WILLIAMS, WILLIAM AUBREY (Gwilym Gwent; 1834 - 1891), musician

Born 28 November 1834 according to Blackwell at Tredegar, Monmouthshire; when he was 10 years of age he sang alto in a choir conducted by his uncle in Rhymney. A blacksmith by trade, he moved when quite young to Blaenau Gwent ('Blaina'), where he became conductor of the local band. He married in 1862. He won the prize at the Aberystwyth eisteddfod of 1865 for a duet for female voices, together with a ten pounds prize for a cantata, 'Y Mab Afradlon.' He was probably the most popular and possibly one of the most prolific composers in Wales in his time, producing part-songs, anthems, solos, etc. His part-songs called 'Yr Haf,' 'Cymru Gynt,' 'Y Gwanwyn,' 'Y Clychau,' 'Yr Afonig,' and 'Gwenau y Gwanwyn' were very popular during the second half of the 19th cent. His cantata, 'Plant y Tloty,' which had won the prize at an eisteddfod held at Carmel, Treorchy, was published. With David Lewis, Llanrhystud (1828 - 1908), he edited Llwybrau Moliant, a collection of hymn-tunes for use by Welsh Baptists; this work contains several hymn-tunes of his own composition. In 1872 he emigrated to Plymouth, Pennsylvania, where he died; he was buried 5 July 1891.

Author

• Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)

Sources

• Y Cerddor, August and September 1891 and May 1892

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Gwilym Gwent

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q23806569

Published date: 1959

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