Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tecwyn Evans (radio broadcast of live performance from 2016)
Grace Williams (1906-1977) was a Welsh composer, often considered Wales's most notable and influential female composer. Although influenced by the music of her teacher Ralph Vaughan Williams, she carved out her own musical niche by incorporating elements from Welsh folk music. Read more about Williams on my blog: unknowncomposers.org/2019/12/25/grace-williams-a-20th-century-composer-who-embraced-welsh-national-identity
The "Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes" of 1940 was one of Williams' first works to achieve major recognition. While perhaps not reaching the scale and imaginativeness of "Penillion", written fifteen years later (which I would consider her finest orchestral work), the Fantasia is a lively, engaging and impressively orchestrated piece which seamlessly weaves together a variety of nursery tunes from her native Wales ("Jim Cro" ; "Beryn y Bwn" ; "Migildi, Magildi" ; "Si lwli 'mabi" ; "Gee, geffyl bach" ; "Csga di fy mhlentyn tlws" ; "Yr eneth ffein ddu" ; and "Cadi ha !", according to the "Grace Mary Williams" YouTube channel.)
While Williams' works are now performed and/or broadcast with some regularity in the UK, her compositions remain relatively little-known elsewhere; I hope my score videos of her music will help change the status quo. You can find my score video of "Penillion", which I find to be her finest orchestral work, here: youtube.com/watch?v=MsGklxtOs2M
BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tecwyn Evans (radio broadcast of live performance from 2016)
Grace Williams (1906-1977) was a Welsh composer, often considered Wales's most notable and influential female composer. Although influenced by the music of her teacher Ralph Vaughan Williams, she carved out her own musical niche by incorporating elements from Welsh folk music. Read more about Williams on my blog: unknowncomposers.org/2019/12/25/grace-williams-a-20th-century-composer-who-embraced-welsh-national-identity
The "Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes" of 1940 was one of Williams' first works to achieve major recognition. While perhaps not reaching the scale and imaginativeness of "Penillion", written fifteen years later (which I would consider her finest orchestral work), the Fantasia is a lively, engaging and impressively orchestrated piece which seamlessly weaves together a variety of nursery tunes from her native Wales ("Jim Cro" ; "Beryn y Bwn" ; "Migildi, Magildi" ; "Si lwli 'mabi" ; "Gee, geffyl bach" ; "Csga di fy mhlentyn tlws" ; "Yr eneth ffein ddu" ; and "Cadi ha !", according to the "Grace Mary Williams" YouTube channel.)
While Williams' works are now performed and/or broadcast with some regularity in the UK, her compositions remain relatively little-known elsewhere; I hope my score videos of her music will help change the status quo. You can find my score video of "Penillion", which I find to be her finest orchestral work, here: youtube.com/watch?v=MsGklxtOs2M
