Morfydd Llwyn Owen ‹ Cyfres 3

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-The Gower Peninsula is the resting -place of a talented Welsh musician.	0:00:09	0:00:14
-Morfydd Llwyn Owen...	0:00:17	0:00:19
-..was one of the most important -composers of the early 20th century.	0:00:19	0:00:24
-This religious girl experienced -a colourful and amorous life.	0:00:25	0:00:30
-She exploited -and enjoyed romances...	0:00:31	0:00:34
-..with a string of male companions.	0:00:34	0:00:37
-Men appeared overnight -before she moved on to the next one.	0:00:38	0:00:42
-Her character was often -a topic of conversation.	0:00:47	0:00:51
-I don't think she realized -that she hurt people.	0:00:51	0:00:54
-And she did hurt people.	0:00:56	0:00:59
-Her music is a legacy to treasure.	0:00:59	0:01:02
-She transformed the way -I looked at singing in Wales.	0:01:02	0:01:08
-It's been a century since the death -of Morfydd Llwyn Owen.	0:01:15	0:01:18
-Her incredible beauty, -melancholic music...	0:01:19	0:01:24
-..and mysterious final years -still enchant us.	0:01:24	0:01:28
-Morfydd is often described -as an enigma.	0:01:48	0:01:51
-She was an incredibly beautiful girl -with raven hair, sparkling eyes...	0:01:52	0:01:56
-..and olive skin reminiscent -of an exotic Romani figure.	0:01:57	0:02:01
-However, there was nothing exotic -about her upbringing.	0:02:05	0:02:08
-She was born in the industrial -South Wales Valleys...	0:02:09	0:02:13
-..at the end of the 19th century.	0:02:13	0:02:16
-Morfydd was born -on this street in 1891...	0:02:18	0:02:22
-..to William and Sarah Owen.	0:02:22	0:02:25
-Her father was an accountant -in Cardiff and her mother a draper.	0:02:25	0:02:29
-They had enough money to holiday -in Llandrindod and Switzerland.	0:02:30	0:02:35
-She came from a -middle class background.	0:02:38	0:02:41
-They were a strict Puritan family.	0:02:42	0:02:46
-She had two older brothers -who were twins.	0:02:46	0:02:50
-She was beautiful, intelligent...	0:02:51	0:02:54
-..and terribly spoilt.	0:02:54	0:02:57
-This affected her -throughout her life...	0:02:57	0:03:01
-..as she wasn't responsible enough -to care for herself.	0:03:01	0:03:05
-Morfydd's talent became apparent -from a very young age.	0:03:08	0:03:12
-She composed music -before she had even left school.	0:03:12	0:03:16
-This is her earliest -surviving composition.	0:03:16	0:03:19
-It was composed in 1908 -when she was 17 years old.	0:03:20	0:03:23
-It's a minuet for the piano.	0:03:24	0:03:26
-The school, chapel and Eisteddfod -provided a stage for her music.	0:03:31	0:03:35
-Everyone in the area wanted -to take advantage of her talent.	0:03:35	0:03:39
-But Morfydd knew that her future -didn't lie in Treforest.	0:03:40	0:03:44
-William Owen was the head of the -family and was quite the dictator.	0:03:47	0:03:52
-Morfydd left Treforest...	0:03:53	0:03:55
-..and escaped to a more -liberal society in the big city.	0:03:56	0:03:59
-She was the first recipient -of the Caradog Scholarship...	0:04:02	0:04:06
-..to study music -at Cardiff University.	0:04:06	0:04:09
-Morfydd wasn't the only female -student but she paved the way...	0:04:10	0:04:15
-..for other women -like Grace Williams.	0:04:15	0:04:17
-Professional female musicians -were very rare at that time.	0:04:18	0:04:23
-We can put this into -a wider international context.	0:04:23	0:04:27
