Give Morfydd the honour she deserves
MAY I declare my support for John Phillips (WM letters, May 12) who pointed out that Morfydd Llwyn Owen was missing from the recent “100 Inspirational Women” list?
However, all is not lost as we remember the centenary of her death on September 7, as a number of events have been arranged.
Morfydd was a huge musical talent who sadly died in Mumbles at the age of 27.
In 2016, Brian Ellsbury and Elen Manahan Thomas brought many of her songs and piano works to audiences in Wales and London, and Ty Cerdd produced an accompanying CD. During this summer we will have many more opportunities to learn about her and to enjoy a range of her music.
Elen and Brian will reprise their presentation at the Gower Festival on July 2, while the BBC National Orchestra of Wales play her Nocturn at the London Prom on July 20. She will be the main focus of the Gregynog Festival, July 20–September 30 and there will be tributes to her in Pontypridd (she was born and brought up in Trefforest) and Swansea in early September.
I trust the Swansea Festival, the Welsh Prom and our Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama will also be doing their bit.
We are indebted to Dr Rhian Davies, artistic director of the Gregynog Festival, who has given a lifetime to researching and promoting Morfydd. She will be giving an interval talk during the London Prom. She will also talk about Morfydd’s pioneering work in annotating and arranging Welsh folk songs at the National Eisteddfod at the invitation of Cymdeithas Alawon Gwerin (the Welsh Folksong Society) and will be very much involved with the Swansea and Pontypridd tribute events.
I trust that whoever compiles the next “Inspirational Women” list will give Morfydd Llwyn Owen the honour which is due to her.
DI Edwards Pontypridd