The British Musical Biography

[E] Thomas, John, Pencerdd Gwalia, harp-
ist and composer, born at Bridgend, Glamor-
ganshire, March 1 (St. David's Day), 1826.
When a child he played the piccolo, and then
the harp, winning the prize of a triple harp
at Abergavenny Eisteddfod when eleven years
old. Through the influence of the Countess
of Lovelace he was placed in the R.A.M. in
1840, where he studied the harp under J. B.
Chatterton, and composition under Charles
Lucas and Cipriani Potter. Many composi-
tions, including an opera, " Alfred the Great,"
were written during his student days, and
produced at the R.A.jNL concerts. In succes-
sion he was elected Associate, Fellow, and
Professor, R.A.M. In 1851 he was harpist at
the Royal Italian Opera; and 1852-62, under-
took annual tours on the continent, playing
at Vienna, Berlin, Moscow, St. Petersburg,
etc. Played at the Leipzig Gewandhaus
Concerts, October 3, 1852, and- again in Jan-
uary, 1861. In 1861 the title of Pencerdd
Gwalia (Chief Bard of Wales), was conferred
upon him at the Aberdare Eisteddfod. He
gave his first concert of Welsh music at St.
James's Hall, July 4, 1862, with a chorus of
four-hundred voices, and a band of twenty
harps, creating a great sensation. Some of
his harp compositions were introduced. These
concerts have been continued annually.
In 1871 he was appointed Harpist to the
Queen, in succession to the late J. B. Chatt-
erton. That year he also was conductor of
the Welsh Choral Union. By his efforts a
Welsh Scholarship was founded at the R.A.M.
in 1883, and which bears his name. He acted
as adjudicator at the Eisteddfod at Chicago
Exhibition, 1893; his cantata, "Llewelyn,"
was performed September 6, and gave a harp
concert there, September 18. Public recog-
nition of his services to music has not been
wanting, and he has been elected INIember of
the Academy of St. Cecilia, and Philharmonic,
Rome; Philharmonic, and Royal Musical
Academy, Florence ; Philharmonic Society,
London. He is professor of the harp at
R.C.M., and a INIember of the Royal Society
of Musicians, and of the I.S.^I. At the
Cardiff Conference, 1896-7, he gave a lecture
on the Music of Wales.

[W] Works. — Llewelyn, dramatic cantata, pro-
duced, Swansea Eisteddfod, 1863 ; The Bride
of Neath Valley, a Welsh scene, Chester,
1866. The memory of love ; The Minstrel ;
There be none of Beauty's daughters ; and
many other songs. Welsh patriotic songs,
arranged for chorus and harp. Edited and
arranged a Collection of Welsh Melodies, for
voice, with harp or pf . accompaniment, 2 vols.,
1862 ; later, 4 vols. Harp : Concerto in E
flat, produced. Philharmonic Concert, INIay 3,
1852 ; Concerto in B flat. Duets for two
harps ; for harp and pf. ; Two sets of six
studies, and many pieces for harp solo. Ro-
mance and rondo piacevole, harp and violin.
Transcription of Mendelssohn's Lieder ohne
Worte, 8 books ; Schubert's songs ; Welsh
melodies ; Beethoven's Sonata, op. 27, No. 2;
Handel's variations in E, etc.

entry id: 409-L-24