Crystal Palace 1872

In 1872 the Directors of the Crystal Palace Company planned a National Music Meeting there from 27th June to 6th July, at which there would be competitions in music "open to the world." The existence and reputation of the Aberdare Choral Union was evident in the resulting reaction in South Wales to the advertising of the Meeting. On Monday, 12th, February of that year a meeting of the leading Musicians of Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan and County of Monmouth was held at the Temperance Hall Aberdare. It was decided there to form a choir which would compete in Class I for Choral Societies, numbering a membership of not more than 500 voices. A committee was formed of which the: Chairman was Canon Jenkins Treasurer, Dr. Thomas Price, the celebrated Aberdare Baptist minister; Secretary, Mr. Brythonfryn Griffiths Conductor, Mr. Griffith Rhys Jones, “Caradog” then aged 45 years and a publican in Treorchy, formerly a smith at Aberdare. It was agreed that choristers should be tested and selected in the following proportions Aberdare, Hirwaun, Mountain Ash 150 Merthyr and Dowlais 60 Swansea, Morriston, Neath, Llanelly 100 Rhymney, Tredegar 20 Pencae, Brynmawr, Blaenavon 100 Pontypridd, Rhondda, Cardiff 30 Total 460

The sectional conductors were to be: Aberdare, Rees Evans; Mountain Ash, D. E. Coleman; Merthyr, Lewis Morgan; Pontypridd, Richard Evans; Tongwynlais, Evan Bazley; Neath, W. Mathews; Swansea, Silas Evans; Cwmavon, James Richards; Maesteg, Daniel Jenkins; Llanelly, W. T. Rees, (Alaw Ddu) Rhondda, Caradog. One committee meeting decided that all choristers should pay one shilling at each rehearsal, but details of finance are sparse. It is safe to say, that over a period of two years, the choir's costs were in the region of £6,000. Dr. Price, the Treasurer, according to his biographer, the Rev. Benjamin Evans, left a great number of diaries, in which financial transactions were recorded meticulously. The London competition meant absence a week from home. On Monday, the day before their departure for London, the choir devoted their time almost entirely to rehearsal. On Wednesday and Thursday morning the choir rehearsed with the orchestra. But there was no competition, no other choir presented itself. It remained for the choir to justify in performance its claim to the Challenge Cup of £1,000 value. The adjudicators were Sir Sterndale Bennett, Mr. John P. Hullah and Mr. Brinley Richards. Let us borrow from the account of "The Tonic Solfa Reporter." "The event of the day was the appearance of the South Wales Choral Union. The large body of choralists, as they sat in readiness for the conductor's signal to begin, were an object of great interest to the audience, numbers of who were Welsh. Every lover of people's music, as he looked at the healthy and honest faces before him, could not but be stirred by the thought that they represented native art, and were chiefly miners with their families. When it was proposed to journey to London and throw down the gauntlet of choral fame, the first business was to collect the expenses. Here again all but those who know the Welsh zeal for music will be surprised to learn that the money was not gathered chiefly from the nobility and gentry-though these gave generously-but came by shillings, sixpences and threepences from the common people in all the country round." "The promoters wisely resolved to take no more singers than they had money enough to journey, lodge and feed. The actual number that came to London was 349, but 500 could easily have been brought," "The choir was only rehearsed collectively six times a few days before leaving Aberdare they gave a concert. It was announced for two in the afternoon. By that time the large building in which it was to take place was packed and as many more were outside, the conductor had to promise that as soon as the concert was over it should be gone through again for the benefit of those who could not get in. "This was accordingly done at 4 o'clock, but still they came, and there was nothing for it but to say that when the singers had had tea they should sing again. This they did at half past seven, and again at half past nine, thus giving four concerts in one day to four different audiences, and raising £200 towards their expenses. What a testimony to the musical enthusiasm of the Welsh people!"

"The singing of the Welsh choir was remarkable for its force and power. Comparing them with the Londoners who are usually heard on the Handel Orchestra, we should say that a Welsh voice was about equal to three London voices. The effect which such fiery singing would naturally produce in a vast space like the Crystal Palace may be imagined. The mighty volume of sound penetrated the farthest corners of the building, and made itself heard with ease in the grounds." There was something so fresh and inspiring in the ringing mass of harmony that the audience were fairly carried away." Still the "Reporter" could not wholly admire the Welsh singing; but there would not be general acceptance of all the objections raised. One may be allowed to interpolate a note on a contemporary occurrence. The year 1872 was marked by another major event in the history of Wales-the opening of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. The "Tonic Solfa Reporter" records a speech, on that occasion, of the distinguished Welsh musician, Brinley Richards, who had been involved at the Crystal Palace as one of the adjudicators. In the course of his address he said: I am bound to acknowledge, although I am a churchman, that if we want to hear hearty and earnest congregational singing we must still go to the chapels of our Non-conformist brethren. But surely the country which could produce the choir which sang at the Crystal Palace last season ought to be the country above all others where we would naturally expect congregational singing." At the I873 Music Meeting opposition was provided by the London Tonic Sol-fa Choir which had gained fame as a prize winner at the Paris Exposition. It had 300 voices, while Caradog's force had increased to 500. The Londoners excelled in a Bach Double Motet; but the prize came to Wales again. This time special trains were laid on, and had helped to form four separate audiences for a public rehearsal at Newport, where a charge for admission was made. And a concert at Bristol had broken the journey to London. Money had been sent from the U.S.A., and two gold batons had come from overseas Welshmen in Australia and California; London Welsh got together to present the choir with its own cup. John Fothergill the Aberdare iron-master and M.P., presented each member of the choir with a silver medal. In North Wales arrangements to compete in 1874 were far advanced and a great deal of money had been expended. Although the Crystal Palace Board would not immediately admit it, they decided not to hold the National Music Meeting in 1874 because it was financially unrewarding. Still, the Welsh Choral Union Committee was in being in I877, deploring that the industrial situation was too bad to allow immediate activity, but nothing that the constituent choirs were actively preparing oratorios etc., and applauding them for so doing. The supporting column is inscribed Griffith Rhys Jones 1834 1897

Conductor of the renowned South Wales Choral Union

1872 1873
This statue was erected by his friends and fellow countrymen in appreciation of his musical genius and as a tribute of admiration.

1920
The South Wales Choral Union composed of 500 voices won the chief Choral prize, valued at £I .000, in open competition at the Crystal Palace, London in July 1872 and 1873. At the unveiling, Lord Aberdare said: - "Wales is taking its right place among the nations. Caradog gave a good lead. The time of her eminence is coming and will come quicker, if you young men will take an example from the life of Caradog Jones."