1832. These are said to be the first iu Glamorganshire who taught singing by bote from books, and they travelled throughout Glamorganshire and Brecon- shire to hold singing schools, and were the teachers of nearly the whole of the Musicians who flourished in the early Dart of this century. John Reps for some time taught singing at the Hen-Dy- Cwrdd, Aberdare, where also the follow- ing during this early period either led the singing or were at least prominent Musicians: William Williams (Wil IJanon), Dafydd John Reas, Williaci JOlleS (an old Waterloo veteran), John Jones (John Mab Jacki), a brother of ^Hradog, and John Thomas Jones (Eiddil CYllon), whose son, Mr. D. Eiddil Jones, i the present leader of the South Wales Unitarian Singing Association. Among the Calvinistic Methodists who built their first chapel in 1806 at Pentwynbach, the earliest leader whose name has been discovered was Jacki Price. He wias suc- ceeded by Mr. Abraham James, who for J'"eltU's led the singing after the church re- moved to its present habitation at Car- tel. At Ebenezer, before 1850, Phillip tvaii Phillips, father of Mr. Phillip Phillips, the present conductor at Saron, Abe ram an, was the leader. He was ably Assisted by T'wmi Howell Morgan And Thomas Phillips (Gwilym ( ymm'h father), and David John, who has now for the last 40 yearn been the conductor ;'It Ebenezer. At Siloa, the first conduc- tors were Morgan Morgan and David Jone". followed in 18.57 by the present leader, David Davies (Dewi ab Tagc). One of the earliest conductors with the Lesley an body was Lewis Lewis. The baptist Church originally formed at ^'•iivpound (now Carmel Chapel) has Qad a long line of distinguished conduc- tors, including John James, John Moore, William Morgan (Billy Shon Morgan), t'homas Parry, John Roberts (author of the well-known congregational tuiio Talybont"), Jenkin Howell (joint- editor of a very successful Tune Book), and Evan Leyshon. Mr. Helmore, cue nf a distinguished English musical family, also taught a number of Church I Choirs in the district about this period. It m?y be not without interest to men- tion here that among the old harpists in tile district were Edward Evans, minister Hen-Dy-Cwrdd (1772—1798), 81 on Sbams. John Williams (Horse and (iroom), and Tomas Dafydd Llewellyn, Mro were followed by our present harp- Ist, Thomas Lewis. An attempt was .,tl.so llIade some time in the forties to form a band in Aberdare, Dafydd Rr chard "'I'llwiit being the leader, and some of the f*fct members being W. Williams (Wil ^lanon), Morgan Morgan (Green Dragon), lIild Thomas Morgan, his brother. CARADOG. Griffith Rhys Jones (Caradog) was born Member 21st, 1834, at the Rose and Crown, Trecynon (the house now occu- pied by Mr. W. Thomas, chemist, T're eYllon), being on his mother's side de- luded from the Rhyses of Hendrefawr. Ilis grandfather, David Hughes, a native North Wales, was a local preacher with the Baptist denomination at Pont- neath-vaughan. Caradog's father was John Jones, and his grandfather Jack Jones, who was for many years mechani- cal engineer at the Llwydcoed Works, then owned by Mr. Scale. Jack Jones was the son of Rev. J. Jones, Vicar of Llanishen, Llysfaen, and Llaneden. Young Griffith was apprenticed to the trade of a blacksmith, and was engaged as such for many years at the various collieries in the Aberdare District. While still in his teens he aspired at becoming a choir leader. He was then well-known aiS an accomplished violinist, and endeavoured to form a choir at Tre- cynon to compete' at Aberavon Eistedd- fod, held June 23rd, 1853. The test piece on that occasion was "Hallelujah to the Father," which by a, strange coincidence was one of the test pieces at the Crystal Palace. On account of his youth, how- ever, he found some difficulty in getting together a choir in Aberdare; but some friends from Dowlais and elsewhere assisted him to secure the required num- bers. The question then arose as to the name by which the little choir should bo known by, and on the suggestion of the late Thomas Meredyth (afterwards a singing conductor at Siloa Chapel, Aber- dare), who with his wife were- member" of this choir, it was decided to send in the name of the choir as Cor Caradog," a patriotic reference to the British Prince who defended his country against the assaults of the Romans. This was dene, and the choir (which, numbered only 17 persons) proving victorious, the leader was called to the platform to re- ceive the prize of £ 5. "Deled Caradog yn mlaen" (Iet Caradog come forward,, was the manner in which our young con- ductor .was,summoned to receive his lam- els, and thus was our hero dubbed Caradog, a name which stuck to him through his after life. He soon after rose to be a recognised leader, and for a considerable time taught the singing classes at the Hen-Dy- Cwrdd. He also took