This article is about the musician. For the scholar and priest, see E. T. Davies.
Evan Thomas Davies (1878 – 1969) was a Welsh musician. His parents were George Davies (a Dowlais barber), and Gwenllian, of Dowlais. His mother's family were descendants of songwriter Richard Samuel Hughes. He received private musical tuition from organist and composer Harry Evans, and in 1900 toured the USA as a pianist and organist.[1] From 1900 to 1903 he was organist and choirmaster at Christchurch Cyfarthfa, Merthyr Tydfil, and from 1903 to 1917 organist at Pontmorlais Chapel. He also worked as a singing teacher in Merthyr Tydfil secondary school (1904–20).[2] He was in considerable demand as a solo organist and is said to have given over 100 recitals across Wales to mark the opening of new organs.[1]
Evan Thomas Davies
Born
1878
Died
1969
Nationality
Welsh
Occupation(s)
musician conductor organist classical composer
Parents
George Davies (father)
Gwenllian Davies (mother)
In 1920, Davies was appointed as the Director of Music at the University College, Bangor, the first full-time appointee to this post. When he retired in 1943, he moved to Aberdare and spent his time composing, broadcasting and adjudicating at many National Eisteddfodau and international music competitions.[3] He was conductor at several National Eisteddfod concerts and for a time chief examiner in music for the Central Welsh Board, examiner for school and higher certificates and examiner for Glamorgan county music scholarships.[2]
His compositions included two sets of Welsh folk dances, which were celebrated in their day.[1] He also composed songs, part-songs, piano works and chamber music.[4] The song 'Ynys y plant' (The Children's Isle) was the prize song of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1909 and became a favourite of the soprano Amy Evans. It is still performed today.[5]
There are about 100 vocal and instrumental arrangements of folk tunes at Bangor.[2] Davies also edited Welsh versions of Bach's St Matthew Passion, edited Welsh church hymnals and was author of articles, reviews and commentaries on Welsh music.[2] His 1926 folk song arrangement Eos Lais (The Nightingale) has been recorded by The Tippett Quartet[6]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcForeman, Lewis. Notes to Dutton Epoch CDLX 7389 (2021)
^ abcdE T Davies papers at Bangor University, Archive Hub
Portrait by Elliott & Fry, 1946 at the National Portrait Gallery
October 21, 2023
evan, thomas, davies, musician, this, article, about, musician, scholar, priest, davies, evan, thomas, davies, 1878, 1969, welsh, musician, parents, were, george, davies, dowlais, barber, gwenllian, dowlais, mother, family, were, descendants, songwriter, richa. This article is about the musician For the scholar and priest see E T Davies Evan Thomas Davies 1878 1969 was a Welsh musician His parents were George Davies a Dowlais barber and Gwenllian of Dowlais His mother s family were descendants of songwriter Richard Samuel Hughes He received private musical tuition from organist and composer Harry Evans and in 1900 toured the USA as a pianist and organist 1 From 1900 to 1903 he was organist and choirmaster at Christchurch Cyfarthfa Merthyr Tydfil and from 1903 to 1917 organist at Pontmorlais Chapel He also worked as a singing teacher in Merthyr Tydfil secondary school 1904 20 2 He was in considerable demand as a solo organist and is said to have given over 100 recitals across Wales to mark the opening of new organs 1 Evan Thomas DaviesBorn1878Died1969NationalityWelshOccupation s musicianconductororganistclassical composerParentsGeorge Davies father Gwenllian Davies mother In 1920 Davies was appointed as the Director of Music at the University College Bangor the first full time appointee to this post When he retired in 1943 he moved to Aberdare and spent his time composing broadcasting and adjudicating at many National Eisteddfodau and international music competitions 3 He was conductor at several National Eisteddfod concerts and for a time chief examiner in music for the Central Welsh Board examiner for school and higher certificates and examiner for Glamorgan county music scholarships 2 His compositions included two sets of Welsh folk dances which were celebrated in their day 1 He also composed songs part songs piano works and chamber music 4 The song Ynys y plant The Children s Isle was the prize song of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1909 and became a favourite of the soprano Amy Evans It is still performed today 5 There are about 100 vocal and instrumental arrangements of folk tunes at Bangor 2 Davies also edited Welsh versions of Bach s St Matthew Passion edited Welsh church hymnals and was author of articles reviews and commentaries on Welsh music 2 His 1926 folk song arrangement Eos Lais The Nightingale has been recorded by The Tippett Quartet 6 References Edit a b c Foreman Lewis Notes to Dutton Epoch CDLX 7389 2021 a b c d E T Davies papers at Bangor University Archive Hub Williams Griffith John Evan Thomas Davies Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales Retrieved 2 May 2017 Leach Gerald British Composer Profiles 2012 p 71 Caneuon Taliesin Taliesin s Songbook TŶ CERDD TCR031 2021 Dutton VocalionExternal links EditPortrait by Elliott amp Fry 1946 at the National Portrait Gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Evan Thomas Davies musician amp oldid 1166297888, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
