Ffeil AD7/1 - National Council of Music

The National Council for Music was officially established in 1919 following one of the recommendations of the Haldane Commission. The University Court had, however, appointed Dr Henry Walford Davies as the first Director of the National Council of Music at Aberystwyth (later in the Registry in Cardiff), in November 1918. It was intended that the Council should - in the words of the Commission - be 'the supreme consultative body on all matters with which musical education of Wales is concerned'. The Council's duties included 'to further the study and practice of Music, and in particular, the expression of Welsh nationality in Music'. To this end the Council built up a fine Music library; sponsored musical publications; held festivals, weekend courses and Summer schools; and sponsored musical festivals, lecture concerts, and the teaching of Music in the University and by Local Education Authorities. The Council was wound up in 1960.