Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1924-[1980s] / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.029 cubic metres (1 box)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
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.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by the Reverend D. Hughes Jones, Rhyl, in July 1983
Content and structure area
Scope and content
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.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged in bundles.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright regulations apply
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Welsh, English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
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.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Rowlands, Ceinwen, 1905-1983 -- Archives (Subject)
- Walter, Arthur Aaron, d. 1967 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
April 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
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).