top of page
The Songs of Richard Samuel Hughes

As part of our Heritage Records projects we are currently working on a recording of the songs of Welsh composer Richard Samuel Hughes (1855-1893).

​

Born on the 14th July 1855 in Aberystwyth, Richard Samuel Hughes was a pianist, winning the first prize in an Eisteddfod competition at the age of ten.  He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London.  He composed his first song, Wyt ti'n cofio'r lloer yn codi?, at the age of eighteen. 

​

Although studying and occasionally returning to London to work, he spent the vast majority of his tragically short life in Wales where he established himself not only as the foremost Welsh composer of his time but also as a performer and teacher of music. He also served as an organist at Bangor Cathedral and at Bethesda Congregational Church.

​

He died 3rd March 1893 at the age of 37 and was buried in Glanogwen burial ground, Bethesda.

R. S. Hughes
Our Recording Project

Whilst hugely popular in his time, the vast majority of Hughes' music in the current era is unfortunately rather scarcely performed.  Arafa Don and Elen Fwyn  along with a handful of other songs and pieces have remained popular with Welsh performers and have been recorded many times but we felt that it was about time that the rest of his catalogue was investigated.

​

We are currently sourcing the sheet music for as many of his songs as we can find and then we will be getting ready to record them.  At this point we are not sure if a "complete" recording will be possible, but our hope is to record as many as we can.

The Songs

Songs in red we are still sourcing the sheet music for.

​

Aml gnoc a dyr y gareg    Gwyrisydd
Ar Fin y Don    Tudno Jones
Ar y Ddol    J Jones

Arafa Don    Tudno Jones
Bedd fy nghariad    Ionoron Glan Dwyryd
Bedd y bugail    
Blodau Paradwys    Edward Jenkins
Brawdwriaeth y Don    Glan Padarn
Breuddwyd y morwr bach    trans. Watcyn Wyn
Bwthyn bach melyn fy nhad    Edward Jenkins
Can genedlaethol Cymru    Deiniol Fychan (Evan Morgan)
Cƒn y Fam I'w Phlentyn    Glan Padarn

Croesawiad y Gog    Einion Ddu
Cymru    W.J.Parry
Cymru wen    W.J.Parry
Dychweliad y Milwr    anon trans R Morris Lewis
Ein Gladstone    Iwan Jenkyn

Elen Fwyn    Hiraddug
Ffrwd y mynydd    
"Fry, fry a'r geninen"    Iwan Jenkyn
Gwenfron    Granvillefab
Gwlad yr eisteddfodau    Abon
Hˆn Aelwyd Ty fy Nhad    Rhys Etna Jones
Hen fwthyn gwyn fy nhaid    Deiniol Fychan (Evan Morgan)
Hen gestyll anwyl Cymru    Bryfdir
Hen Groesffordd y Llan    W.J.Parry
I fyny'r fo'r nod    

Llam y Cariadau    Ap Ceredig
Llongau Madoc    Ceiriog
Mae pigyn dan fy mron    Eos Glyn Wyre
Mary Lee / Mari Lee    Thomas J Monkman / HW Hughes
Merch y Cadben    Glan Padarn
Morywnig Aeron    D.S.Evans
O dan yr eira gwyn    William Evans
"O d'wed y gair, fy Ngwen"    Edward Oxenford trans. Abon
Pinacl anrhydedd    Nathan Wyn
Profiad plentyn y meddwyn    Caeronwy
Rhyddid Cymru    Iwan Jenkyn
Rhyfelgerdd Cymru    
Rwy'n mynd I'r nef    Glan Padarn
Suo Gƒn    Glan Padarn
The Inchcape Bell    
The Royal Silver Wedding    Mwrog (RD Roberts)

Wyt ti'n cofio'r lloer    J Ceiriog Hughes
Y bachgen ffarweliodd a'i wlad    Glan Padarn
Y Brenin Erl    Goethe trans Silvan Evans

Y Dymhestl    Rev T C Edwards
Y golew ddwr    
Y Golomen Wen    Risiart Ddu o Wynedd
Y Gwladgarwr    R Cennydd Lloyd
Y Longddrylliad    
Y Milwr Clwyfedig    Anon

Y Mynydd i Mi    Glan Padarn
Y Plentyn A'r Gwlith    Conwil Elfed
Y Rhyfel-farch    Glan Padarn
Y Tair Mordaith    Dyfed / W T Mercer
Y wlad a garaf fi    Glan Padarn
Yr Eneth Dlawd Amddifad    E Gurnos Jones
Yr eneth ddeunaw oed    D.Adams (Hawen)
Cymru Wen    W.J.Parry
Fy anwyl Walia wen    
Ywlada garaf fi    
Bedd yng Nghymru    W.J.Parry
Hen gestyll anwyl Cymru    
Caradog    
   

Duets    
O Lili Dlos    
Y Ddau Lowr    J.E.Samuel
Paradwys y Ddaear    
Gwys I'r Gad    Anthropos
Lle treigla'r Careri    
"Arwyr ""Cymru Fydd"""    Granvillefab
Part songs    
Clychau'r newydd flwydd    
O paid a throi yn “l    Ossian Gwent

 

​

bottom of page