OWEN, JOHN JONES (1876 - 1947), musician

Name: John Jones Owen
Date of birth: 1876
Date of death: 1947
Parent: Mary Owen
Parent: Hugh Owen
Gender: Male
Occupation: musician
Area of activity: Music; Performing Arts
Author: Robert David Griffith

Born 2 May 1876 at Bryncoed, Tal-y-sarn, Caernarfonshire, son of Hugh Owen and Mary his wife, and a brother of Richard G. Owen ('Pencerdd Llyfnwy'). He learnt to play the organ and the viola. He was conductor of the Nantlle Ladies Choir which took the prize at the Cardiff national eisteddfod of 1897. Appointed organist of Tal-y-sarn (CM) chapel, he succeeded his father as precentor there. Among his compositions which became popular were an anthem, ' Llusern yw Dy air i'm traed ', a part-song ' Yr Afonig ', and a children's song ' Lw-li-bei '. In 1921 he emigrated to the USA where he graduated Mus. Bac. and became organist and choirmaster of the Evangelical Church, Wilkesbarre; he also served as adjudicator, as conductor of cymanfaoedd canu, and as conductor of the Wilkesbarre Orpheus male voice choir. He died 21 April 1947 and was buried in Greenwood Mountain cemetery, Wilkesbarre.

Author

Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)

Sources

Baner ac Amserau Cymru, April 1947
Y Genedl a'r Herald, April 1947

Additional Links

Wikidata: Q20821166

Published date: 2001

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

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