a prominent part in the Eisteddfodau originated and for years carried on by the late Carw Cncli at Trecynon. He subsequently joined the Aberdare Philharmonic Society, then under the leadership of Mr. David Rosser, as first violinist, which per- formed the a Twelfth Mass" at thn Temperance Hall, soon after that struc- ( ture was opened. The Society subse- quently became known as "Cor Undebol Aberdar," and the conductorship de- volved upon Caradog. This choir de- voted the larger portion of its energies for many years to competitive singing at the various Eisteddfodau in Wales. Their success was unparalleled. Choir after choir, and leader after leader (in- cluding the late Dan Francis, Silas | Evans, and Eos Morlais), came out against them, only to be vanquished and completely overthrown. Many tales are ( related of the strange power and effect of their singing; and at many an Eistedd- fod the audience have risen to their feet, thrilled by the fire, intensity, and pathos with which the chorus Was being rendered. In the early part of 1872 the project of 1 forming a Welsh Choir to compete for the Thousand Guinea Challenge Cup and a prize of £ 100 offered by the Crystal i Palace Company was mooted, and after several meetings had been held, it was decided to carry out the proposal. Eos Morlais then proposed, and Tom Wil- liams, Pontypridd, seconded, that Car- < adog should be the leader of the choir. 1 Thus was the "Cor Mawr" started, Aberdare being considered its head- quarters. The officers were as follows Chairman, the Rev. Canon .Tentin>3. Aberdare; treasurer, Rev. Dr. Price, Aberdare; secretaries, Mr. D. Brython- fryn Griffiths and Mr. W. Davies (now < of the Temperance Hotel); conductor, 3 Caradog; accompanist, Mr. Bowen, Dow- lais. Sections were formed in the' var- 1 ious districts of Glamorganshire, lo.l i leaders being appointed as follows:- < Aberdare: Rees Evans. Mountain Ash: D. E. Coleman. Merthyr Tydfil: 1 "Lewis Morgan. Pontypridd: Richard Evans. Treherbert, Pentre, and Treor- ky: Caradog. Tongwynlais: Evan Baz- ]ey. Neath: W. Matthews. Swansea- Silas Evans. Cwmaman: James Rich- ards. Maesteg: David Jenkins. Llaii- elly: W. T. Rees (Alaw Ddu). In June, 1872, the Choir secured the Cup without a contest. But the follow- ing year, the interest was greatly inten- sified when it became known that the choir would have to meet one of the crack choirs of London, known as the Paris Prize Choir, under the leadership of Mr. Proudman. Space forbids our more than mentioning the start from Aberdare, on July 8th, 1873, when mar- shalled by Canon Jenkins and Dr. Price, the Five Hundred started for Bristol, where they were to hold a concert that evening. Here they were presented bv a number of American Welshmen (who, burning with the patriotic fire, had cane over the Atlantic to be present at the contest) with several purses of gold con- tributed by the Cymry of A nwrica; and with a. handsome silk banner, bearing the emblems of Welsh nationality, pre- sented by Messrs. James Howell and Co., the Cardiff Drapers. Their concert at the Colston Hall that night met with a most flattering reception; one noteworthy feature being Eos Morlais's rendering of the 4aria a Sound an ala,rni," which fair- ly electrified the usually phlegmatic Englishmen. The next morning saw the choir leaving for the Metropolis. On the following day, July 10th, the memorable contest took place in the Central Transept of the Crystal Palace, the adjudicators being Sir Julius Bene- dict, Sir John Goss, and Mr. Joseph Barnby. The choruses rendered were, "I wrestle and pray," "Hallelujah to the Father," "See what love hath the Father," and Come with torches." The scene when Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., on behalf of the adjudicators, an- nounced that the South Wales Choir was victorious, was simply indescribable. Before leaving the Metropolis, thanks to the patriotic endeavours of Lord Aber- dare and Mr. Brinley Richards, the choir were presented to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House, where they sang a God save the Queen," Llwyn Onn OJ in Welsh, Let the Hills resound (which was repeated at the,, spec:ai re- quest of the Prince), and "The March of the Men of Harlech." The surviving members of the CCl Mawr, of Crystal Palace fame, will read with lively interest the following, which, was printed on a card of invitaton issued to the members of the choir to appear before the Prince of Wales at Marlbor- ough House:- South Wales Choral Union. Marlborough House, July, 14th, 1873. Programmec- 'God Save the Queen,' 'Llwyn Onn' (The Ash Grove), 'Let the Hills Resound,' 'Rhyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech' (The March of the Men of Harlech), 'God Bless* the Prince of Wales/ Conductor, Caradog." In addition to the Challenge Cup and His Money Prize, the