Thomas Osborne Roberts - Cwsg Fy Anwylyd Di-nam

Cwsg fy Anwylyd Di-nam, a part-song for female voices, was a test piece in the 1923 National Eisteddfod in Mold (Open Ladies’ Choirs category) along with The Snow by Elgar. The prize was won by the Plymouth Orpheus Choir – it wasn’t unusual for the Eisteddfod to attract many choirs from all over the United Kingdom to compete at that time. Vaughan Williams was an adjudicator in the competition and in summarising the day was reported to have said: “Wales has bad music like all other countries, but if Welshmen produce music like this part-song by Mr Osborne Roberts, Wales need never fear to stand side by side with any other country. This part-song completely held its own against that of Sir Edward Elgar.”

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