Ystalyfera - South Wales
- Arthur Gill
- Eileen Price
- Henry and Jeanette Jones
- Barry Lyndon
- Edwin Telorydd Nicholas
- Ebenezer Rees
- T G Samuels
- Hans Schaus
- Ystalyfera Town Crier
Professor T.G. Samuels, of Ystalyfera
MUS. BAC., L.R.AM., A.R.C.M., L.T.S.C.
in the Weekly National Journal "The Dorian"
by
T.J. Morgan, L.R.A.M., F.T.S.C. (Musical Critic and Reviewer)
Mr Samuels hails from a musical family, his Grandfather was Preceptor of Sardis Church, Glam., and was well known as a composer. His father was Preceptor of Gurnos Church, Ystalyfera. Mr. Samuels has kept the family tradition bright and even exceeded the wildest dreams of his father, in the world of knowledge. He has been endowed with many gifts both in the literary and musical spheres. He speaks French fluently and has a working knowledge of Italian. His poetical talent is recognised by English critics and he is the author of a volume of poems, some of which have been set by him to music published by D.J. Snell, Swansea, and Hughes and Sons, Wrexham. These compositions display unmistakable talent for composition. One of his poems "Song of the Spheres" set to music by Dr T. Hopkin Evans, was the Chief Choral Test Piece, National Esiteddfod, 1930.
Mr Samuels won a £15 prize for a literary composition at National, 1920, and he has won many prizes for musical compositions. His latest work is a Composition for Soli, Chorus and Orchestra set to a poem of his own.
Among his published educational works are "The Art of Singing" Harrap & Co, "Vocalism for all Voices" Harrap & Co "The Rational Principles of Pianoforte Playing" (printing) "The Art of the Elocutionist" Pitman and Co. These works have won the highest praises of experts. He is at present engaged upon a new work "Harmony, Academic and MOdern" an exhaustive work calculated to bridge the chasm between the academic conception of harmony and modern ideaas. This work will be doubly welcome as there is need for such a work to explain in lucid language modern practices and to reduce them to theoretical formulae. It is a stupdendous task, but it is in capable hands. He intends writing also a work on Counterpoint on similar lines.
We are looking forward with keen interest to the publication of the above works. Mr Samuels is a man of keen intellect, wide knowledge, and a writer of marked ability. The fruits of his pen reflect great credit upon him and an honour to his nationality.
Prof. Samuels is the Director and Examiner of the National Academy of Music, Metropolitan West End Branch. A fact which should inspire public confidence in the standard and value of N.A.M. Examinations.
T.J. Morgan
Thank You to Margaret Pugh of Ystradgynlais for the old article that the above is a reproduction of. T G Samuels was her maternal uncle, and she recalls him having learnt Flemish especially to deal with Belgian refugees during the war.