-Vienna's Symphonic Orchestra didn't -allow females until recently...	0:04:27	0:04:32
-..and there are still -very few women in today's orchestra.	0:04:32	0:04:36
-The professional music world -was only seen as a place for men.	0:04:37	0:04:42
-Whilst at college, -Morfydd met Eliot Crawshay-Williams.	0:04:44	0:04:49
-At the time, Eliot -was a married Member of Parliament.	0:04:49	0:04:53
-Like most men, -he was charmed by Morfydd.	0:04:53	0:04:57
-She enjoyed male company.	0:04:57	0:04:59
-She boasted about her string -of male companions.	0:05:00	0:05:06
-Men appeared overnight -before she moved on to the next one.	0:05:06	0:05:11
-It was no wonder -that she enjoyed their company...	0:05:12	0:05:17
-..as she'd been raised -in a very strict household.	0:05:17	0:05:20
-Her father was quite a tyrant.	0:05:20	0:05:23
-He didn't allow any man to cross the -threshold at Wain House, Treforest.	0:05:23	0:05:29
-Her friendship with Eliot Crawshay -lasted her whole life.	0:05:30	0:05:35
-Their letters show -a close relationship.	0:05:35	0:05:39
-"Eliot, my soul, what should I do...	0:05:40	0:05:43
-"..if no-one but you would -satisfy me the whole of my life?	0:05:43	0:05:47
-"The very thought kills me."	0:05:48	0:05:50
-She was very fond of Eliot Crawshay.	0:05:50	0:05:53
-However, he didn't feel -the same way towards her.	0:05:53	0:05:57
-She could be herself around him, -more than anyone else.	0:05:58	0:06:03
-I believe -that she was in love with him.	0:06:03	0:06:06
-Eliot encouraged Morfydd -to further her studies in London.	0:06:08	0:06:12
-Treforest and Cardiff -were very proud...	0:06:12	0:06:15
-..when she was accepted -into the Royal Academy of Music.	0:06:15	0:06:19
-Here, she composed, performed -as a singer and truly prospered.	0:06:19	0:06:25
-When did you first encounter -Morfydd's music?	0:06:25	0:06:29
-I was in the Royal College of Music -preparing for my final recital.	0:06:29	0:06:35
-The theme was women.	0:06:35	0:06:37
-My tutor, David Owen Norris, -insisted that I chose one composer.	0:06:37	0:06:41
-It was Morfydd Llwyn Owen so I chose -Gweddi Y Pechadur and I was hooked!	0:06:41	0:06:47
-She transformed the way -I looked at Welsh music.	0:06:47	0:06:51
-# I once heard of Jesus	0:06:52	0:07:00
-# And that he continues	0:07:00	0:07:09
-# To accept publicans	0:07:09	0:07:15
-# And the great sinners #	0:07:16	0:07:24
-It's very rare to be able -to sing with such honesty.	0:07:24	0:07:27
-She was obviously -an incredible woman...	0:07:28	0:07:30
-..to go to the depths of her soul...	0:07:31	0:07:33
-..to use these words and -team them with these harmonies...	0:07:33	0:07:37
-..that are dark and mature.	0:07:37	0:07:40
-# With them #	0:07:40	0:07:43
-It was easy to empathize -with her love of music and poetry.	0:07:44	0:07:49
-When I sing her songs, -I channel her.	0:07:49	0:07:53
-It sounds strange -but I feel like I'm possessed.	0:07:53	0:07:56
-I lose myself in the music -and the lyrics.	0:07:57	0:08:00
-I love the harmonies and melodies.	0:08:01	0:08:03
-There's strength in Morfydd's music -and that comes out of me.	0:08:03	0:08:08
-Morfydd treasured her time -at the Royal Academy.	0:08:10	0:08:14
-She blossomed -out of her father's shadow.	0:08:14	0:08:18
-She experienced success, praise -and won all sorts of prizes.	0:08:18	0:08:22
-It was unusual to find a woman -who composed music.	0:08:26	0:08:31
-There was hardly anyone in Wales...	0:08:31	0:08:34
