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Composer of the Week

Grace Williams (1906-1977)

Part One

This year marks the centenary of the birth of Grace Williams, the most significant Welsh composer of her generation, and a maverick voice in 20th century British music. During her lifetime she was criticised for a lyrical style that was out of step with fashionable trends, and subsequently her work has fallen into the sort of posthumous lull that has befallen many great composers.

Donald Macleod visits South Wales to begin a week tracing the course of Grace Williams' life and music, talking to those who knew her, including Welsh musicologists Heward Rees and Rhiannon Mathias.

Duration:

1 hour

Playlist

Yr Eos, The Nightingale
Stephen Betteridge (piano)
Â鶹Éç Singers
Ronald Corp (conductor)
Â鶹Éç RECORDING

Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Charles Groves (conductor)
Lyrita SRCD 323
CD1 t1

Violin Concerto
Matthew Trusler (violin)
Â鶹Éç National Orchestra of Wales
Jason Lai (conductor)
Â鶹Éç RECORDING

Watching the Wheat
Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone)
Iain Burnside (piano)
Â鶹Éç RECORDING

Composer of the Week

Episode and Playlist Information

• Grace Williams (1906-1977)
  • Part One
  • Part Two
  • Part Three
  • Part Four
  • Part Five