Page 14 - EGO Magazine June 2019

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Meirion’s programme includes
music by composers with
Aberystwyth connections such
as William Mathias, David
de Lloyd and Walford Davies

himself. chapels in 1915 before emigrating to
make a celebrity career in the USA.”
Festival events at Gregynog
Gregynog include the Odysseus Piano Trio
(28 June, 7.30pm) whose repertoire
pays tribute to the Aberystwyth
Trio appointed by Walford Davies
Festival 2019: Vision For Gregynog Festival, they in 1919 as the first resident chamber
showcase the album in the context
ensemble at any university in
of two remarkable 19th-century
portraits interpreted by Peter Lord the world. They even shared the
platform with Béla Bartók when he
and play a new set of tunes drawn made his UK début here in 1922.
22-30 June 2019 from the collection of Dr Meredydd The Davies family’s interests are
berystwyth takes Evans (Merêd) at the National also explored in an afternoon of
centre stage Library. talks by Dr Jan Ruzicka (29 June,
as Gregynog Meirion’s programme includes 2.30pm) and Craig Owen (29 June,
Festival celebrates music by composers with 4.00pm). Jan is Director of the
the vision of Aberystwyth connections such David Davies Memorial Institute
AGwendoline, as William Mathias, David de at Aberystwyth’s Department of
Margaret and David Davies for a Lloyd and Walford Davies himself. International Politics, while Craig
better world rooted in culture and Walford gave the inaugural recital is Head of Wales for Peace at
peace following the First World on Bethel’s organ in 1924, while de the Temple of Peace and Health
War. The season is inspired by two Lloyd’s composition ‘Er Cof’ was in Cardiff. To close the day, the
centenaries - the appointment written for the service to dedicate outstanding French Baroque
of Henry Walford Davies as first the instrument to the memory of ensemble, A Nocte Temporis,
Gregynog Professor of Music at Chapel members killed in the First directed by Reinoud Van Mechelen,
Aberystwyth University and the World War. make their Wales débuts with a
foundation of the Department of Dr Rhian Davies, Gregynog beautiful programme of Bach arias
International Politics - all funded by Festival’s Artistic Director, is an for tenor, flute, viola da gamba and
the Davies family in 1919. Aberystwyth alumna and returned harpsichord (29 June, 7.30pm).
The opening and closing concerts to live here last year. “I love being There’s another chance to catch
also take place in Aberystwyth with back in Aber,” she said, “and it’s VRȉ and Peter Lord in Llangadfan
chamber-folk band VRȉ playing at been great to create this Festival (23 June, 2.30pm) with a delicious
the National Library of Wales (22 on the spot. It was so exciting to afternoon tea at Cwpan Pinc to
June, 7.30pm), while Meirion Wynn trace the manuscript of ‘Er Cof’ follow. Rhian Davies also speaks
Jones gives a recital on the fine to the University Archives and about Walford Davies’ visionary
Frederick Rothwell organ at Bethel then to discover Mathias’ ‘Prelude, schemes for music in Wales,
Chapel in Baker Street (30 June, Elegy and Toccata’ in the National including the Aberystwyth and
2.30pm). Library. It’s an early work that Cardiganshire Festivals, at the
VRȉ (Patrick Rimes, Jordan Price Mathias wrote when he used to Drwm (28 June, 1.00pm) and
Williams and Aneirin Jones) have play at Bethel as a student, and Gregynog (28 June, 6.00pm).
become the hottest property in it was premiered at Gregynog by
Welsh music since their début CD the famous Aberystwyth organist
Tŷ Ein Tadau won Best Album and Charles Clements, so it’s perfect to For tickets and full
Best Traditional Welsh Song at the hear it during this year’s Festival. programme details:
first Wales Folk Awards in April (“a Meirion will also be playing a piece
magic chemistry that is absolutely called ‘Aria’ by Firmin Swinnen, a gregynogfestival.org
bewildering, mesmerising and Belgian refugee who gave several and 01686 207100.
thoroughly addictive”, FolkWales). recitals at several Aberystwyth

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