STEPHEN
,
EDWARD (JONES)
(
Tanymarian
;
1822
-
1885
),
musician
;
b. in a house called
Rhyd-y-sarn
in the parish of
Maentwrog, Mer.
, and christened (as
Edward
Jones
) in the church of
S. Michael
,
Ffestiniog
,
15 Dec. 1822
. His father could
sing to the harp
whilst his mother was also a good
singer
. The family moved to
Penmount Bach
and afterwards to
Ty'n-y-maes
,
Llan Ffestiniog
. After he had attended
Penralltgoch school
he was apprenticed to his brother,
William
Stephen
, a
clothier
. When he was 18 he began to
preach
at
Saron Congregational church
,
Llan Ffestiniog
, and in
1843
he went to the
Bala Congregational college
. As he found there was another student named
Edward
Jones
, he adopted the additional surname of
Stephen
after his grandfather's Christian name
Stephen
Jones
. He had previously studied music and when he was at college he
wrote several hymn-tunes
. In
1847
he was ordained as
minister
of
Horeb Congregational church
,
Dwygyfylchi
,
Caerns.
During his ten years’ stay there he became well known throughout
Wales
as a
preacher
,
poet
,
lecturer
,
writer
, and
musician
. It was at
Dwygyfylchi
that he composed the oratorio,
Ystorm Tiberias
, which was begun
28 Jan. 1851 and finished 28 May 1852
. This oratorio was the first of its kind written by a
Welshman
. The work, which was published in
1855
in seven parts, a revised edition appearing in
1887
, was performed in several places in
Wales
, whilst some of the choruses became eisteddfod test pieces. In
1856
he became
minister
of
Bethlehem
and
Carmel
churches,
Llanllechid
. His
Requiem
in memory of the
Rev.
John
Jones
,
Tal-y-sarn
, was composed in
1858
. In
1859
he became
editor
of
Cerddor y Cysegr
.
Llyfr Tonau ac Emynau
, edited by
Stephen
and
J. D.
Jones
,
Ruthin
(q.v.)
, appeared in
1868
,
Stephen
publishing a supplement in
1879
. He edited
Greal y Corau
from
April 1861 until May 1863
(the last number that was issued). He
contributed articles on congregational singing
to
Y Cronicl
and
Y Dysgedydd
. Of his anthems, those called ‘
Llawen floeddiwch i Dduw
,’ ‘
Wrth afonydd Babilon
,’ and ‘
Disgwyliad Israel
,’ were the best-known; of his numerous hymn-tunes, ‘
Tanymarian
’ continues to be popular. He was much in demand as a
vocalist
and used to delight audiences with some songs composed by himself, e.g. ‘
Hen Gadair Freichiau
,’ ‘
Caingc y delyn
,’ and ‘
Carlo
’; he also used to
give a popular lecture on music
, was a very able
music adjudicator at eisteddfodau
, and was a most acceptable
conductor of hymnody festivals
. Examples of poems which he wrote are given in
Cofiant Tanymarian
, written by
W. J.
Parry
(q.v.)
. He d.
10 May 1885
and was buried in
Bethlehem chapel graveyard
,
Tal-y-bont
,
Llanllechid
.
Bibliography:
-
W. J. Parry
,
,
1886
;
-
,
Dec. 1892
;
-
M. O. Jones
,
Author:
