NEWS
Another performance of The Tender Branch, this time by orgniast Tom Winpenny at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Beutifully played ot a huge congregation!
Recent performances of Rhian's songs and song-cycles: Cwmdonkin Songs (poems by Dylan Thomas) by tenor Chris O'Gorman & pianist David Pipe at Worcester College, Oxford, and contralto Jess Dandy with pianist Ceri Owen at the Llandeilo Festival; also The Gaze (Shakespeare) at St Laurence's Church, Catford by Francesa Chiejina, soprano, and Jocelyn Freeman, piano. Then three songs from Spring Dairy will be presented by baritone, James Atkinson with Ian Tindale, piano, at the Shipston-on-Stour Festival in September.
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| The combined orchestras before the concert at the Dora Stoutzker Hall, Cardiff. |
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| Sally Beamish, RS, Roger Montgomery, Steph Power, Erika Fox, Patricia Auchterlonie, Nicola Lefanu |
Shortly before this, on 28th April, the choir of York Minster sang Rhian's Love bade me welcome (George Herbert) at Matins and on the previous evening the Tailleferre Ensemble gave her Little duos for oboe and cor anglais another outing, this time at St Matthew's Church, London SW1.
Rhian's The Hare in the Moon, one of her most-performed pieces, was presented beautifully and dramatically by Llio Evans and Jâms Coleman in a guest concert at Cardiff University's School of Music on 5th March 2024.
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| Steven Grahl, RS & the choir of Trinity College Cambridge |
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| Donald & RS |
Rhian's music was featured on 'Composer of the Week' on Thursday, 28 September, 2023, on BBC Radio 3. Rhian was one of the five Welsh women composers (although the only one living) presented as the 'Welsh Quintet'. Eight pieces were included, along with her very pleasant interview by Donald Mcleod. She was happy that her choral work, Love bade me welcome, sung by New College Choir, was aired.
Recent Publications
- Cwmdonkin Songs, three songs to texts by Dylan Thomas, pub. Tŷ Cerdd, Feb. 2024. Two versions now published: (1) for medium voice; (2) for high voice.
- The Tender Branch for organ, pub. Stainer & Bell, Feb. 2024.
- Earth Newborn, a set of four pieces pub. separately by Stainer & Bell: 'The Trumpet', 'Lights Out', 'Bright Clouds of May' and 'After Rain'.
- My Heart Beside for medium/high voice, viola and piano, three pieces to poems by Emily Dickinson, pub. Tŷ Cerdd.
- Rhyfedd, rhyfedd / Wonder, wonder (2020) for SATB chorus and organ, pub. Vol. 3, Multitude of Voyces, ed. Louise Stewart, the Welsh text by the renowned 18th-century poet, Ann Griffiths, and the English translation by the composer. This work has now also been published separately by Stainer & Bell in their series, Choral Now.
- Rejoice: Fantasia on 'Victimae Paschali Laudes' for solo organ. In Gregoriana, ed. Anna Lapwood, pub. Stainer & Bell.
- Sarabande from Isolation Suite, arr. for harpsichord, on Julian Perkins's CD, From Handel's Home (Delphian).
- Ad Lucem, a 3-movement work for solo organ, played by Tom Winpenny on the organ of St Alban's Cathedral: St Albans Experience (Willowhayne Records).
- LIttle Duos for oboe and cor anglais, played by Penelope Smith and Nicola Hands, on the Tailleferre Ensemble's CD, There are Things to be Said (UA) (see above).
- Songs of Earth and Air: the vocal works of Rhian Samuel (Lorelt). A CD made by Jeremy Huw Williams, baritone, Paula Fan, piano, and instrumentalists on the Faculty of The University of Arizona. Works on the disc are Songs of Earth & Air, Spring Diary, Moon over Maenefa, Summer Songs, A Swift Radiant Morning and Rondeau. A total of 18 songs. Many thanks to Jeremy for his initiative in creating this CD, and to all who supported it, including a number of British trusts.
- Rhian's Violin Sonata, played by Mary Hofman and Richard Ormrod, on Tŷ Cerdd's disc, Unbroken Threads, launched at Powis Hall, Bangor, on 5th September, 2022.