The Songs of David Vaughan Thomas
As part of our Heritage Records projects we are currently working on a recording of the songs of Welsh composer David Vaughan Thomas (1873-1934).
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Born in 1873 to Jenkin Thomas and Anne Thomas in Ystalyfera, he received his musical education from the composer Joseph Parry and also went to Llandovery College and Exeter College, Oxford, where he graduated in mathematics. Returning later to Oxford, he gained degrees as Bachelor of Music and Doctor of Music.
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In 1906 he married Morfydd Lewis; they had three sons, including the broadcaster Wynford Vaughan-Thomas. At this time Thomas turned to music composition, his first known work being dated 1906. Subsequent works were performed in Wales, London and South Africa.
He moved back to Wales and became a member of the Gorsedd at the 1911 National Eisteddfod. He subsequently acted as adjudicator, and was Chief Musical Advisor for the 1926 National Eisteddfod in Swansea.
In 1927 he was made overseas examiner for Trinity College, London, and in this capacity he travelled to several Commonwealth countries. It was on one such tour in South Africa that he died in Johannesburg.
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Vaughan Thomas's music developed out of an early Victorianism into a national style inspired by Welsh literature and folklore and by the musical traditions of his country.
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His most notable compositions are considered to be his choral works Llyn y Fan (performed at the 1907 National Eisteddfod), A Song for St Cecilia's Day and The Bard
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Vaughan Thomas's music has become a rarity in the concert hall. His song Ysbryd y Mynydd and his Saith o Ganeuon ar Gywyddau Dafydd ap Gwilym ac Erail (Seven songs on poems in cywydd metre by Dafydd ap Gwilym and others), praised in the 1950s for their originality and scholarship, remained popular long after his death, but most of his works were no longer played by the 1980s.
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Composer biography adapted from his Wikipedia entry
Our Recording Project
We are currently sourcing the sheet music for as many of his songs as we can find and then we will be getting ready to record them. At this point we are not sure if a "complete" recording will be possible, but our hope is to record as many as we can.
The Songs
Songs in red we are still sourcing the sheet music for.
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10 Welsh Folk songs edited & arr by DVT
A Song for St Cecilia's Day Dryden
A Song for St David's Day Lewis Davies
Angladd y Marchog Anthropos (Rev R D Rowlands)
Bedd y Dyn Tylawd Ioan Emlyn (Emlyn John Jones)
Bendithiaf yr Arglwydd
Berwyn Robert Ellis
Caledfwlch T Gwynn Jones
Can hen wr y cwm Gweryddon
Can y bardd wrth farw Gwenffrwd
Can y llanc chwethinllyd """Cerddi Cymru"""
Claddu'r Bardd o Gariad
"Come along, can't you hear?" DM Beddoes
Cyfoedion cofadwy Caerwyn
Dau Filgi
Dirge in Woods George Meredith
Dorset Voices JJ Cadwaladr (Eos Gwalia)
Einioes Rhys Jones
Elen
Enter these enchanted woods (No.2) George Meredith
Ffarwel Fy Ngeneth Eben Fardd (Ebenezer Thomas)
Follow the flag Welshmen:a patriotic song JJ Cadwaladr (Eos Gwalia)
Hail to Admiral Death
Hiraeth am yr Haf
How sleep the brave William Collins
Let us now praise famous men Lewis Davies
Llais Yr Adar Anon
Miwsig
Nant y Mynydd Ceiriog
O Fair Wen William Llyn
Rwy'n ofni grym y dwr "Williams, Pantycelyn"
Si hwi lwli TH Jones
St David's day is here Lewis Davies
Stafell Cynddylan att. Llywarch Hen
Who is Sylvia? NLW MS 9458F
Y Bwthyn Bach To Gwellt Crych Elen (Thomas Lloyd)
Y ferch o'r Scer
Y gariad gollwyd
Y Gwlith
Y lloer D Vaughan Thomas
Y newydd dant Edward Jenkins
Y Nos
Ymadawiad Arthur T Gwynn Jones
Yr Wylan Deg Dafydd ap Gwilym
Ysbryd Y Mynydd LD Jones (Llew Tegid)
Ysbryd yw Duw
Songs including some unpublished
Brighter than the sun
But!
Can y galon
Cantref y Gwaelod
Clychau'r Twr
Cyntaf dangor pan welais
Hillsides are dark
Is my team ploughing
Mor swynol ydyw noday glan
O happy lark
The Land o' the Leal
The sleeping beauty
The song of the Old Bargee
The Wind
To Robin Redbreast
Y fun o landwr Ogwen
Yn bwthyn ygnghanol y wlad
Yr hen dy