A message from Elinor Bennett, the Festival’s Artistic Director:
The aim of this year’s Wales Harp Festival is to remember and pay homage to the great harpists whom we have recently lost and to transmit their love of the harp to future generations.
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of the Honorary President of this Festival, Osian Ellis, one of Wales’ greatest harpists and musicians. During the past year, two other illustrious harpists passed away – Ann Griffiths and Mair Jones – who taught generations of children to play the harp. We thank them and remember their contribution to the culture of Wales and to the music of the harp internationally.
In “normal” times during Easter, dozens of harpists of every age would descend upon Galeri Caernarfon with their harps, and would have lessons in classes, listen to other harpists, socialise and play music together. Covid will not prevent us from keeping the tradition alive, and the Festival will be transferred online to a new virtual reality.
Thanks to Zoom, our teachers will be able to share their expertise with harpists and harp enthusiasts in every corner of the globe. There will be many events ( classes, concert, master class, lecture) to help us remember the Festival’s past President, Osian Ellis, including the premier of his beautiful new piece, “Lachrymae”, published last year .
Our aim is to ensure that ” the eternal muse” is passed on to future generations and In the middle of our troubles, the harp and its music can raise spirits and enrich lives.
We warmly invite harpists and harp lovers from every part of the world to join us here in Wales – virtually this time of course, but next year in person! Read about the Festival events – and click on “register” straight away!
It is with sadness and regret that we wish to record the death of harpist and scholar, Osian Gwynn Ellis at the age of 92. He was a great friend and supporter of the work of the William Mathias Music Centre and the Wales International Harp Festival & he will be sorely missed.
A native of Ffynnongroyw, Flintshire, Osian was brought up in Denbigh, the son of the Rev. T.G. Ellis, a Wesleyan minister, and his first harp teacher was Alwena Roberts (‘Telynores Iâl’). As a child, he sang and performed with his mother and other members of his family, in concerts throughout Wales.
Following a period studying the harp with Gwendolen Mason at the Royal Academy of Music (London), he succeeded his teacher as harp Professor at the institution from 1959 until 1989. Early in his career, he appeared in popular television programmes on BBC Wales, and gave numerous performances of poetry and music with actors such as Dame Peggy Aschcroft, Dame Sybil Thorndyke, Cecil Day-Lewis, Hugh Griffith and Richard Burton.
As the most prominent & outstanding harpist of his time, as harp teacher, composer, arranger, penillion singer and scholar, he contributed widely to the nation’s traditional music as well as to developments in the European classical music of his day. In his numerous recordings with Sain, Philips, Lyrita, Meridian and Decca, he highlighted the varied harp repertoire, including 18th, 19th and 20th century Welsh compositions. He travelled extensively during his career, promoting the harp and the music of Wales on all four continents.
Osian Ellis was Principal Harpist of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1961, and worked with the eminent conductors of the time, such as Pierre Monteux, Pierre Boulez, Colin Davis, Antal Dorati, André Previn and Claudio Abbado. He was a regular soloist with the LSO and, as the founding harpist of the Melos Ensemble, his recording of Ravel’s Introduction et Allegro won the Grand Prix du Disque in Paris in 1962.
From the early ’60s, he worked & collaborated with the renowned English composer, Benjamin Britten, & Osian played in several performances and recordings at the Britten Festival (Aldeburgh). This partnership resulted in the harp gaining its place in several of Britten’s works – including, the War Requiem (1962), Midsummer Night’s Dream, Curlew River (1964), The Prodigal Son (1968) and his most important harp work, Suite for Harp (1969).
From 1973 – 1980, following Benjamin Britten’s illness, Osian Ellis performed many concerts with Peter Pears (tenor), and several new works were written for them. He later performed with his son, the late Tomos Ellis (tenor), giving several performances in Wales and overseas.
Osian Ellis encouraged many contemporary composers from Wales & further afield to write new works for harp – including, William Mathias, Alun Hoddinott, Rhian Samuel, David Wynne, Malcolm Arnold, Robin Holloway, Elizabeth Machonchy, William Alwyn, Carlo Menotti and Jorgen Jersild.
As a scholar, he published several seminal works on the history of the harp in Wales, the Robert ap Huw Manuscript, John Parry (Ruabon) and Cerdd Dant. His volume, The Story of the Harp in Wales, was published by the University of Wales Press (Cardiff) and he contributed to a myriad of television and radio programmes in Wales and London.
He was a member of the executive committee of the Welsh Folk Song Society and Cymdeithas Cerdd Dant Cymru. He received numerous honours from the University of Wales, Bangor University as well as from the nation’s leading musical institutions and a CBE from the Queen. As a harp teacher, he influenced generations of aspiring musicians and harpists, including Elinor Bennett and Sioned Williams.
After celebrating his 90th birthday, he was further inspired to compose two new works: ‘Cylch o Alawon Gwerin Cymru’ (for Bryn Terfel and Hannah Stone) and his work for solo harp, ‘Lachrymae’.
We extend our deepest condolences to his son, Richard Llywarch, daughter-in-law Glynis, and grandchildren David and Katie in their sadness.
