Arwel Hughes
Encyclopedia
Arwel Hughes OBE was a Welsh
orchestral conductor
and composer
.
Hughes was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham
and was educated at Ruabon Grammar School
and at the Royal College of Music
, where he studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams
and C. H. Kitson. Following his studies at the RCM he became organist
at the church of St Philip and St James, Oxford
, and in 1935 returned to Wales to join the staff of the BBC
’s music department. His duties included a great deal of conducting, and he directed the first performances of many works by Welsh composers, including Grace Williams
, David Wynne, and Alun Hoddinott
. He was also called upon to compose, arrange and orchestrate music for live radio broadcasts.
He became Head of Music at BBC Wales
in 1965, holding the post until his retirement in 1971. He was appointed OBE
in 1969 for his services to Welsh music and for organising the music for the Investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales
, in the same year. From 1978 until 1986 he was Honorary Music Director of the Llangollen
International Eisteddfod
.
For many years Arwel Hughes conducted performances by the Welsh National Opera
, and his own two opera
s, Menna, a tragedy based on a Welsh folk legend, and Serch yw’r Doctor ("Love’s the Doctor"), a comedy adapted from Molière
, were produced by WNO in 1954 and 1960 respectively. These works played an important role in the development of opera in Wales, and demonstrate Hughes' lyricism and melodic originality.
He is best remembered for his music for chorus and orchestra. The large-scale oratorio
s, Dewi Sant (Saint David
) and Pantycelyn, exemplify his imagination and technical competence and combine the early twentieth century British tradition with his original harmonic language. Gweddi (A Prayer) is a shorter work containing haunting melodies which encapsulate the spirit of the composer, which is recognisably Celtic.
The composer’s orchestral writing includes a Fantasia for Strings which has received many performances. From the 1940s onwards, he produced a stream of works for orchestra including Suite for Orchestra, Prelude for Orchestra (dedicated to the Youth of Wales), Anatiomaros, and a symphony. There are a quantity of songs and chamber music
.
many arrangements of folk songs;
incidental music for radio and television.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
orchestral conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Hughes was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and was educated at Ruabon Grammar School
Ruabon Grammar School
The Ruabon Grammar School was situated in Ruabon, Denbighshire in north-east Wales. It provided a grammar school education to boys in the parishes of Ruabon and Erbistock....
and at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, where he studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
and C. H. Kitson. Following his studies at the RCM he became organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
at the church of St Philip and St James, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and in 1935 returned to Wales to join the staff of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
’s music department. His duties included a great deal of conducting, and he directed the first performances of many works by Welsh composers, including Grace Williams
Grace Williams
-Biography:Williams was born in Barry, near Cardiff, Wales.She was educated at Barry County School, and won a scholarship to Cardiff University . She then went to the Royal College of Music, London, where she was taught by Ralph Vaughan Williams...
, David Wynne, and Alun Hoddinott
Alun Hoddinott
Alun Hoddinott CBE , was a Welsh composer of classical music, one of the first to receive international recognition.-Life and works:...
. He was also called upon to compose, arrange and orchestrate music for live radio broadcasts.
He became Head of Music at BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
in 1965, holding the post until his retirement in 1971. He was appointed OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1969 for his services to Welsh music and for organising the music for the Investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, in the same year. From 1978 until 1986 he was Honorary Music Director of the Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
International Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
.
For many years Arwel Hughes conducted performances by the Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
, and his own two opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s, Menna, a tragedy based on a Welsh folk legend, and Serch yw’r Doctor ("Love’s the Doctor"), a comedy adapted from Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
, were produced by WNO in 1954 and 1960 respectively. These works played an important role in the development of opera in Wales, and demonstrate Hughes' lyricism and melodic originality.
He is best remembered for his music for chorus and orchestra. The large-scale oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s, Dewi Sant (Saint David
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
) and Pantycelyn, exemplify his imagination and technical competence and combine the early twentieth century British tradition with his original harmonic language. Gweddi (A Prayer) is a shorter work containing haunting melodies which encapsulate the spirit of the composer, which is recognisably Celtic.
The composer’s orchestral writing includes a Fantasia for Strings which has received many performances. From the 1940s onwards, he produced a stream of works for orchestra including Suite for Orchestra, Prelude for Orchestra (dedicated to the Youth of Wales), Anatiomaros, and a symphony. There are a quantity of songs and chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
.
Opera
- Menna (3, W Griffith), 1950 -51, perf 1954
- Serch yw’r doctor (Love’s the doctor) (3, S. Lewis, after Molière: L’amour médecin), perf. 1960
Orchestral
- Fantasia, strings, 1936
- Anatiomaros, 1943
- Prelude for Orchestra, 1945
- Suite, 1947
- Saint Francis (masque, G. James), S, T, narrator, chorus, orch 1965
- Symphony, 1971
- Legend: Owain GlyndŵrOwain GlyndwrOwain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, 1979
Choral
- Tydi a Roddaist (T. Rowland Hughes), chorus, piano, also arranged for female chorus, male chorus with orchestra, 1938
- Gweddi (A Prayer) (liturgical text), S, chorus, str (full orch version also), 1944
- Dewi Sant (Saint David) (A.T.Davies), S, T, B, chorus, orch, 1950
- Pantycelyn (text arr. A. T. Davies (cantata, biblical text), S, chorus, org, 1967
- The Beatitudes (biblical text) S, (T) TTBB, organ
- In memoriam (Psalm cxxi), chorus, org, 1969
- Psalm 148, male chorus, 1970
- Mass for Celebration, S, A, male chorus, orch without ww, 1977
- Gloria Patri, SATB orch, 1986
Miscellaneous
- 3 string quartets, 1948, 1976, 1983;
- Unfinished quartet 1932;
- Various choral, orchestral and vocal pieces;
many arrangements of folk songs;
incidental music for radio and television.