Diadem for solo harp

Description

Diadem: Fantasy on the Welsh hymn-tune

Solo harp
5′ duration
2014
Commissioned by the 2014 North American Festival of Wales.
Premiere—Elinor Bennett, 2014 North American Festival of Wales, Minneapolis, MN 8/14
Published by Adlais.

Program Note

Elinor Bennett

Diadem, a fantasy on the Welsh hymn-tune for solo harp, was written for the eminent Welsh harpist Elinor Bennett for premiere at the closing Gymanfa Ganu (hymn festival) of the 2014 North American Festival of Wales. The tune DIADEM was composed by James Ellor. It is most often sung in English to the words “All hail the power of Jesus’s name.” The work breaks the tune into recognizable fragments, moving from rather free tempo to vigorous syncopations to a grand final presentation.

Diadem is one of a number of works David Evan Thomas has written on Welsh themes, including From the Land of Song, Three Welsh Folk Songs (ALRY), Welsh Album and Preludes on Welsh Tunes (Augsburg Fortress).