It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that the Wales Harp Festival which was due to take place from 8-9 April has to be postponed due to the Covid-19 virus situation. However we are determined to re-schedule and not cancel and will be in touch with you shortly with further details and hope that you will be keen to join us on the new date. If you have registered / bought tickets and are unable to attend on the new dates later on in the year, then we will arrange a refund. But please bear with us for the next few days as we are currently having to delay / re-schedule our entire work programme and adjust to working as staff from our homes. In the meantime keep playing the harp and follow this facebook page where we hope to post some videos etc to lift evereyone’s spirit over the next few weeks. Best regards, Elinor, Meinir and the team
A
world renowned harpist who was forced to pull out of a major festival last
year, because she was battling breast
cancer, is keeping her promise to
perform at this year’s event instead.
Former Royal Harpist,
Catrin Finch will have a starring role
at the Wales Harp Festival at Galeri in Caernarfon on April 17 and 18.
After being
diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer, she had seven rounds of chemotherapy
over four months and underwent a double mastectomy at Velindre Cancer
Centre in Cardiff.
In 2000 Ms Finch, who hails originally from Llanon, in Ceredigion, became
the first person since 1872 to hold the post of Royal Harpist.
Her four years playing for the Prince of Wales
provided a springboard to a glittering,
career.
Since
then, she has performed extensively throughout the USA, South America, the
Middle East, Asia, Australia and Europe, both as a soloist, and appearing with
many of the world’s top orchestras.
She said: ““I was determined to perform at this
year’s Wales Harp Festival because Elinor Bennett, the festival director, was my harp teacher for many years.
“I’m
so looking forward to it and I’m just sad I had to miss out on last year’s
event. It just wasn’t possible due to the treatment I was having for my breast
cancer.
“But
that’s all done now and I feel that journey is behind me. I’ve come out of the
other side. I’m back doing what I love and have an incredibly busy schedule
ahead of me.
“It
was a horrible time, there’s no question of that. Unfortunately I have a faulty
gene that left me susceptible to breast cancer.
“The
worse thing, in some ways, was that I couldn’t play the harp for a couple of
months, between September and October. That was difficult as I try and practice
every day when my schedule allows.
“It
was strange not playing but I can now put that behind me and get on with my
life. I just have to be thankful.”
Catrin
added: “ I will be performing works by French harpists who were composing at
the time of the Treaty of Versailles, one hundred years ago, as well as music
by Bach, Piazzola and William Mathias.
“While
I’ll be performing a more classical programme, Monika will be performing more
of her own jazz-based compositions. It will be an interesting mix of styles.
“I’m
really looking forward to playing in Caernarfon as I’m currently heavily
involved working on a project with Seckou Keita, a Senegalese kora player and
drummer.
“We
have together released two albums and are touring, bringing a collaboration of
very different music styles to a wider audience. I couldn’t be more delighted
with the way the music we perform has been received.
“I’m
also working on bringing the World Harp Congress to Cardiff in 2020. That will
be a similar event to those organised by Elinor Bennett in North Wales and it
will be nice to see how she puts her very successful festivals together.”
Just
like the Olympics, the International
Harp Festival is held every four years and in the intervening years the
smaller-scale Wales Harp Festival is to encourage young harpists and develop
audiences.
Elinor
said: “The festival grew out of the Easter harp schools my father (Emrys
Bennett Owen) and I organised more than
four decades ago.
“As well as
welcoming Catrin Finch and Monika Stadler to perform in Caernarfon, harp classes and workshops will be held
during the day for harp learners of all ages,with a team of experienced
teachers from North Wales – Dafydd Huw, Catrin Morris-Jones, Elfair Grug and
Elinor Bennett.
“On April 17t the competition to
commemorate the renowned harpist, Nansi Richards, who died in 1979, will be
held. The Scholarship, worth £1500, will be awarded to a young harpist from
Wales or living in Wales.
“The deadline
to enter for the Nansi Richards Competition is Monday, March 15, and
the deadline for a place in the classes and workshops is the following Friday,
March 22.”
The theme of this
year’s festival is the June 1919 signing of the Treaty of Versailles which helped
bring an end to the Great War.
The then Prime
Minister David Lloyd George, who represented Caernarfon, played a big role in
bringing peace to Europe after the treaty was signed.
Festival Director
Elinor Bennett said: “He was instrumental in the signing of the Treaty of
Versailles which helped bring an end to the dreadful war.
“I think it’s
important we celebrate the signing of the treaty and the role David Lloyd
George played in the negotiations.
“Not long after it
was signed, the legendary Welsh harpist Nansi Richards was invited to Downing
Street to play the harp for David Lloyd George and his family so there is a
real connection insofar as the festival is concerned.”
“We wanted to
commemorate the centenary of the signing of the treaty which is why Catrin will
perform the work of three very influential French composers and harpists during
the festival.
“I’m also looking
forward to hearing the work of and Monika Stadler who will be performing many
of her own jazz-based compositions.
“Monika, who lives in
Vienna, is like a breath of fresh air
and brings a whole new dimension to the world of harp music with her jazz,
folk, classical and improvised compositions. She recently released an album of
music entitled “Song of the Welsh Hills.”