-..who composed on the same -creative and ambitious level.	0:08:34	0:08:38
-She led the way for Grace Williams, -Dilys Elwyn Edwards...	0:08:38	0:08:43
-..and many more female composers.	0:08:44	0:08:47
-Moving to London wasn't easy for -this 20-year-old from the Valleys.	0:08:50	0:08:55
-She lived in a flat in Maida Vale -and Eliot was there to support her.	0:08:55	0:09:00
-Morfydd greatly appreciated -his support.	0:09:01	0:09:04
-"Do you know, I really -shall never, never forget...	0:09:04	0:09:07
-"..how perfectly sweet you were -to me when I first came to London.	0:09:08	0:09:12
-"You were a real darling, -really you were.	0:09:13	0:09:15
-"Long live Eliot!"	0:09:16	0:09:18
-The Welsh society and the Charing -Cross Chapel were important to her.	0:09:18	0:09:24
-That's where she met...	0:09:24	0:09:26
-..the Member of Parliament, -Herbert Lewis and his wife, Ruth.	0:09:27	0:09:31
-Their grandchild, Nest -remembers Morfydd.	0:09:31	0:09:34
-Morfydd was introduced to London...	0:09:35	0:09:38
-..and knew nobody there.	0:09:39	0:09:41
-My grandmother took pity on her...	0:09:41	0:09:43
-..and basically adopted her -whilst she was in London.	0:09:43	0:09:48
-She decided she wasn't -suitably clothed for London society.	0:09:49	0:09:54
-She had a French dressmaker -who she was very proud of...	0:09:55	0:09:58
-..and she sent her -to this French dressmaker.	0:09:59	0:10:02
-You can imaging this gypsy -being sent to a dressmaker.	0:10:02	0:10:06
-It worked out very well -and she was very pleased with it.	0:10:06	0:10:10
-I think she probably relied -on my mother a great deal...	0:10:11	0:10:15
-..to learn how she should behave.	0:10:15	0:10:18
-Over time, Morfydd and Nest's family -grew apart.	0:10:19	0:10:25
-To this day, there is still -a feeling of betrayal and shame.	0:10:26	0:10:31
-I got the impression -that she would do anything...	0:10:31	0:10:35
-..to get what she wanted -and never mind hurt.	0:10:35	0:10:39
-I don't think she'd even be aware -of how much she hurt people.	0:10:40	0:10:44
-She did hurt people.	0:10:44	0:10:46
-Both my mother, grandmother and my -grandfather to a certain extent...	0:10:46	0:10:52
-..were left not actually knowing -what they could have done...	0:10:52	0:10:56
-..to have helped her more...	0:10:56	0:10:59
-..and bitter regret -at what happened...	0:10:59	0:11:03
-..and the way she died.	0:11:04	0:11:06
-.	0:11:10	0:11:10
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-At the start of World War II...	0:11:18	0:11:20
-..Morfydd Llwyn Owen was a prominent -composer and performer in London.	0:11:21	0:11:26
-She was a leading figure -of the city's Welsh social scene.	0:11:27	0:11:31
-She'd also discovered -the freedom of bohemian living.	0:11:31	0:11:35
-Who were the bohemian set in London?	0:11:35	0:11:38
-They were mainly artists.	0:11:39	0:11:41
-Think of Puccini's opera, La Boheme.	0:11:41	0:11:45
-These bohemians led a carefree life.	0:11:45	0:11:49
-They were painters, writers, -poets and musicians.	0:11:49	0:11:54
-They didn't fit into a respectable -and law-abiding society.	0:11:54	0:12:00
-They could dress differently -and smoke in public without worry.	0:12:01	0:12:07
-Their relationships -with one another...	0:12:07	0:12:10
-..didn't follow those -strict and conservative rules...	0:12:11	0:12:15
-..that were inherently part -of a Christian Welsh life.	0:12:15	0:12:19
