William Rhys-Herbert

At an early age, like most boys at that time, he went down the local pit, Blaencwm Colliery, but it was obvious that he had great talent musically.

The Resolven History Society records that "it arrived by train and was carted in style through the streets followed by hordes of children".

He became the first organist at Jerusalem Chapel, where a concert was later held to raise funds so that he could study professionally, and he was accepted as a pupil by T. J. Davies Mus.

He then studied with Dr Frederick Karn at the London College of Music, (now part of Thames Valley University), gaining the degree of Mus.

At the heart of his work is a cycle of sacred cantatas – Bethlehem, The Nazarene, Bethany, Calvary and Olivet.

The words of this cantata were written by William ApMadoc, a noted singer, adjudicator, publisher, temperance campaigner and conductor from Chicago, who provided Dr Rhys-Herbert with texts for many other settings in both Welsh and English.

Other operettas include Bo'sn's Bride, Bulbul, Captain Van der Hum, A Nautical Knot, The Rivals, The Wild Rose, and Will Tell, which was published posthumously.

A vocal duet, 'Ffarwel i'r Gwynt a'r Eira', (with text by ApMadoc) was included in the syllabus for the 2008 Urdd Eisteddfod in Llandudno.