MORGAN, DAFYDD SIENCYN (1752 - 1844), musician

Born in 1752 at Penshingrug, Llangrannog, Cardiganshire, the son of the parish sexton, who gave his son his first lessons in music. When he was 20 he joined the Pembrokeshire Volunteers and whilst he was with this body he had an opportunity of extending the range of his musical knowledge and of learning to play the clarinet. On his return to Llangrannog he became precentor at the parish church. He began to conduct music classes and, relinquishing his position in the parish church, he paid a visit, extending over several months, to North Wales; it is known that he stayed at Machynlleth, Dolgelley, Bangor, and in Anglesey. Afterwards he went to various places in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. He became a member of Capel Isaf Congregational church, Llechryd, Cardiganshire, and was appointed precentor there. He wrote several anthems and hymn-tunes. His anthem 'Teyrnasa, Iesu Mawr,' which had a vogue until the end of the 19th century, was published in Casgliad o Donau, 1843, arranged by J. Ambrose Lloyd, under the title of ' Mercurial '; it was also arranged by D. Emlyn Evans for Cronicl y Cerddor, no. 22. Hymn-tunes by him appeared in Lleuad yr Oes, 1828, Caniadau Seion, and in Swn Addoli - the hymn-tune called ' Horeb ' in the last-named work is the one generally known as ' Penllyn.' He died at Penllwyn-du, near Cardigan, 18 November 1844, and was buried in Llangoedmor churchyard.

Author

• Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)

Sources

• Y Cerddor, July 1889
• Enwogion Ceredigion (1869)
• M. O. Jones, Bywgraffiaeth Cerddorion Cymreig (1890)
• Y Drysorfa, 1934.

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20732760

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/