-Hampstead Heath was one of the -bohemian set's favourite places.	0:12:21	0:12:25
-She socialized with notable figures -like D H Lawrence and Ezra Pound.	0:12:25	0:12:31
-How bohemian was her life in London?	0:12:33	0:12:36
-Now there's a question!	0:12:37	0:12:39
-There are many theories -about her life.	0:12:40	0:12:44
-However, I'm not sure -if she stayed out late...	0:12:44	0:12:48
-..and associated with others -in a way that pushed her boundaries.	0:12:48	0:12:53
-We must remember -that she was a keen chapel-goer.	0:12:53	0:12:57
-Breaking free...	0:12:58	0:13:01
-..was more of a dream -than a reality.	0:13:02	0:13:06
-Her bohemian friends -introduced her to Ernest Jones.	0:13:09	0:13:14
-He was a controversial psychoanalyst -and a great friend of Sigmund Freud.	0:13:14	0:13:20
-She fell in love with him -on the first night they met.	0:13:20	0:13:24
-She attended a party -with another man...	0:13:24	0:13:28
-..but their eyes met across the room -and it was very romantic.	0:13:28	0:13:34
-They were both from Wales and -he longed to be more of a Welshman.	0:13:34	0:13:38
-Being married to a Welsh woman -meant a lot to Jones.	0:13:39	0:13:43
-They both had similar personalities.	0:13:44	0:13:47
-There were differences...	0:13:47	0:13:49
-..but they also shared -similar interests.	0:13:50	0:13:53
-After three months, -Morfydd and Ernest wed in secret.	0:13:56	0:14:01
-Not a single wedding photograph -has survived.	0:14:01	0:14:04
-This is Ernest and Morfydd's -wedding certificate.	0:14:04	0:14:08
-This is our most detailed account -of this unusual wedding.	0:14:08	0:14:13
-Ernest and Morfydd didn't leave -any more information.	0:14:13	0:14:17
-Morfydd -was a professional composer...	0:14:18	0:14:23
-..but this box has been left empty.	0:14:24	0:14:27
-I wonder if she always knew -that she'd have to choose...	0:14:27	0:14:31
-..between a marriage and composing.	0:14:31	0:14:34
-Did your grandmother try to stop her -from marrying Ernest Jones?	0:14:35	0:14:39
-Everybody tried to stop her -from marrying him.	0:14:39	0:14:43
-They didn't like him.	0:14:43	0:14:45
-They thought -that he was trying to mould her...	0:14:45	0:14:49
-..into what he expected -a good wife to be.	0:14:49	0:14:53
-He was an intelligent man.	0:14:53	0:14:55
-He had a power...	0:14:56	0:14:58
-..and a hold over Morfydd.	0:14:58	0:15:01
-Her friends hated him.	0:15:01	0:15:05
-Ernest Jones -wasn't a respectable man.	0:15:05	0:15:08
-He had strong German connections -during the war against Germany.	0:15:08	0:15:13
-I wanted to know -how he felt about Morfydd.	0:15:14	0:15:18
-These two letters -were sent by Ernest Jones...	0:15:18	0:15:21
-..to his tutor and mentor, Freud.	0:15:21	0:15:25
-"Since my last letter...	0:15:25	0:15:27
-"..I have news to give -that I got married last week...	0:15:27	0:15:31
-"..and just returned from a -week's honeymoon in West Cornwall.	0:15:31	0:15:35
-"She is Welsh, young, 23...	0:15:35	0:15:38
-"..very pretty, intelligent -and musical.	0:15:38	0:15:41
-"After a degree in music...	0:15:41	0:15:43
-"..she studied for four years -at the Academy.	0:15:43	0:15:46
-"She sang at her first and last -concert the week I captured her."	0:15:47	0:15:52
-That's very interesting.	0:15:52	0:15:54
-"She has also composed -some promising works."	0:15:54	0:15:58
-He also promises that Freud -would meet Morfydd after the war.	0:15:58	0:16:02