former of which however was by the terms of the com- petition only to be held for one year, the choir was presented with a magnificent Silver Cup by the Welsh in London, and the leader with two Gold Batons from the Welshmen of Australia and California respectively..These memen- toes ais well as the Banner of the Choir are now deposited in the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Mr. Richard l othergill, M.P., also presented Caradog with a Gold Medal, and every member of the choir with a Silver one, to com- memorato the event, bearing upon its obverse the following inscription: "Presented by Richard Fothergll, M.P., in commemoration of the victory of the South Wales Choral Union at the Crystal Palace, July 10th, 1873." and on its reverse a harp. During his residence in the Rhondda Valley Caradog formed a choir which performed a number of oratorios, but shortly afterwards he removed to Cardi- ganshire, and afterwards to Cardiff and Pontypridd. It is pleasant, however, to learn that he has once more taken up the baton, and has formed a choir at Pontypridd, which has performed The Creation/' Mendelssohn's Athalie," and "The Hymn of Praise," and is now preparing to perform Israel in Egypt" at one of the concerts in connection with the National Eisteddfod to be held there in 1893. Caradog has been twice mar- ried, his only son being a chartered ac- countant at Cardiff, and a partner in the firm of Messrs. Jenkins and Jones. MR. DANIEL GRIFFITHS. Mr. Daniel Griffiths, who may most appropriately be selected as the repre- sentative of congregational singing in the Aberdare Valley, was born in April, 1828. He is the son of the late Evan Griffiths, who kept a grocery, drapery, ironmongery, and general stores at Tymawr, in High-street (tho house now occupied by Dr. Evan Jones, J.P.). As a lad he attended Carmel Methodist Chapel; and being from his childhood deeply interested in singing, he, learnt the rudiments of music at the singing school conducted by the then leader cf Carmel, Mr. Abraham James (father of Mr. Benjamin James, of London, who will act as conductor of the Singing Festival of the Hirwain District of the Calvinistic Methodists, to be held in June, 1893). He very soon came to be looked upon as the recognised assistant of Mr. James, often accompanying him to the various towns and villages in the neighbourhood, where he trained choirs, etc. When the Church at Bethania, was formed in 1853, Mr. Griffiths removed there, and has uninterruptedly since trained the choir at that church. In 1858, the Rev. John Roberts (Teuan Gwyllt) removed to Aberdare to under- take the editorship of the "Gwladgar- wr," and identified himself with Bethan- ia Church. At this time Bethania con- tained a circle of musicians who attained to considerable eminence in South Wales, such as% Silas Evans, Jo^ph Hughes, A law Ddu, David Rosser, and ethers; while the minister, the late Dr. Saunders, was himself a musician of no mean order. The idea of holding a Singing Festi- val, or Cymanfa Ganu, had already been mooted by the late John L. Thomas (leuan Ddu), the editor of the Cam- brian Minstrel"; but to Mr. Daniel Griffiths, above, anyone else, is due the credit for having brought the idea to a practical and satisfactory accomplish- ment. leuan Gwyllt was then busily en- gaged in preparing his celebrated Tune Book for the press. He was urged upon by Mr. Griffiths and the others named, to issue a number of the times and to conduct a Festival where these tunes might be sung. This he, after con- siderable pressure, .agreed to do, and the Festival was held at the Temperance Hall, January 10th, 1859. leuan Gwyllt ,co-.idticte(I on the day of the F'estiva'; but the choirs who took part therein had been trained by Mr. Griffiths. This was the first Singing Festival ever held in Wales, and the new institution gave an immense impetus to> congregational singing in Aberdare and Merthyr, and indeed throughout South Wales. Several Festivals were afterwards held at irregular intervals; but the first held as an annual institution was in the summer of 1872. Since this date, they have become a recognised event; and each recurirng May brings an immense audience together to listen to the var- ious anthems and tunes in which the choirs have perfected themselves during the past year. Mr. Griffiths's labours in rehearsing the various choirs during the year are very heavy; but the bond of union between the singers and their con- ductor is so perfect that the difficulties are surmounted in a marvellous fashion. The introduction of Singing Festivals in 1859 proved to be of immense import ance to the Welsh musical world, and possibly there is no other medium which has contributed so much to tho cultivation of music throughaut the length and breadth of Wales. At the present day, in nearly every district of the