Various Composers - Welsh Music for Strings (Owain Arwel Hughes)

Information

1. Grace Williams - Elegy
2. Arwel Hughes - Gweddi (A Prayer)
3. Paul Mealor - O Sacred Heart
4. Morfydd Owen - Romance for Strings
5. Arwel Hughes - Divertimento (based on the tune 'Ebenezer')
6. Christopher Wood - Aberfan
7. William Mathias - Music for Strings, Op. 14: I. Toccata
8. William Mathias - Music for Strings, Op. 14: II. Canto
9. William Mathias - Music for Strings, Op. 14: III. Danza

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Owain Arwel Hughes, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Rubicon

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While composers like Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Tippett are well-known for their string works, this album highlights equally compelling compositions by Welsh composers. Grace Williams, a student of Vaughan Williams, offers a poignant Elegy, while Morfydd Owen’s tender Romance reflects her tragically short life. William Mathias, a prodigy and student of Lennox Berkeley, showcases his skill in the polished Music for Strings. Modern composer Paul Mealor, known for royal and popular music, and Arwel Hughes, influential in BBC Wales music, also feature. Christopher Wood’s Aberfan serves as a moving tribute to the 1966 tragedy that claimed many young lives.

Owain Arwel Hughes (b. 1942) is a prominent Welsh conductor known for his work with major British orchestras and international ensembles. He became Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 2003, leading them in tours across the UK and abroad. He has held key posts with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonia Orchestra, and Aalborg Symphony, and is currently Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Founder of the Welsh Proms, he raised the festival's profile over 21 years. He has recorded widely, especially the works of Vagn Holmboe, and was awarded an O.B.E. in 2004.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz