The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-08 00:00:00

The Chester Eisteddfod.

The cantata performed at the Wednesday evening's con-
cert was composed expressly for this Eisteddfod by Mr.
John Thomas, of the Royal Academy. It is called " The
Bride of Neath Valley," and is a musical description of the
peculiar practices at a Welsh wedding. This composition
is a decided advance upon Mr. Thomas's cantata of 1863,
which was given on Tuesday evening. It is more mob° -
dial, and contains some good choral writing and effective
instrumentation. Wherever it is performed it will be heard
with pleasure, and we are glad that it is likely to be pub-
lished soon. At the same time, it has some defects, which
may be avoided in future works. When a listener expects
a varying development of an interesting theme, he is dis-
appointed to find that it is not developed, but merely re-
peated. This tendency to repetition is a weakness, and the
value of Mr. Thomas's writings will be increased if more
terseness characterise them. The overture of " The Bride
of Neath Valley" does not strike one with absolute fresh-
ness, for it occasionally recalls more than the style of one
of the great masters. Four soloists take the parts of the
bride and her mother, the bridegroom, and the bridal
messenger. The latter, a bass voice, opens the vocal
portion with a recitative and air. The recitative has
too long-continued monotones; the air, "The girl is far
too good for earth," would have been much more
effective in other hands than Mr. Llwyfo Lewis's.
After an instrumental intermezzo, a chorus of men greets
the bridegroom on the wedding morn, and he responds in
praise of his bride in a song for which Mr. H. F. Morley,
who has written the libretto, has not been successful with
the words. Subsequently the bride's mother (contrail())
has a smooth, easy song, " Oh, merry are the bridesmaids,"
not unlike Hatton. That which forms the principal feature
in a Welsh wedding,—an altercation between the bride-
groom and his party outside the house, and the bride and
her friends locked within, succeeds; and Mr. Thomas has
shown much skill in adapting for this purpose a laconic
old Welsh air. The altercation between the principle
alternates with passages for the chorus, and the whole is
so lively that it was heartily encored. A riding chorus, to
church,- is well harmonised, and it introduces an unaccom-
panied hymn, which is repeated with an accompaniment
after an anthem has intervened. The latter part of the
hymn is admirable,and the brass instruments are introduced
into it with fine effect. Tho riding chorus, again, on the
way home, leads-Le- the bridekleadig, "If thOu shalt deem
thy vow," a merry soprano air with an attractive accom-
paniment. Miss Edith Wynne sang it very nicely, and
was encored. The' air "0 nos galen" is made the subject
of a pennillion song and chorus, well worked out, entitled
"Jane had cheeks as red as roses ;" and we think this ex-
ample of an old national method of song will become as
popular when known in this country as it must be in the
Principality. The cantata concludes with dance music enclu
chorus to the air "The Queen's Dream." After this spe-
cimen of Mr. Thomas's abilities as a composer, we shall
look for something proceeding one day from his pen which
will place him prominently among British musicians.
Yesterday's proceedings commenced with a meeting of
the social science section at the Savings Bank, when papers
were read on preventible pauperism, crime, and disease,
by Mrs. Wightman, of Shrewsbury ; on the dietary of the
working classes in North and South Wales, by Mr. E.
Smith, F.R.S., upon the desirableness of establishing an
historical section in connection with the National Eistedd-
fod, by Mr. Whalley, M.P.;
on the desirableness of esta-
blishing
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the Rev. Mr. Harry, of Mold ; on the uses and abuses of
nationalities, by Mr. W. Morris, of Swansea; and on work-
ing men's clubs, by the Rev. H. Sally. A short discussion
took place on some of the papers, after which the meeting
adjourned to the pavilion, where the proceedings com-
menced at noon. The president for the day was the Mayor
of Chester (W. M. Williams, Esq.), who opened the pro-
ceedings with a short speech. After the customary poetical
addresses by the bards, including an English address by
the Rev. R. Jones, Rotherhithe, the first subject adjudi-
cated upon was an essay on welsh emigration ; its results
at home and its value in the British colonies. Four com-
positions were received, and the prize (£lO 10s.) was
awarded to Owen Parry, Bristol. The prize of £5 ss. for
the best glee for male voices was awarded to Rhodri ab
Owen. A competition on the pedal harp succeeded, and
there was only one competitor to whom the prize was
awarded, Mr. W. F. Frost, Merthyr. The next subject
was the awarding of a prize of £2O and a silver medal, for
the best cantata on the Prodigal Son. Mr.Brinleyßichards,
in delivering his adjudication, said the successful composi-
tion was by far the best ever sent to an eisteddfod ; the
composer was Mr. Jos. Parry, now in the United States,
but formerly of Merthyr. A duet for the harp and piano
who he said had done so
the
Mayor presented to the
t
was given by Mr. Brinley and Mr. John Thomas (Pen-
d e
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gentleman G wa
much for the music of Wales, a testimonial and a purse,
containing a cheque for 450 guineas, subscribed by a large
number of Mr. Thomas's admirers in England and Wales.
leaertla)'after( which
Thomas),
Upon Mr. Thomas appearing on the platform, he was
heartily applauded by the large assemblage. He briefly
thanked the subscribers f.r their handsome subscription.—
The succeeding composition is considered the most impor-
tant in connection with the eisteddfod,viz., the chair prize.
The subject chosen this year was a poem on "The Sea:,
The value of the prize was £2O and a carved oak
chair. There were 13 competitors, and the Rev.
It. Parry (Gwalchmai), one of the judges, read a very
elaborate adjudication upon the various compositions
sent in. The bard to be honoured proved to be
the Rev. Robert Thomas, Independent minister, Bangor,
who bad written under the cognomen of " Molydd." As
the rev. bard was not present, he was represented by Mr.
Williams, of Bangor, who was led to the chair by two
chaired bards, awl a sword unsheathed above his head,
whilst a few chaired bards addressed him in poetical strains.
The Rev. C. H. Owen, of St. Asapb, delivered a Welch
oration. The next important prize was 25 guineas and a
silver medal for the best essay in Welsh on the mariners of
Wales. Twenty guineas of prize was given by the Run-
corn Sailors' Committee, and five guineas by the Eistedd-
fod Council. The prize was awarded to the Rev. David
Griffith, Independent minister, Port Dinorwic, Carnarvon-
shire. A prize of £lO 10s., and a silver medal, for the best
plan of the Eisteddfod Pavilion, was awarded to Mr. John
Roberts, architect, Chester, The last prire forcompetition
was £lO 10s. for the best choral performance of Mr. Brinley
Richards' part song, "What bells are those ?" Mr. Henry
Leak, Adjudicated upon the performance, and awarded the ,