Owen Bryngwyn (Baritone)
The Ystalyfera Town Prize Silver Band
Conducted by E. J. Evans
Selection from the works of Spohr
Three generations ago Spohr's music figured much oftener in programmes in this country than it does now. He made his name first as a violinist, and was one of the leading players of the day before he turned in earnest to composition; a personal friend of the great Beethoven, he took part in several first performances of Beethoven's Symphonies and other big works.
For a good many years he was a regular visitor to this country, conducting his own works at the big English Festivals; one of the greatest triumphs of his career was won by his oratorio Calvary at Norwich in 1839. His popularity here may be gauged by the fact that when, some years later, he was invited to conduct The Fall of Babylon at Norwich, and leave of absence from his German post was refused, a petition with an enormous number of signatures, forwarded with a special request from Lord Aberdeen, as one of His Majesty's ministers, was sent, unhappily in vain, to the German authorities.
The Last Judgment, a very effective oratorio, is still sometimes sung by choral societies in this country, but his other sacred works have fallen into some neglect, and he is best known now to violinists by the many concertos and other pieces he wrote for them. And one very beautiful song of his is still quite often heard, 'Rose softly blooming.' He had a fine gift of natural melody, and much of his music lends itself well to the making of selections such as this.
Owen Bryngwyn
Three Songs by Schubert, translated into Welsh by Dr. Parry-Williams and Owen Bryngwyn
Brenin Bro Hud (Erlkonig); Serenad (Standchen); Litani (Litanei)
