Llewela Davies (February 1871 – 22 August 1952) was a Welsh pianist and composer who toured with Dame

Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic dramatic coloratura soprano (three octaves). She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th centur ...

Early life and education

Llewela Tegwedd Davies was born at

Talgarth Talgarth is a market town, community and electoral ward in southern Powys, Mid Wales, about north of Crickhowell, north-east of Brecon and south-east of Builth Wells. Notable buildings in the town include the 14th-century parish church and ...

, near

Brecon Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...

, in South Wales. Her father was Rhys Davies, a justice of the peace."Miss Llewela Davies: Cordial Reception at Llangranog"
''South Wales Echo'' (12 August 1893): 3. At age 10 she won a medal and a cash prize at the National Eisteddfod, and earned a scholarship to attend the North London Collegiate School for Girls. She attended the Royal Academy of Music on a John Thomas Welsh scholarship awarded in 1887, and as a student there won many awards for composition and musicianship, including the "

Worshipful Company of Musicians The Worshipful Company of Musicians is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Its history dates back to at least 1350. Originally a specialist guild for musicians, its role became an anachronism in the 18th century, when the centre of ...

Medal for the Most Distinguished Student in the Academy." As a pianist Llewela Davies was often an accompanist for student vocal recitals during her college years. She later earned a music degree from

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree- ...

."Lady Instrumentalists"
''Strand Musical Magazine'' (1895): 91. Her instructor at the Royal Academy, Walter Macfarren, was the brother of composer

George Alexander Macfarren Sir George Alexander Macfarren (2 March 181331 October 1887) was an English composer and musicologist. Life George Alexander Macfarren was born in London on 2 March 1813 to George Macfarren, a dancing-master, dramatic author and journalist, wh ...

and brother-in-law of composer Emma Maria Macfarren; his other students included notable musicians Ethel Mary Boyce,

Dora Bright Dora Estella Knatchbull (née Bright; 16 August 1862 – 16 November 1951) was an English composer and pianist. She composed works for orchestra, keyboard and voice, and music for opera and ballet, including ballets for performance by the dance ...

Stewart Macpherson (Charles) Stewart Macpherson (29 March 1865 – 27 March 1941) was an English musician of Scottish descent. He was born in Liverpool, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He was a student of the composer Walter Cecil Macfarren. I ...

and

Agnes Zimmermann Agnes Zimmermann (5 July 184714 November 1925) was a German concert pianist and composer who lived in England. Biography Agnes Marie Jacobina Zimmermann was born in Cologne, Germany. Her family moved to England, and she was enrolled at the Royal ...

Career

Llewela Davies' most prominent performances were with

; Davies and her husband toured with the singer, though North America, Australia, and New Zealand.Henry Saxe Wyndham and Geoffrey L'Epine, eds.
''Who's Who in Music: A Biographical Record of Contemporary Musicians''
(I. Pitman & Sons 1915): 75–76. She performed twice at the

Three Choirs Festival 200px, Worcester cathedral 200px, Gloucester cathedral The Three Choirs Festival is a music festival held annually at the end of July, rotating among the cathedrals of the Three Counties (Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester) and originally featu ...

, and as a pianist at the National Eisteddfod. She also performed at the Annual Reid Concert in Edinburgh in 1899."Annual Reid Concert 1899"
''Reid Concerts: Concerts at the University of Edinburgh from 1841'' She was welcomed in Welsh villages as a guest performer at special events. Davies taught at London University after earning her degree there. Later in life she was a professor of piano at Guildhall School of Music. Her compositions include ''Three Sketches'' (for orchestra), a string quartet, and a Violin Sonata in E (1894).

Personal life

Miss Davies married fellow Welsh musician Frederic Griffith (or Griffiths) in 1898,"Marriage of Llewela Davis"
''Scranton Republican'' (23 April 1898): 3. via

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and lived in London thereafter. She was widowed when Frederic Griffith died in 1917. She died in London in 1952 at the age of 81.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Llewela 1871 births 1952 deaths Welsh composers Welsh women pianists Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music People educated at North London Collegiate School People from Brecon 19th-century Welsh musicians 19th-century British women musicians 19th-century British composers 19th-century British pianists 20th-century Welsh musicians 20th-century British composers 20th-century British women musicians 20th-century British pianists 20th-century women composers 19th-century women composers 19th-century women pianists 20th-century women pianists