Welsh Journals

IEUAN GWYLLT AND TANYMARIAN. By L. J. Roberts, M.A. W E were reminded last month by the Editor that this year we 'have to celebrate the births of an unusually large number of famous Welshmen-Huw Mcrus, Goronwy Owen, Peter Williams, Michael Jones, Ieuan Gwyllt, and Tanymarian. I have been asked to write something on the two last named, both of whom rendered such inestimable service in particular to the improvement of congregational singing in Wales. The admiration felt for them is shown by the wide- spread enthusiasm with which the celebrations of their centenary have already commenced. Innumerable lectures, with choral renderings of their works, have already been given throughout Wales special selections of their tunes lately issued, have sold by tens of thousands and selections of their works are given also in this year's programmes of the Harlech Festival and the National Eisteddfod Cymanfa Ganu. Wales rings this year, more than ever, with their music, and the hills will resound with it in ever-increasing volume until the birthday of each towards the end of the year. They were born in the same year, each of humble parentage, and in surroundings mot unlike. They were both remarkably versatile. Each was a Nonconformist minister, a pcet, a music composer, an eisteddfod adjudicator (in music and literature), and a Cymanfa Ganu conductor. Each had to work out his own musical salvation, without the help of a teacher and withcut any adventitious aids. While leuan Gwyllt, however, excelled Tanymarian as a musical critic (as such he has been rivalled only by Emlyn Evans among Welshmen) and shone as the author of musical maga- zines, he confined his efforts as a composer to hymn tunes. Tanymarian comes down to posterity as the composer of the first oratorio (and that a highly success- ful one) by a Welshman. But the supreme service which each rendered to Wales was the publication by each, at an important time in the development of music in Wales, of a congregational tune-book, which jointly revolutionised congregational singing in Wales, and have brought it to a pitch of excellence (I speak of congregational singing) rivalled by f.o country in the world. It is worth noting that while Ieuan Gwyllt was born in North Cardiganshire and Tanymarian in North Merioneth, each spent the later years of his life in Mid-Carnarvonshire, and it is there only a few miles from one another, Yng nghademid Gwynedd," in- That land where Snowdon night by night Receives the confidence of lonesome stars, that both rest after life's fitful fever. It is a common place to say that a person's character and development are affected by his environment, especially in the impressionable days of youth. There is a danger of pressing this view too far but it is not unsafe to say that the influences of their early surround- ings is reflected in the characteristics of both Ieuan Gwyllt and Tanymarian. Both had the gift cf intense susceptibility to the beauties of Nature, and while the calmness of the pastoral Vale of Rheidol is seen in the former's quiet, serene nature (though at times he could be moved to wrath, just as the Rheidol is stirred when lashed bv tempestuous winds rushing down from Plynlirfron), the wild romantic grandeur of the Festiniog district, dominated by those lusty twins," the two Moelwyns, and by the towering Cnicht and other mountain, accounts largely for the passionate and emotional character of the composer of the sweeping, impetuous "Dyna'r Gwyntoedd yn Ymosod" cherus. John Roberts (who early in life adopted the ffug enw Ieuan Gwyllt) was born at Tanrhiwfelen, near Capel Seicn, a few miles inland from Aberystwyth, en December 27th, 1822. His parents moved early in his life to the adjoining ,Penllwyn district, which has given Wales not a few distinguished men, such as Principal Lewis Edwards, Sir John Rhys, Dr. Cynddylan Jones, and Principal Owen Prys. Educa- tional advantages were meagre here, but young Rebels was cf studious habits, and soon showed a taste for literature and music. Tunes by him appeared in Y Drysorfa in 1837, and in Yr Athraw in 1889, both creditable early attempts. In 1842 he went to work in a chemist's shop at Aberystwyth, thence he went for a short period for training as a teacher to Borough Read College, London. Then for nine months he kept school (not very successfully) at Aber- ystwyth, and after that was for seven years managing clerk to a firm of solicitors in that town. Aberystwyth was then noted for its fine congregational singing and for a flourishing choral society under Mr. Edward Edwards (Pencerdd Ceredigion) by whom Ieuan Gwyllt was greatly influenced. With the help of Mr. Edwards and others, he started a literary magazine for children, in which some tunes appeared monthly, by himself, Ambrose Lloyd, and others. This ven- ture came to an end when in 1852 he moved to Liver- pool, to edit the weekly Welsh paper, Yr A rnserau, in succession to Gwilym Hiraethog. Here he spent six laborious years, writing innumerable leading articles to this paper, and contributing articles widely on literary and musical subjects to a large number of English and Welsh magazines. While in Liverpool he began to preach occasionally with the Calvinistic Methodists, to give lectures (mainly on musical sub- jects), and to adjudicate at eisteddfodau in various parts of Wales. At Liverpool he became an intimate friend of Eleazar Roberts, the apostle! of Tonic Sol-fa in Wales. During these years he was steadily pre- paring his congregational tune-book. In October, 1858, he moved to Aberdare, to edit another weekly newspaper, Y Gwladgarwr, and the short year which he spent there saw the momentous publication of his book, Llyfr Tonau CynuIIeidfaol," of which 17,000 ccpies (staff notation) were sold within three years. Other editions (staff notation and solfa) and appendices ( Yr Ychwanegiad and Yr Attodiad ") followed nnd had enormous sales. While at Merthyr Tydfil he was ordained minister of Pant-tywyll Chapel. In 1865 he acepted a call to Capel Coch, Llanberis, and after four strenuous years there he gave up ministerial work (but not literary and musical work), and retired to live at a little mansion, Y Vron, beautifullv situated, about two miles from Carnarvon. During all these years, at Llanberis and Y Vron, his life was one of increasing and varied literary and musical activities. He edited many magazines, of which Y Cerddor Cymreig (of which 200 monthly numbers appeared), and Y Cerddor Solfa were the most valuable. His criticisms in these magazines were of priceless assist.