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HENRY, JOHN (1859 - 1914), musician

Name: John Henry
Date of birth: 1859
Date of death: 1914
Parent: Bennett Williams
Gender: Male
Occupation: musician
Area of activity: Music; Performing Arts
Author: Robert David Griffith

Born in 1859 at Portmadoc, Caernarfonshire, the son of Bennett Williams. He was brought up in a musical family. He joined the Caernarvon Volunteers band and when he was only thirteen years old became its conductor. Possessed of a good baritone voice he began to compete as a soloist when he was seventeen and won several prizes. When he was twenty-one he went to the Royal College of Music, London, and after completing his course there settled as a teacher of singing in London, moving afterwards to Liverpool (1884) where he became a teacher of music. Besides taking part as soloist in performances of ' The Messiah,' ' Elijah,' ' Samson,' etc., he wrote several solos which became popular, among them being ' Teyrn y Dydd,' ' Galwad y Tywysog,' ' Cân y Bugail,' ' Cenwch im yr hen Ganiadau,' and ' Gwlad y Delyn.' He also composed part-songs, e.g. ' Nos Ystorm,' and ' Selene,' a cantata called ' Olga,' and an opera ' Caradog.' He died 14 January 1914 and was buried at Liverpool.

Author

Published date: 1959

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

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