Henry Brinley Richards
Encyclopedia
Henry Brinley Richards was a Welsh
composer.
Richards was born in Hall Street, Carmarthen
, his father being organist at St Peter's Church in the town and an organiser of local musical events. Richards won a prize at the Gwent-Morgannwg Eisteddfod of 1834, held at Cardiff
, for his arrangement of the popular folk song, "The Ash Grove
". As a result, he received the patronage of the Duke of Newcastle
; this enabled him to study at the Royal Academy of Music
, where he later became a professor. After completing his studies, he went to Paris
where he became a pupil of Frederic Chopin
. It was in Paris that his first major work, the Overture in F Minor, was performed.
Richards' most famous work is the song, "God Bless the Prince of Wales
" (1862), written in honour of the future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
. Amongst his greatest works for the piano is the Fantasia On Favorite Airs From Meyerbeer's Opera "Les Huguenots", Op. 75.
Although not Welsh-speaking, he was a patron of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
and gave encouragement to Welsh music students. He used the bardic name
"Pencerdd Towy", and supported Lady Llanover in her efforts to popularise the triple harp
. Brinley Richards died at his home in Kensington, London
, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
.
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...
composer.
Richards was born in Hall Street, Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, his father being organist at St Peter's Church in the town and an organiser of local musical events. Richards won a prize at the Gwent-Morgannwg Eisteddfod of 1834, held at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, for his arrangement of the popular folk song, "The Ash Grove
The Ash Grove
The Ash Grove is a traditional Welsh folk song whose melody has been set to numerous sets of lyrics. The most well-known was written, in English, by John Oxenford in the 19th century....
". As a result, he received the patronage of the Duke of Newcastle
Duke of Newcastle
Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a title which has been created three times in British history while the title of Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne has been created once. The title was created for the first time in the Peerage of England in 1664 when William Cavendish, 1st Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
; this enabled him to study at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, where he later became a professor. After completing his studies, he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he became a pupil of Frederic Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
. It was in Paris that his first major work, the Overture in F Minor, was performed.
Richards' most famous work is the song, "God Bless the Prince of Wales
God Bless the Prince of Wales
"God Bless the Prince of Wales" is a patriotic song written to mark the occasion of the marriage of the future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom to Alexandra of Denmark.The song was first proposed at the Caernarfon Eisteddfod of 1862...
" (1862), written in honour of the future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. Amongst his greatest works for the piano is the Fantasia On Favorite Airs From Meyerbeer's Opera "Les Huguenots", Op. 75.
Although not Welsh-speaking, he was a patron of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
and gave encouragement to Welsh music students. He used the bardic name
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
"Pencerdd Towy", and supported Lady Llanover in her efforts to popularise the triple harp
Triple Harp
The triple harp, often referred to as the Welsh triple harp , is a type of harp employing three rows of strings instead of the more common single row...
. Brinley Richards died at his home in Kensington, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
.