Ceinwen Rowlands papers,

Music manuscripts, including arrangements of folk songs and popular and classical songs by named composers; concert programmes, 1924-1961; press-cuttings, [1930s]- [1980s], of her performances; press-cuttings relating to the Official Receiver, [1950s]-[1960s]; and notebooks of song lyrics.

Ceinwen Rowlands (1905-1983), singer, was born in Holyhead, Anglesey. She was a fine soprano; she trained in London, England, and recorded both classical music and jazz. She started her career in local eisteddfodau in 1921; in 1923, after winning at the National Eisteddfod, she toured Wales giving concerts. In 1927 she became a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, and also became a professional singer. In 1930, she moved to London, and her career continued until 1961. She gave more than 200 concerts in this time, mainly in England and Wales, and also broadcast on BBC radio. Her repertoire ranged from Welsh folk songs and jazz to classical music, including oratorios (her preference) and opera. She worked with the leading conductors of the time, and was praised by Sir Malcolm Sargent and Wil Ifan. She recorded over the period 1935-1953; the bulk of her recordings were made for Decca Records, 1949-1952, and the Welsh Recorded Music Society. She was married to Arthur Aaron Walter, Official Receiver at the London Bankruptcy Court. He died in 1967, and she moved to Rhyl, Denbighshire.

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Donated by the Reverend D. Hughes Jones, Rhyl, in July 1983

Ceinwen Rowlands (1905-1983), singer, was born in Holyhead, Anglesey. She was a fine soprano; she trained in London, England, and recorded both classical music and jazz. She started her career in local eisteddfodau in 1921; in 1923, after winning at the National Eisteddfod, she toured Wales giving concerts. In 1927 she became a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, and also became a professional singer. In 1930, she moved to London, and her career continued until 1961. She gave more than 200 concerts in this time, mainly in England and Wales, and also broadcast on BBC radio. Her repertoire ranged from Welsh folk songs and jazz to classical music, including oratorios (her preference) and opera. She worked with the leading conductors of the time, and was praised by Sir Malcolm Sargent and Wil Ifan. She recorded over the period 1935-1953; the bulk of her recordings were made for Decca Records, 1949-1952, and the Welsh Recorded Music Society. She was married to Arthur Aaron Walter, Official Receiver at the London Bankruptcy Court. He died in 1967, and she moved to Rhyl, Denbighshire.

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available in Minor Lists and Summaries 1984 at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed on-line.

April 2003

Compiled by Seri Crawley and Martin Locock for the ANW Project. The following sources were used for the preparation of the description: NLW Minor Lists and Summaries 1984; Eryl Wyn Rowlands, O Lwyfan i Lywfan (Gwasg Pantycelyn, 1999).

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