Llewela Davies
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Llewela Davies (February 1871 – 22 August 1952)[1] was a Welsh pianist and composer who toured with Dame Nellie Melba.[2]
Early life and education[edit]
Llewela Tegwedd Davies was born at Talgarth, near Brecon, in South Wales.[3] Her father was Rhys Davies, a justice of the peace.[4][5] At age 10 she won a medal and a cash prize at the National Eisteddfod, and earned a scholarship to attend the North London Collegiate School for Girls.[6]
She attended the Royal Academy of Music on a John Thomas Welsh scholarship awarded in 1887, and as a student there won many awards for composition and musicianship,[7] including the "Worshipful Company of Musicians Medal for the Most Distinguished Student in the Academy."[8][9] As a pianist Llewela Davies was often an accompanist for student vocal recitals during her college years.[10] She later earned a music degree from London University.[11]
Her instructor at the Royal Academy, Walter Macfarren, was the brother of composer George Alexander Macfarren and brother-in-law of composer Emma Maria Macfarren; his other students included notable musicians Ethel Mary Boyce, Dora Bright, Stewart Macpherson and Agnes Zimmermann.[12]
Career[edit]
Llewela Davies' most prominent performances were with Nellie Melba; Davies and her husband toured with the singer, though North America, Australia, and New Zealand.[13][14] She performed twice at the Three Choirs Festival, and as a pianist at the National Eisteddfod. She also performed at the Annual Reid Concert in Edinburgh in 1899.[15] She was welcomed in Welsh villages as a guest performer at special events.[4]
Davies taught at London University after earning her degree there.[11] Later in life she was a professor of piano at Guildhall School of Music.[16] Her compositions include Three Sketches (for orchestra),[17] a string quartet, and a Violin Sonata in E (1894).[14]
Personal life[edit]
Miss Davies married fellow Welsh musician Frederic Griffith (or Griffiths) in 1898,[18][19] and lived in London thereafter. She was widowed when Frederic Griffith died in 1917. She died in London in 1952 at the age of 81.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1952
- ^ "Welsh Musicians on Tour" Evening Express (30 December 1897): 3.
- ^ "Keeping up the National Reputation: A Brilliant Young Welsh Girl Who Has Attracted Attention as a Musician" Chicago Tribune (24 October 1891): 16.
- ^ a b "Miss Llewela Davies: Cordial Reception at Llangranog" South Wales Echo (12 August 1893): 3.
- ^ "Death of Mr. Rhys Davies, J. P., Brecon" South Wales Echo (18 March 1899): 3.
- ^ Frederic Griffith, ed. Notable Welsh Musicians of Today (F. Goodwen 1896): 122–123.
- ^ "Miss Llewela Davies" Bruce Herald 24(2516)(3 October 1893): 3.
- ^ "Annual Prizes, Female Department" Overture: A Monthly Musical Journal 6(4)(October 1893): 94–95.
- ^ "A Brilliant Student" Cambridge Chronicle (1 December 1894): 11.
- ^ "Invitation Students Concert: Saturday, July 1, 1893" and "Fortnightly Concerts," Overture: A Monthly Musical Journal 6(4)(October 1893): 100.
- ^ a b "Lady Instrumentalists" Strand Musical Magazine (1895): 91.
- ^ Walter Macfarren, Memories: An Autobiography (Walter Scott Publishing 1905): 268.
- ^ "Madame Melba: The Farewell Concert" The Advertiser (17 November 1902): 6. via Trove
- ^ a b Henry Saxe Wyndham and Geoffrey L'Epine, eds., Who's Who in Music: A Biographical Record of Contemporary Musicians (I. Pitman & Sons 1915): 75–76.
- ^ a b "Annual Reid Concert 1899" Reid Concerts: Concerts at the University of Edinburgh from 1841
- ^ Landon Ronald (ed.). Who's Who in Music (1955), p. 83
- ^ Two of the three were first performed at the Royal Academy of Music at the end of 1895. Musical Times, Volume 37, No. 635 (January 1896), p. 25
- ^ "Forthcoming Marriage of Mr. F. Griffiths; Engaged to a Brecon Artiste" South Wales Daily Post (28 March 1898): 4.
- ^ "Marriage of Llewela Davis" Scranton Republican (23 April 1898): 3. via Newspapers.com
