Preece Family Tree

ANTHEM GOFFADWRIAETHOL DAVID JOHN, TRECYNON

Da genym ddeall fod gwobr o ddwy gini yn cael ei chynyg am yr Anthem Goffadnwriaethol oreu i'r diweddar Mr David John, arweinydd canu cynulleidfaol yn Ebenezer, Aberdar, am bum' mlynedd a deugain. Ymofyner am y geiriau &c., a'r Parch J. G. Jones, Trecynon, Abedar. Beirniaid: Mr. Rees Williams, Solicitor, Aberdar; a Mr. Dan Griffiths, Ironmonger, Aberdar. Y cyfansoddiadau i fod i mewn erbyn diwedd y mis presenol.

MEMORIAL ANTHEM FOR DAVID JOHN, TRECYNON

We understand that a prize of two guineas is offered for the best Memorial Anthem for the late Mr David John, congregational singing conductor in Ebenezer, Aberdare, for forty-five years. Ask for the words &c., from Rev. J. G. Jones, Trecynon, Abedare. Judges: Mr. Rees Williams, Solicitor, Aberdare; and Mr. Dan Griffiths, Ironmonger, Aberdare. Compositions due in by the end of the current month.

ANTHEM GOFFADWRIAETHOL Y DIWEDDAR MR DAVID JOHN, EBENEZER, ABERDAR

Daeth 23 o gyfansoddiadau i law erbyn y dydd cyntaf o Fedi Rhoddwyd y cwbl ar unwaith yn llaw y beirniaid, ond collwyd tua pythefnos o amser cyn dechreu ar gwaith o feirniadu, am fod un o'r beirniaid oddi cartref ar ei holidays. Ond erbyn hyn y mae y ddau feirniad wrth eu gwaith, ac hyderwn gael y dyfarniad erbyn y DARIAN nesaf.

Dros y pwyllgor, J. GRAWYS JONES, Ysg.

MEMORIAL ANTHEM TO THE LATE MR DAVID JOHN, EBENEZER, ABERDAR

23 compositions had been received by the first day of September. The judges were given them right away, but about two weeks of time was lost before judging began, as one of the judges was away on holiday. But both judges are now at work, and we hope to get the award by the next TARIAN.

For the committee, J. GRAWYS JONES, Esq.

CYSTADLEUAETH YR ANTHEM GOFFADWRIAETHOL AR OL Y DIWEDDAR MR D. JOHN
[RECENT ANTHEM COMPETITION AFTER RECENT MR D. JOHN]

Bu yn Arweinydd Canu yn Ebenezer, Aberdar, am 45 o flynyddoedd.
[He was Singing Conductor at Ebenezer, Aberdare, for 45 years.]

ADJUDICATION

On Anthems in commemoration of the late Mr David John, of Ebenezer, Trecynon, Aberdare.

In this competition 23 Anthems have come to hand and we as Adjudicators cannot help expressing how surprised and delighted we are to find that so many really meretorious compositions should have been sent in. In saying this, of course, it does not follow that they are of equal merit, but at the start we are bound to say that with the exception of 2 or 3 in the lowest class they are exceptionally well written so far as correctness of harmony is concerned.

With so many Anthems (and Anthems especially of such length), it is hardly to be expected that we should give a minute adjudication to each one. We divide the competition into three classes beginning with the lowest. In the third and lowest class we place the following eight, viz. - Didimus, Edmygydd yn A flat, Luther, Brython, Leipsig, Gomer, Galarwr, Emrys (no 1) yn 4 flats.

Several of these have decided merits and shew that the composers have really studied harmony to some purpose, but we think they lack in conception of what should be a proper setting of the words.

In class two we place the following eight, viz. - D. T. Gilbert, Deigryn yn E flat, Clemente, Emrys (No 2) yn E flat, Wolfgange, Wagner, Telorydd, Edmygydd yn E flat. These are of a decidedly higher type than those in class three, and indeed, but for the exceptional merit of the compositions placed in the first class we should have no hesitation in deciding that at least two or three of these are well worthy of the prize.

In the first class we place seven compositions, viz., those bearing the following mottoes - Hen Gyfaill, Goss, Patmos, Barthold Tours, Mab Jesse, Hen Aberdarian, Cynon. These are each and all compositions of great merit and worthy of a far larger prize than the one now offered, and we cannot help thinking that love for and admiration of the character of the late Mr John and not the mere money value of the prize offered has induced musicians of such calibre to compete. After long, careful, and repeated examination and comparison of these seven Anthems, we have come to the conclusion that the prize should be awarded to the one bearing the motto Cynon. This is equal in musicianally merits to either of the others in this class, and in our opinion has the decided and further advantage of being more congregational.

We congratulate all concerned most heartily that so many Anthems of such merit should have been sent in.

REES WILLIAMS, DANN GRIFFITHS, Adjudicators
Aberdare, October 4, 1894.

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Y mae yn hyfrydwch i wneud yn hysbys mai awdwr yr Anthem fuddugol dan yr enw Cynon ydyw Mr W. T. Rees (Alaw Ddu), Llanelli. Teimlir yn ddiolchgar iawn iddo ef, a'r holl ymgeiswyr ereill am yr Anthemau gwerthfawr a anfonasant i'r gystadleuaeth hon. Nid am y wobr y daethant allan, ond yn hytrach o awydd talu teyrnged o barch i hen gerddor crefyddol a dreuliodd oes faith yn arweinydd cynulleidfaol, eithriadol o ffyddlon, medrus, a dyrchafol ei ddylanwad. Bydd coffadwriaeth y cyfiawn a'r heddychlawn Dafydd John, Ebenezer, yn sicr o fod i'w deimlo yn fendigedig mewn dadganiad da o'r Anthem fuddugol. Cyhoeddir hi yn ddioed, a bwriedir ei chanu yn y gymanfa ganu nesaf a gynelir gan eglwysi Annibynol Trecynon a'r cylch, yn Ebenezer, lle bu Mr John yn golofn mor gadarn o blaid caniadaeth y cysegr. Bydd yn bleser gan yr ysgrifenydd ddychwelyd copiau yr Anthemau ereill i'w hawdwyr, os danfonir ato stamps y cludiad.

Dros y Pwyllgor,
J. GRAWYS JONES,
Ebenezer, Aberdar.

It is a delight to know that the author of the winning Anthem by the name Cynon is Mr W. T. Rees (Alaw Ddu), Llanelli. We feel very grateful to him, and all the other entrants for the valuable Anthems they sent to this competition. They came not for the reward, but for the desire to pay tribute to an old religious musician who had spent a long life as a congregational leader, extremely loyal, skilled, and uplifting. The commemoration of the righteous and peaceful David John, Ebenezer, will surely feel blessed in a good recital of the winning Anthem. It is soon to be published, and it is intended to be sung at the next singing congregation held by the Trecynon and District Independent churches, in Ebenezer, where Mr John has been a staunch pillar of the congregation. The secretary will be pleased to return the copies of the other Anthems to their authors, if the stamps of the delivery are sent to him.

For the Committee,
J. GRAWYS JONES,
Ebenezer, Aberdare.