LLOYD, WILLIAM (1901 - 1967), tutor and setter of words to cerdd dant and composer of harp airs

Born 14 February 1901 in Llansannan, Denbighshire, son of Richard Lloyd and Margaret his wife. The family moved to Glan Conwy when he was very young, and he was brought up there. He came to be known as William Lloyd, Cyffordd Llandudno, since he spent most of his life at Llandudno Junction working as a fireman on the railway and later as a train driver. His musical talent was fostered from an early age by Edwin Evans in Salem Chapel, Ffordd Las, and his interest was further developed under the influence of the Rev. D.H. Rees. In time, he gained the grade of A.T.S.C. He soon began to conduct choirs and local parties, and also the railway choir which competed many times in the national railway festivals in Birmingham. In the 1940s he and his colleague, Huw Hughes, began to take a serious interest in the old art of singing to the accompaniment of the harp and began setting verses to suitable airs for penillion singing. They both tutored and set verses for many singers. William Lloyd had duettists and parties in the districts of Eglwysbach and Llandudno Junction, and out of the cerdd dant party which he formed in 1962 Côr Meibion Maelgwn developed. In 1953 he won a competition in the national eisteddfod at Rhyl for composing a series of airs suitable for penillion singing. Realising the need for such airs, he proceeded to compose and publish a number of airs which became very popular, including ' Rhoshelyg ' and ' Mwynen Eirian '. He adjudicated many times in the National Eisteddfod, and his artistic presentation of his musical compositions was a source of admiration for many. He married Olive Lewis in September 1929, and died 20 October 1967.

Author

• Dr Aled Lloyd Davies

Sources

• Personal knowledge and research

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734676

Published date: 2001

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