Music Making at the Aberdare Boys' Grammar School

by
T.R. James, B.Sc., L.R.A.M.
(Pupil 1922-28, Mathematics Teacher 1937-57, Headmaster Brynmawr Grammar School from 1957)

Although appointed to teach Mathematics at my 'old school', a privilege in itself and an enjoyable and rewarding experience, my association with the school in its music making, both as a pupil and member of staff, recalls many happy hours of real pleasure and worth-while endeavour.

In the early twenties, as a very junior official school accompanist, I recall the efforts of my contemporaries, keen music makers and makers of mischief, under the 'direction' of Mr Ogwen Williams, in preparation of our annual contribution of musical items to the Prize Distribution Ceremony held at the Aberdare Empire or the Palladium. I was usually a solitary figure at the piano in the orchestra pit, the conductor and choir in the auditorium, at a distance and hence somewhat remote, not always conducive to a good ensemble. At this period we had a scratch orchestra (a very descriptive adjective), a 'do-it-yourself outfit', without staff direction, which provided the musical interludes of the annual play production of the school. Sam Watts and Glyn Voyle, both members of the Ebenezer (Trecynon) Orchestra, were the musical directors of this group of varied instrumentalists.

The more serious form of music making started when Mr. Gwilym Ambrose was appointed as Headmaster. He, with Mr. P.E. Phillips and myself, founded the Music Society of the school, Mr Phillips as the conductor, with the other two members of the 'triumvirate' sharing the accompaniment, supported to the full by many staff choristers and administrators. Our first production was Coleridge Taylor's "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast", accompanied by a full orchestra with professional leads including Mr. Arkite Phillips, the conductor's father, on the oboe, and local semi-professional and amateur players. In the early stages it was a hard battle convincing many of our fifth and sixth formers that choral singing was not confined to females and junior boys. However, the success of our first venture, under the safe and capable baton of Mr. Phillips, established the Society in the locality and gained the continued support of the music lovers of the area. The school greatly appreciated the help given by men from the Hirwaun Choral Society, choristers from Cwmaman and the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir, and individuals from other parts of the valley, many of whom were past students or fathers of pupils of the School. One must mention the late Sir Gwilym Ffrancon Williams who, I believe, participated in every concert during the 21 years.

Amongst the many works performed, the following come to mind: Acis and Galatea (Handel), The Spring (Haydn), which was also given a broadcast performance from the B.B.C. studios at Aberdare with the B.B.C. Cardiff Orchestra, conducted by Idris Lewis, Requiem (Faure), concert versions of Carmen (Bizet), and Merry England (Edward German), Dido and Aeneas (Purcell), many of Bach's Church Cantatas (notably "Wachet Auf") and other shorter works. We were privileged to have with us, as soloists, well established singers as Elsie Suddaby, Ena Mitchell, William Parsons, Roderick Lloyd (a past student), Trevor Jones and Helen Gaskell the B.B.C. Principal Oboe, and other younger singers as Gwyneth Jones, Jennifer Vyvyan, Heather Harper and Peter Peers, soon to establish themselves as singers of national and international repute. Early in the series, Mr Morgan Lloyd was engaged with his orchestra, and he became a regular friend of the school. In later concerts, Mr Ambrose, myself, Mrs. Meudwen Davies (née Smith), Miss Jean Lindsay and Mr. Gethin Evans shared the conducting with Mr. Phillips and, in the latter's retirement, Mr. Evans took over the work. To be associated with such a fine group of colleagues and friends has been one of the highlights of my career and I welcome this opportunity of recording my personal appreciation and thanks.

Apart from the annual concert, there were other interesting facets of our music making: the joint orchestra with the Girls' Grammar School, with Mrs Lily Richards (née Walters) and Miss Marie Howells as the driving force, the Carol Services (conducted by Mr. Ambrose), our contributions to the 1946 and 1956 National Eisteddfod, our singing under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult, accompanied by a section of the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra during their week's visit to Aberdare sometime during the War, an engagement to provide background choral music to a B.B.C. Wales radio broadcast of the Emlyn Williams play "The Corn is Green" at the Cardiff studios, a recording of suitable choral numbers for the Naval Authority under the direction of Jon Pertwee (now of Dr Who fame), not forgetting the individual items, vocal and instrumental, for our 'impromptu' St. David's Day celebrations, arranged by Mr. J.T. Bowen. Another event of personal interest to me was the formation, one year, of a small male voice choir from the fifth and sixth forms to provide a group of TTBB items for the miscellaneous part of the concert, a very successful venture that gave me a great deal of satisfaction. Some of these singers are now members of the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir, an encouraging fact as far as I am concerned.

In recent years at the school, there has been a welcomed emphasis on the instrumental side of music making, thanks to the enthusiasm and energy of Mr. Gethin Evans and the grand facilities provided by the Education Authority. This was quite clearly demonstrated in the orchestral concert given last October, as the first event in the programme of celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of the school. The musical tradition of the school is still maintained and augurs well for the future.

In conclusion, may I as a former pupil and member of staff, and one who has been associated with this tradition, wish Mr. Gwilym Williams, who has done so much for music making in the school as chorister and administrator, his staff and pupils all success and good fortune in the future.

It has been a privilege to be asked to contribute to the Anniversary Brochure.