(born Rhosllanerchrugog, 25 Aug 1909, died Cardiff 23 September 1988).
Welsh composer, conductor and administrator. Arwel Hughes was educated at Ruabon Grammar School near Wrexham and at the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Vaughan Williams and C. H. Kitson. Following his studies at the RCM he became organist at the church of St Philip and St James, Oxford, and in 1935 returned to Wales to join the staff of the BBC’s music department. His duties included a great deal of conducting, and he directed the first performances of many works by Welsh composers, including Grace Williams, David Wynne and Alun Hoddinott. He was also called upon to compose, arrange and orchestrate music for live radio broadcasts.
He became Head of Music of BBC Wales in 1965, a post he held with great esteem until his retirement in 1971. He was appointed OBE in 1969 for his services to Welsh music and for organising the music for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales in the same year. From 1978 until 1986 he was Honorary Music Director of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
For many years Arwel Hughes conducted performances by the Welsh National Opera, and his own two operas, Menna, a tragedy based on a Welsh folk legend, and Serch yw’r Doctor, ‘Love’s the Doctor’, a comedy adapted from Molière, were produced by the company in 1954 and 1960. These works played an important role in the development of opera in Wales, works which demonstrate his attractive lyricism and melodic originality.
He is most revered for his music for chorus and orchestra, a genre in which he excelled. The large-scale oratorios of Dewi Sant (Saint David) and Pantycelyn exemplify his imagination and technical competence and combine the early twentieth century British tradition with his original harmonic language. Gweddi (A Prayer) is a shorter work containing haunting melodies which encapsulate the spirit of the composer. From within there is a personality that is recognisably Celtic.
The composer’s orchestral writing includes a skilfully written Fantasia for Strings which has received many performances. From the 1940’s there followed a stream of works for orchestra including Suite for Orchestra, Prelude for Orchestra, dedicated to the Youth of Wales, Anatiomaros and a Symphony. There are a quantity of songs and chamber music.
Principal works
OPERAS
Menna (3, W Griffith), 1950 -51, perf 1954
Serch yw’r doctor (Love’s the doctor) (3, S. Lewis, after Molière: L’amour médecin), perf. 1960
ORCHESTRAL
Fantasia, str, 1936
Anatiomaros, 1943
Prelude for Orchestra, 1945
Suite, 1947
Saint Francis (masque, G. James), S, T, narrator, chorus, orch 1965
Symphony, 1971
Legend: Owain Glyndwr, 1979
CHORAL
Tydi a Roddaist (T. Rowland Hughes), chorus, piano, also arranged for female chorus, male chorus with orchestra, 1938
Gweddi (A Prayer) (liturgical text), S, chorus, str (full orch version also), 1944
Dewi Sant (Saint David) (A.T.Davies), S, T, B, chorus, orch, 1950
Pantycelyn (text arr. A. T. Davies(, S, T, B, chorus, orch, 1963
Mab y Dyn (Son of Man) (cantata, biblical text), S, chorus, org, 1967
The Beatitudes (biblical text) S, (T) TTBB, org
In memoriam (Psalm cxxi), chorus, org, 1969
Psalm 148, male chorus, 1970
Mass for Celebration, S, A, male chorus, orch without ww, 1977
Gloria Patri, SATB orch, 1986
MISCELLANEOUS
3 str quartets, 1948, 1976, 1983; unfinished quartet 1932; various choral, orchestral and vocal pieces; many arrangements of folk songs; incidental music for radio and television.
PUBLISHERS
Aureus Publishing Limited
Gwynn Publishing
