Morfydd Llwyn Owen

 

Morfydd Llwyn Owen

Morfydd Llwyn Owen, a Welsh composer, pianist, and mezzo-soprano who passed away in September 1918, was interred at Oystermouth Cemetery. Morfydd had associations with Russia.

Morfydd, born in Treforest in 1891, was the only daughter of William Owen and Sarah Jones.  Both her parents were amateur musicians, and they ran a drapery business.

The 1901 Census indicates that the Owen family resided at 9 Castle Street, Pontypridd. 

1901 Census

William, aged 36, runs an accountancy business. Sarah, also 36, works as a draper. They have three children.

William D., and Richard A., both 14 years, and Morfydd, aged 9.

Morfydd exhibited musical talent from an early age, receiving piano lessons during her childhood. As a teenager, she performed as a soloist in a rendition of the Grieg Piano Concerto. At the age of 16, she commenced studying piano and composition under Dr. David Evans in Cardiff. Her first published work, a hymn tune titled "Morfydd", was produced in 1909.

Morfydd attended Pontypridd County School, studied with Evans for two years, and Owen won a scholarship to University College, Cardiff, joining the composition class.

The 1911 Census indicated that the Owen family home was Wain House, Treforest.

1911 Census

William, aged 46, was a Secretary to a Firm of Building Contractors. Sarah, also 46, works as a draper. Two children are still present at the home.

Richard Austin, aged 24, is an elementary school teacher, while Morfydd, aged 19, is a music student.

Beatrice Williams, aged 18, works as a domestic servant for the family.

During her time in Cardiff, many of Morfydd's works were performed in student recitals, and she graduated in 1912. In the same year, Morfydd was admitted to the Gorsedd of the Bards at the Wrexham National Eisteddfod under the name Morfydd Llwyn Owen, adopting 'Llwyn' as her middle name to honour her father's Montgomeryshire home, Plas Llwyn Owen.

Eliot Crawshay-Williams

Owen's parents initially hesitated for her to study in London, but agreed due to Liberal politician Eliot Crawshay-Williams. Owen earned her BA in music in July 1912 and received the Goring Thomas scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music for four years.

Morfydd took up her place at the Royal Academy in September 1912, where her principal study was composition, with piano and singing as second studies. She received individual composition lessons with Frederick Corder.

Nocturne in D♭ major

Morfydd achieved notable success as a student, winning two prizes in her first year: the Charles Lucas medal for composition, for her Nocturne in D♭ major, and the Oliveria Prescott prize for general excellence. She continued to earn awards during her time at the Royal Academy, where her works – songs, part-songs, and piano pieces, including a sonata, pieces for violin and piano, and a trio for violin, cello, and piano – were performed.

During Morfydd's stay in London, Owen established two distinct groups of acquaintances. The initial group was associated with the Charing Cross Welsh Presbyterian Chapel.

Sir John Herbert Lewis

Morfydd developed a friendship with Lady Ruth Lewis, the wife of Sir John Herbert Lewis, the Liberal MP for Flintshire. Morfydd transcribed and wrote accompaniments for collections of Welsh Folk Songs. She provided musical examples for Lady Lewis's lectures on folk songs, and in 1914, they published Folksongs Collected in Flintshire and the Vale of Clwyd.

Morfydd was also acquainted with David Lloyd George, Secretary of State for War, who commissioned a work, and he chose her as the soprano soloist at the Cymanfa Ganu of the National Eisteddfod in Aberystwyth in 1916

D. H. Lawrence

Ezra Pound

Prince Felix Yusupov

Morfydd’s other social circle was based in Hampstead, where she lived with her friend Elizabeth Lloyd. Hampstead was a hub for the London literary scene, and Owen interacted with several of its figures, including writers D. H. Lawrence and Ezra Pound. She was also acquainted with several Russian émigrés, such as Prince Felix Yusupov, who had participated in the assassination of Rasputin, and Alexis Chodak-Gregory, who proposed marriage to her.

Morfydd was made a sub-professor at the Royal Academy of Music, and in 1918, she was honoured with the Academy's Associate diploma, the ARAM

Ernest Jones

Toward the end of 1916, Owen was introduced to London Welsh psychoanalyst Ernest Jones. After a brief courtship, they were married at Marylebone Register Office on 6 February 1917. This event surprised her circle of friends, most of whom were unaware of the ceremony. Owen's parents were unable to attend because Jones advanced the ceremony by one day.  In response to the evident tensions in the marriage around this issue, Jones agreed to a marriage ceremony at the Charing Cross Welsh Presbyterian Chapel, which took place the following September with Owen's family and friends present.  there were also tensions in the marriage around the role Jones expected his wife to take in supporting his busy professional and social life, inevitably at the expense of her career as a musician and output as a composer.

During the summer of 1918, the couple spent their holiday in South Wales, residing at the home of Jones's father in Oystermouth near Swansea. Owen developed acute appendicitis during their stay. Jones anticipated that his brother-in-law, the distinguished surgeon Wilfred Trotter, would be able to travel to Swansea promptly to operate. However, Trotter recommended immediate surgical intervention. Consequently, William Frederick Brook, a leading surgeon in South Wales, conducted the operation at the family residence. Morfydd died on the 7^th of September 1918.

Morfydd Llwyn Owen
Oystermouth Cemetery

Morfydd was interred on September 11th at Oystermouth Cemetery, located on the outskirts of Swansea. Her gravestone bears an inscription chosen by Jones from Goethe's Faust: "Das Unbeschreibliche, hier ist's getan".

Blue Plaque

A blue plaque was unveiled at the house, where Morfydd died