Many would argue that the most famous love song to hail from the “Land of Song” is none other than Myfanwy, which was first performed on 21 May in 1875.
The Origins of Myfanwy
The occasion was special, as it was the opening concert of the Aberystwyth & University Musical Society – as well as the birthday of Joseph Parry, the song’s composer and a professor of music at Aberystwyth University at the time.
Joseph Parry was born in Merthyr Tydfil on 21 May 1841 and, unquestionably, Myfanwy remains his most enduring work. Prior to becoming synonymous with Myfanwy and Welsh music, Parry worked at down the coal mine to help financially support his family. Like many other young Welsh people of the day, he did so as a young child and is known to have also worked at Cyfarthfa ironworks, along with his father, from the age of twelve.
Eventually, the Parry family would emigrate to Pennsylvania in 1854 – taking up work at the ironworks in Danville. It was here when his interest in music resulted in him joining local choirs – a Welshman abroad tended to drift towards choirs in those days. It was only when the ironworks were temporarily closed that Parry took it upon himself to begin studying and, eventually, compose music.
So good was Parry, in fact, that he would win the Eisteddfod at Utica in 1861, leading to him eventually entering and making a name for himself in the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru at Llandudno in 1864.
He would finally return home to Cymru for good in 1874, taking up the mantle of becoming Aberystwyth University’s first Professor of Music. He would also work in Cardiff from 1888.
Parry would pass away on 17 February 1903.
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Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.
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