“It’s going to be another
amazing two-day festival packed full of concerts, classes and workshops.
“I’d encourage
anyone who has a love of harp music to get a ticket for the concerts and anyone
who wants to learn more about playing the harp to enrol in the classes or
workshops.”
One of the UK’s most talented
young harpists swapped the Albert Hall for a care home in Caernarfon.
Elfair Grug, 29, who has
performed at the prestigious venue in London, gave residents at Pendine Park’s
Bryn Seiont Newydd a virtuoso performance.
The
concert came about as the result of a partnership between the Pendine Park Arts
and Community Trust Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (the William Mathias Music
Centre) in Caernarfon which was made possible by funding from Arts &
Business Cymru via their Culture Step
programme.
It is part of a series of 15
concerts at Pendine Park’s care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon and at other
venues in the community
The project will culminate
with a concert by former Royal Harpist Catrin Finch at s Bryn Seiont Newydd on
April 18, ahead of her performance at the 2019 Wales Harp Festival concert at
Galeri in Caernarfon.
Elfair, who hails from
Mynytho, in Gwynedd, is a former pupil of the renowned harpist, Elinor Bennett,
at the William Mathias Music Centre at Galeri, Caernarfon, and went on to study
at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
She was a member of the
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for a number of years playing in
venues such as the Royal Albert Hall.
And in 2008 she was one of 60
harpists who played at the Royal Opera House when Prince Charles celebrated his
60th birthday.
Elfair went on to spend two
years living in Bangkok in Thailand where she worked as a harp teacher and
harpist in residence at the Tamnak Prathom Harp Centre which is supported by
the Thai Royal Family and is twinned with the William Mathias Music Centre in
Caernarfon.
She said: “I’ve thoroughly
enjoyed today’s concert. It was lovely to see some residents joining in and
singing along. The music clearly has a big effect on residents and we had lots
of eye contact and one lady clearly enjoyed conducting me as I played.
Pictured is Elfair Grug with residents Vera Morris and Gwyndaf Williams and Nia Davies Williams, musician in residence at Bryn Seiont newydd. (Picture: Mandy Jones)
“This was purely a concert but
I will be returning to Bryn Seiont Newydd as part of the project and will be
working with residents as part of a workshop. I’ll then introduce some
percussion instruments and we will work closely together.
“The music room at Bryn Seiont
Newydd is a fantastic resource and it’s obvious to me that residents benefit a
great deal from having the opportunity to listen to live
music.”
Elfair performed a mix of
classical, traditional folk and popular songs including Elton John and the
Beatles.
She said: “I always enjoy
performing in care homes; it’s intimate and so rewarding. I work freelance as a
harpist and perform with full orchestra’s or chamber groups but the reaction
you get as musician from many care home residents is amazing.
“Over the Sea to Skye, a
traditional Scottish folk song, certainly had residents singing along and it’s
obviously a song they know well from the sessions that Nia Davies Williams as
musician in residence has done with them.”
She added: “It’s been amazing
and I’ve loved every minute of today’s concert. I’m really looking forward to
returning and playing for residents again and working with them as part of the
workshop.”
Bryn Seiont Newydd resident
and former Shotton Steelworks switchboard operator, Margaret ‘Peggy’ Morris,
said: “The music is very soothing and it’s nice to have concerts like this.
It’s something to really look forward to.”
“I really like it here. I come
from Mancot, Flintshire but moved to Rhoshirwaun. Sali is my best friend and
comes to see me every other day.
Peggy’s best friend Sali
Williams of Rhoshirwaun, Gwynedd, added: “Bryn Seiont Newydd is such a
wonderful place and there is always so much going on. Music enriches the lives
of residents; it’s a real therapy and brings back memories. I know how much
Peggy enjoys living here.”
Pendine Park’s Musician in
Residence, Nia Davies Williams, said: “The concert series will take in a number
of Pendine Park care homes as well as the Hafod Hedd Dementia Centre, Pwllheli
and Bontnewydd Day Care Centre. The programme has been made possible thanks to
funding from Arts & Business Cymru.
“It will enable Canolfan Gerdd
William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre) and Pendine Park to build on
their relationship following Pendine’s sponsorship of the 2018 Wales
International Harp Festival.
“Professional harpist Elfair
Grug is one of Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias’s alumni harp students. She
will deliver the 15 concerts and engage with residents in a series of
workshops.
“Students will also have the
opportunity to attend some of the concert sessions to have a taste of music in
community settings and be mentored by Elfair.”
She added: “It’s a wonderful
project and we know from past experience how much residents enjoy these concert
events. It’s only been possible to put the project together thanks to the Arts
& Business Cymru Culture Step Funding.
“It was clear to see how much
residents enjoy listening to music and many of them joined in by singing and
even whistling along. It’s lovely to see their reaction to familiar music and
how they join in with songs and tunes they know.”
Sandra
Evans, the manager of Bryn Seiont Newydd, said: “This lovely project chimes perfectly with our ethos at Pendine Park because the arts in
general and music in particular provide the golden thread running through
everything we do to enrich the lives of our residents and staff alike.”
