DAVIES, JOHN (1787 - 1855), stone-mason and composer

Born at Banwen, Morriston, Glamorganshire, 13 November 1787. As a boy he enjoyed the advantages of an education and became a good scholar. When he was 14 years of age a Londoner who lodged at his home taught him to play the dulcimer. He was a stone-mason by trade and, when his day's work was done, used to carve tombstones by night. He married at the age of 24 and built himself a house at Treboeth near Swansea. At the age of 30 he began to study music and became a competent musician. He wrote many anthems and hymn-tunes. The tune which appears in Welsh hymnals under the name ' Gethsemane,' 9-8 (arranged by R. H. Pritchard of Bala in 8-beat), first appeared in Lleuad yr Oes, June 1827. Other tunes composed by him are found in Haleliwia Drachefn, Llwybrau Moliant, and Y Caniedydd Cynulleidfaol; these show that he had musical ability. He died 27 April 1855 at Llanelly and was buried in Mynydd-bach cemetery.

Author

• Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)

Sources

• Cronicl y Cerddor, June 1883
• M. O. Jones, Bywgraffiaeth Cerddorion Cymreig (1890)
• Y Cerddor, October 1890
• Edward Jones, Rhestr gyda nodiadau byrion, o Enwogion Cymreig o 1700 i 1900 (1908)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733374

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/