Pencerdd Gwalia

Calon Y Gegin 1 - A night remembering Welsh history - John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia; 1826-1913)

Why?  He died this day (March 19th) in 1913, and is worth remembering.  Born in Bridgend, he eventually became the harpist to Queen Victoria and also Edward VII on succession.  To celebrate his life and times we will go back in time and take a modern twist on foods of that era.  You can read more about it below.  Keep an eye on this page for details of the night.

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Biography

THOMAS , JOHN ( Pencerdd Gwalia ; 1826 - 1913 ), musician ; b. 1 March 1826 at Bridgend, Glam. , the son of John and Catherine Thomas . The father, who had musical interests, taught his son to play the piccolo and the harp , and the pupil became very proficient as a harpist . In 1838 , when only twelve, he won the triple harp offered at the Abergavenny eisteddfod . In 1840 , by the kindness of countess Lovelace , daughter of lord Byron , he was sent to the Royal Academy of Music , where he was taught by J. B. Chatterton and Cipriani Potter . He stayed at the academy for six years, being made a Fellow when he left; later he was made an honorary member . In 1851 he began a tour in Europe , holding concerts in France , Germany , Russia , Austria , and Italy . He was designated as Pencerdd Gwalia at the Aberdare eisteddfod of 1861 .



In 1862 John Thomas gave his first London concert of Welsh music. In 1871 he was appointed harpist to queen Victoria and teacher of the harp at the Royal Academy ; he also formed, in that same year, the London Welsh Choral Union — the choir also instituting the John Thomas scholarship at the Royal Academy . He became, in 1882 , a Royal Academy examiner and teacher of the harp in the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music . He was honorary member of the Societa di Santa Cecilia ( Rome ), Societa Filharmonica ( Florence ) the Philharmonic Society ( London ), and the Royal Society of Musicians ( London ). He composed a harp concerto, symphonies, overtures, quartettes, operas, and songs, besides variations on Welsh airs for the harp. The cantata, ‘ Llewelyn ,’ was written for the Aberdare eisteddfod of 1863 , and the cantata ‘ The Bride of Neath Valley ,’ for the Chester eisteddfod of 1866 . He used to deliver a public lecture on Welsh music . For his presentation of the early (and difficult) Welsh music see Myvyrian Archaiology , 2nd ed. He published four volumes of Welsh airs and was the editor of Songs of Wales ( J. B. Cramer ), 1874 . He d. 19 March 1913 and was buried in the West Hampstead cemetery, London . The N.L.W. possesses a large collection of his papers.