-What was Ernest Jones' status?	0:16:05	0:16:08
-He was the international leader -of the Freud movement for decades.	0:16:08	0:16:13
-Nobody else could match him -in terms of status.	0:16:13	0:16:18
-In my opinion, -he could have superseded Freud...	0:16:18	0:16:23
-..but his great respect for him -stopped him from doing such a thing.	0:16:23	0:16:28
-At the time, the work of Freud and -Ernest Jones was very controversial.	0:16:29	0:16:34
-Psychoanalysis -was a new and alien field.	0:16:34	0:16:38
-When Ernest Jones -came on to the scene...	0:16:38	0:16:41
-..my grandfather tried to find out -as much as he could about him.	0:16:41	0:16:46
-He was so concerned...	0:16:46	0:16:49
-..that this still -fairly wild young woman...	0:16:49	0:16:53
-..was marrying somebody -so much older than her...	0:16:53	0:16:58
-..and completely -the opposite of her.	0:16:58	0:17:01
-He was an atheist...	0:17:01	0:17:03
-..and there was general opposition -towards Freud's followers.	0:17:04	0:17:09
-He was labelled a dirty old man -for his views about sex.	0:17:09	0:17:13
-They didn't realize...	0:17:13	0:17:15
-..that Freud was referring to the -significance of these sexual acts.	0:17:16	0:17:21
-There's a great difference.	0:17:21	0:17:23
-After the wedding, the pair settled -in Ernest's Sussex home, The Platt.	0:17:25	0:17:31
-Ernest worked -from his Harley Street clinic...	0:17:31	0:17:34
-..whilst Morfydd juggled her work -at the Academy with being a wife.	0:17:35	0:17:40
-She reveals her feelings in her -final letter to Eliot Crawshay.	0:17:40	0:17:45
-"Oh dear, what it is to be married -and run a household establishment.	0:17:45	0:17:51
-"Married life doesn't seem...	0:17:51	0:17:53
-"..the easiest thing to adapt to -and has taken up all my time."	0:17:53	0:17:58
-Despite this...	0:18:01	0:18:02
-..Morfydd composed nearly 200 pieces -during her short life.	0:18:02	0:18:06
-She proved -that she was an incredible talent.	0:18:07	0:18:10
-She could compose -idiomatic piano pieces.	0:18:13	0:18:16
-She was a fantastic pianist...	0:18:16	0:18:18
-..and had the talent to play -concerti and classical pieces.	0:18:19	0:18:24
-This is a very rare quality -in this day and age.	0:18:24	0:18:27
-She had taken the time to learn -techniques and extend her knowledge.	0:18:28	0:18:33
-Her compositions -like Slumber Song to the Madonna...	0:18:35	0:18:40
-..can be compared to the best -that you'll find in England.	0:18:40	0:18:44
-They are classics.	0:18:44	0:18:46
-In August 1917, Ernest and Morfydd -left their home...	0:18:46	0:18:51
-..and travelled to Wales on holiday.	0:18:51	0:18:54
-The pair came to Ernest's -family home, Craig-Y-Mor.	0:18:54	0:18:59
-She had a stomach ache and sickness -from the moment she arrived.	0:19:00	0:19:04
-However, she got better...	0:19:04	0:19:06
-..and walked the rocks -and lunched with friends.	0:19:06	0:19:10
-On 24 August, her condition -deteriorated once more.	0:19:10	0:19:14
-Morfydd developed the lethal -condition, appendix abscess.	0:19:14	0:19:19
-The treatments of the era...	0:19:19	0:19:24
-..were nothing similar -to today's treatments.	0:19:24	0:19:28
-There was no such thing -as a blood transfusion...	0:19:28	0:19:32
-..or sending patients -to intensive care units.	0:19:32	0:19:36
-You did all you could -to shake the illness...	0:19:37	0:19:40
-..and hope for the best.	0:19:40	0:19:43
