Grace Williams (1906-1977)
Part Two
This week Donald Macleod commemorates the centenary of the birth of Grace Williams, whose music exercised huge influence on the Welsh musical landscape of the 20th century. And as Wales itself is a place strongly associated with the innate lyricism of language, it's no surprise that voices haunt the music of Grace Williams.
In conversation with musicologists Heward Rees and Rhiannon Mathias, and the composer's niece Eryl Freestone, Donald Macleod takes a look at some of the Welsh voices and characters that find their way into Grace Williams' work.
Playlist
Jim Cro
Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone)
Iain Burnside (piano)
BBC RECORDING
The Dancers
Eiddwen Harrhy (soprano)
Caryl Thomas (harp)
Richard Hickox Singers
City of London Sinfonia
Richard Hickox (conductor)
CHANDOS CHAN 9617
CD1 t1-6
Ye Highlands and Ye Lowlands
Stephen Betteridge (piano)
BBC Singers
Ronald Corp (conductor)
BBC RECORDING
Penillion
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Charles Groves (conductor)
BBC RECORDING
(also available on Lyrita SRCD 323)
Mari Lwyd
Stephen Betteridge (piano)
BBC Singers
Ronald Corp (conductor)
BBC RECORDING