Principality, these Festivals are being held; and their adoption by every denonrnation is a proof of the benefit rendered by them to the worship of the Sanctuary. Mr. Griffiths has held a unique posi- tion in connection with the history of the music of Aberdare, for during the past fifty years there has hardly been any form of music taken up in the dis- trict in which he has not taken part. During the, earlier part of this period, he attained considerable distinction at Eisteddfodau and Concerts as a Soloist. He is, however, of so retiring a nature that he has never taken a leading posi- tion when it has been possible to induce any one else to occupy that. position; but in an unofficial way he has done more for music in the district than any I other man. The training which he has bestowed on the various choirs, parties, etc., has been most valuable. One noted local singer has remarked that the most valuable part of his musical education, when a youngster, was gained by attend- ing Mr. Daniel Griffiths's rehearsals, and treasuring up the ideas and remarks given therein. One of Mr. Griffiths's gifts is a mar- vellous faculty for uniting together the most appropriate hymn and tune. Those who know him will remember the keen, critical, and artistic judgment brought to bear upon every bar of the music, and every word of the hymn, and the untir- ing search maintained until the choice has been made. He is one of the finest musical critics in South Wales; and is unequalled for extreme musical taste and appreciation of everything which is most beautiful in art. He is such an en- thusiastic music-lover that he has never missed an opportunity of hearing the chief vocalists and instrumentalists in the kingdom, and has the most vivid re- collections of almost every artiste of fame in England, including the noted tenor Braham, Miss Jenny Lind, Sims Reeves, Santley, Mario, etc. Mr. Grif- fiths is unmarried. MR. REESEV ANS. Mr. Rees Evans, the conductor of the Aberdare Choral Union, was boril Jdne 24th, 1835, at Ammanford, Llandebie, Carmarthenshire (the place being then known as Cross Inn). His grandfather was a well-known local poet, and his father the leader of the singing at the Congregational Chapel there. His father was an excellent singer, but had received no musicartraining. Young Rees soon took an interest in music, and during his residence at home he formed a small choir, which won a number of prizes at the local Eisteddfodau. In 1852 he left Carmarthenshire, residing seme time at Aberavon. In 1856 he re- moved to Cardiff and there studied music under the late Rpasi Lewis, whose choir he joined during his, stay in that town. After spending some time In the Metropolis, he removed to Aberdare in the year 1860, and shortly afterwards became the conductor of the choir at Siloa Congregational Chapel, which for years took first prizes at a number of local Eisteddfodau. On the removal of Caradog from Aberdare, the conductor- ship of the Cor Undebol also devolved on him in the year 1871. From that date to 1873 this choir was very successful, taking the chief prizes at many of the leading Eisteddfodau, in- cluding Tonypandy (. £ 60), Aberdare (< £ 40), Ammanford, and other leading Eisteddfodau in South Wales, where they carried all before them against all comers. When the subject of the Cor Mawr was mooted, Mr. Rees Evans was one of the prime movers in the project; and to him, Dewi Alaw, and Jenkin Howell, are due more than to any others the credit of having urged upon the choir to contest on the first occasion. When the choir was formed he became local con- ductor of the Aberdare Section. When the Crystal Palace Competition was over, the Aberdare United Choir (now known as the Aberdare Choral Union, which he had conducted since 1871) decided to give up competitions; and in answer to the taunts of the Eng- lish Press, which asserted that Welsh Choirs had done nothing to produce the masterpieces of the' great composers as a whole, devoted its energies to this work. Thus began what has now be- come an annual institution—the Aber- dare Christmas Concerts. The first of these Concerts was held Christmas. 1873, the Oratorio selected being Mozart's "Twelfth Mass." Since that time the choir has produced Handel's Judas Maccabaeus," Samson," "Saul," "The Messiah," and "Jeph- tha"; Mendelssohn's "Elijah," "St. Paul," and the "Hymn of Praise"; Haydn's Creation and The Seas- ons"; Macfarran's Joseph Dr. Parry's t( Jerusalem and Blodwen Rossini's "Stabat Mater"; Dr. Mac- kenzie's Rose of Sharon and other k c- works. At these concerts some of the leading vocalists in England and Walec have been engaged, including Mesdames Mary Davies, Marian Williams, Marie Duval, Maggie Davies, Messrs. James Sauvage, T. Brandon, Maldwyn Hum- phreys, Ben Davies, Lucas Williams, David Hughes, Hirwen Jones, and Eos Morlais. <