-Two weeks after arriving in Wales -and a year after getting married...	0:19:46	0:19:51
-..Morfydd died aged 26 -after undergoing an operation.	0:19:51	0:19:55
-This is Ernest Jones' -personal diary.	0:19:58	0:20:01
-There must be a record -of Morfydd's death.	0:20:01	0:20:05
-Here it is.	0:20:05	0:20:06
-It's September 7 and only reads...	0:20:07	0:20:10
-"2.00am. Ceased treatment."	0:20:10	0:20:14
-The time, 8.30am -has been underlined.	0:20:14	0:20:17
-That was the end of her life.	0:20:19	0:20:21
-The circumstances of Morfydd's death -have always been questioned.	0:20:25	0:20:30
-Why wasn't a doctor called earlier -and why did they use chloroform?	0:20:31	0:20:35
-Some have questioned -whether Ernest killed her.	0:20:35	0:20:39
-What's your opinion on the theory -that Ernest killed Morfydd?	0:20:40	0:20:45
-It's complete nonsense.	0:20:45	0:20:47
-There isn't any evidence.	0:20:47	0:20:49
-I have a theory about what happened.	0:20:49	0:20:54
-There was such opposition to the -Freud supporters of the world...	0:20:54	0:20:59
-..that they used any excuse -to vilify them.	0:20:59	0:21:03
-Chloroform had been used -instead of ether...	0:21:04	0:21:09
-..as there was still a debate -as to which one was best.	0:21:09	0:21:13
-It's been claimed -that someone gave her chloroform...	0:21:13	0:21:18
-..as she would die -as a result of it.	0:21:18	0:21:20
-I don't believe their theory -and it's slanderous.	0:21:21	0:21:24
-What was the family's theory -about her death?	0:21:25	0:21:28
-They always thought...	0:21:29	0:21:31
-..that Ernest Jones hadn't done -as much as he should have done...	0:21:31	0:21:36
-..and they held him -directly responsible for her death.	0:21:36	0:21:40
-My mother particularly, -right until the end of her life...	0:21:40	0:21:45
-..used to say...	0:21:45	0:21:47
-..how upset she was -at the way she died.	0:21:47	0:21:52
-There was always -a slight mystery around that.	0:21:52	0:21:57
-I don't think we'll ever know -exactly what happened.	0:22:01	0:22:04
-However, we do know...	0:22:05	0:22:07
-..that she underwent an operation on -the kitchen table inside this room.	0:22:07	0:22:12
-Within a few days, she had died...	0:22:12	0:22:15
-..aged just 26.	0:22:15	0:22:18
-Morfydd died young and at the -pinnacle of her composing career.	0:22:28	0:22:34
-We can only imagine -what she could have achieved.	0:22:34	0:22:38
-She will live on like the sun...	0:22:38	0:22:40
-..and the Morfudd -in Dafydd ap Gwilym's poems.	0:22:40	0:22:45
-She will continue -to shine from above.	0:22:45	0:22:48
-I don't understand -why she isn't more famous.	0:22:48	0:22:52
-She was daring, -intelligent and venturesome...	0:22:52	0:22:56
-..and this scared people.	0:22:56	0:22:58
-However, nearly a century has passed -so it's time that we celebrate her.	0:22:58	0:23:03
-Morfydd rests here in a lonely grave -without a husband or family.	0:23:08	0:23:13
-It's easy to see why questions are -still being asked about her death.	0:23:13	0:23:18
-The loss of her beauty -and personality...	0:23:18	0:23:21
-..have turned her into a legend.	0:23:21	0:23:24
-However, it's her talent -that we will remember most...	0:23:24	0:23:28
-..and her music will live on.	0:23:29	0:23:31
-S4C Subtitles by Tinopolis	0:23:56	0:23:58
-.	0:23:58	0:23:58

Morfydd Llwyn Owen Mamwlad

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