A
superb solo by a major twentieth century composer
'YR
HEN ERDDYGAN is one of the oldest, if not the very oldest
of our Welsh folk melodies. It was first brought to my notice
by the folksinger, Dora Herbert
Jones. In 1955, I made an arrangement of the tune for
the master-cellist, Pablo Casals. The present work consists
of a set of free variants, each of which bears a title. The
melody is never heard complete until the concluding movement, "Theme
and Epilogue". The work is inscribed to Ann
Griffiths and her husband, Dr.
Lloyd Davies, and I am deeply indebted to them for their
valuable and timely help.' Mansel
Thomas
The first performance of this work
was given by Ann Griffiths in Aberystwyth on October 13th, 1975. |