John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt)
Encyclopedia
Ieuan Gwyllt was the bardic name
of Welsh
musician and minister John Roberts (22 December 1822 - 14 May 1877). His bardic name is derived from the nome de plume he used whilst writing poetry as a boy, 'Ieuan Gwyllt Gelltydd Melindwr' (Wild Ieuan of the Hills of Melindwr). He was born at Tanrhiwfelen, a house just outside Aberystwyth
, and died in Caernarfon
on 14 May 1877. He was buried at Caeathro
cemetery near Caernarfon.
where he stayed for nine months. On his return to Aberystwyth in 1845 he opened a school. After only nine months there, however, he left to become clerk to a firm of solicitors where he stayed for nearly seven years. In 1852 he became assistant editor of Yr Amserau, a Welsh newspaper based in Liverpool
.
On 15 June 1856 he preached his first sermon at Runcorn
and in 1858 he moved to Aberdare
to edit Y Gwladgarwr. The following year he was married to Jane Richards of Aberystwyth. In 1859 he was asked to become minister of Pant-tywyll Calvinistic Methodist church in Merthyr Tydfil
and was ordained on 7 August 1861 at the Newcastle Emlyn
Association.
Although composing music from an early age, it was not until 1959 that he produced Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaolfter a labour of some six years, with which publication began a new era of Welsh congregational hymn singing. Roberts founded a number of regional musical festivals - the Gwent and Morgannwg in 1854, the Gŵyl Eryri in 1866, and the Gŵyl Ardudwy in 1868. In the 1870s he travelled widely throughout Wales, lecturing on congregational music
.
Form 1861 until 1865 he was the editor and publisher of the Welsh periodical Y Cerddor Cymreig and he remained its editor until 1873.
In 1864 he produced a Tonic Sol-fa
edition of his own Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaol and founded Cerddor y Tonic Solffa in 1869 of which he was editor until 1874. In 1865 he became minister of Capel Coch Calvinistic Methodist church in Llanberis
where he remained until his retirement in 1869 to Y Fron, Llanfaglan
, near Caernarvon. In 1874 he issued Sŵn y Jiwbili an arrangement in Welsh of Moody and Sankey
hymns and tunes.
Roberts was the writer of the Welsh hymns Mae d'eisiau, O mae d'eisiau (the English version of which, "I Need Thee Every Hour", was written in 1872 by Annie S. Hawks) and of Gwahoddiad
.
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
of Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
musician and minister John Roberts (22 December 1822 - 14 May 1877). His bardic name is derived from the nome de plume he used whilst writing poetry as a boy, 'Ieuan Gwyllt Gelltydd Melindwr' (Wild Ieuan of the Hills of Melindwr). He was born at Tanrhiwfelen, a house just outside Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, and died in Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
on 14 May 1877. He was buried at Caeathro
Caeathro
Caeathro is a village situated on the A4085 road between Caernarfon and Waunfawr in Gwynedd, northwest Wales. It is approximately 2 km from Caernarfon and 1.5 km from Waunfawr. Places of interest are a pub, a service station and a caravan park which attracts tourists all year round.- External links...
cemetery near Caernarfon.
Biography
Roberts worked as a clerk to a company of druggists in Aberystwyth, but after two years started to teach at the Skinner Street School. After only a few months, however, he enrolled at the Borough Road Training College in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he stayed for nine months. On his return to Aberystwyth in 1845 he opened a school. After only nine months there, however, he left to become clerk to a firm of solicitors where he stayed for nearly seven years. In 1852 he became assistant editor of Yr Amserau, a Welsh newspaper based in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
On 15 June 1856 he preached his first sermon at Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
and in 1858 he moved to Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
to edit Y Gwladgarwr. The following year he was married to Jane Richards of Aberystwyth. In 1859 he was asked to become minister of Pant-tywyll Calvinistic Methodist church in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
and was ordained on 7 August 1861 at the Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn is a town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales and lying on the River Teifi.Adpar is the part of the town that lies on the Ceredigion side of the River Teifi...
Association.
Although composing music from an early age, it was not until 1959 that he produced Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaolfter a labour of some six years, with which publication began a new era of Welsh congregational hymn singing. Roberts founded a number of regional musical festivals - the Gwent and Morgannwg in 1854, the Gŵyl Eryri in 1866, and the Gŵyl Ardudwy in 1868. In the 1870s he travelled widely throughout Wales, lecturing on congregational music
Cymanfa Ganu
A Cymanfa Ganu , is a Welsh festival of sacred hymns, sung with four part harmony by a congregation, usually under the direction of a choral director....
.
Form 1861 until 1865 he was the editor and publisher of the Welsh periodical Y Cerddor Cymreig and he remained its editor until 1873.
In 1864 he produced a Tonic Sol-fa
Tonic Sol-fa
Tonic Sol-fa is an all-male a cappella quartet from the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. With a largely pop-music-oriented repertoire, their CDs have sold over 1,000,000 copies, and the group has toured throughout the US and abroad.-History:...
edition of his own Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaol and founded Cerddor y Tonic Solffa in 1869 of which he was editor until 1874. In 1865 he became minister of Capel Coch Calvinistic Methodist church in Llanberis
Llanberis
Llanberis is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, lying on the southern banks of Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia. It takes its name from Saint Peris, an early Welsh saint.According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llanberis was 1,954...
where he remained until his retirement in 1869 to Y Fron, Llanfaglan
Llanfaglan
Llanfaglan is a parish in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It lay in the medieval cwmwd of Is Gwyrfai.Llanfaglan is located 2 miles south-west of Caernarfon on the shore of the Menai Strait...
, near Caernarvon. In 1874 he issued Sŵn y Jiwbili an arrangement in Welsh of Moody and Sankey
Moody and Sankey
Moody and Sankey was the evangelical duo of Ira David Sankey and Dwight Lyman Moody. Starting after their meeting in June 1871, the team wrote Christian songs and traveled throughout the United States and the United Kingdom calling people to God through their use of song, with Moody preaching and...
hymns and tunes.
Roberts was the writer of the Welsh hymns Mae d'eisiau, O mae d'eisiau (the English version of which, "I Need Thee Every Hour", was written in 1872 by Annie S. Hawks) and of Gwahoddiad
Gwahoddiad
Gwahoddiad was originally the English hymn "I hear thy welcome voice", the words and tune of which were written in 1872 by the American Methodist minister and hymn writer Lewis Hartsough , during a revival meeting at Epworth, Iowa where Hartsough was Pastor...
.