Clara Novello Davies

Clara Novello Davies (7 April 1861 – 7 February 1943) was a Welsh singer, teacher and conductor. She used the pen name Pencerddes Morgannwg.

Clara Novello Davies is not to be confused with soprano Clara Novello (1818–1908)

Clara Novello Davies
A woman with dark hair, wearing a dark gown, looking at the viewer over one shoulder.
Clara Novello Davies
Born
Clara Novello Davies

7 April 1861
Cardiff, Wales
Died7 February 1943(1943-02-07) (aged 81)
London, England
Other namesPencerddes Morgannwg
ChildrenIvor Novello
Marie Novello

Early life

Clara Novello Davies was born on 7 April 1861. She was named after Clara Novello, a famous soprano (1818–1908). Her father, leader of the church choir, taught her to play the harmonium. She also studied music with Charles Williams of the Llandaff Cathedral.[1]

Career

Davies was accompanist for the Cardiff United Choir and Cardiff Blue Ribbon Choir, as a young woman. In 1883, she founded and conducted the Royal Welsh Ladies' Choir.[2]

In 1893 two of her students, May John and Elsie Drinkwater won a prize at the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd singing 'Quis est homo?' from Rossini's Stabat Mater. This led to an invitation for her choir to attend the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago that year. At the Exposition May John took the prize for best soprano.[3] The choir also sang at the Paris Exposition (1900).

Davies was still conducting into her seventies when her New York-based Novello Davies Artist Choir was invited to the 1937 Paris Exposition. The choir raised funds for charity during both World Wars.[1]

Clara Novello Davies published an instructional book, You Can Sing (1928), and a memoir, The Life I Have Loved (1940).[4] She also wrote songs, including "Friend!" (1905) and "Mother!" (1911). She was awarded the Médaille de Mérite by the French government, in 1937. Among her voice students were American actress Dorothy Dickson, baritone Louis Graveure, and opera singer Mary Ellis.[5]

Death

Clara Novello married David Davies, a solicitor's clerk, on 31 October 1883. Their son, David Ivor Davies, became better known as Ivor Novello, the actor, composer, dramatist and director.[6] Their adopted daughter, who was born Maria Williams but took the name Marie Novello, was a concert pianist who died from throat cancer on 21 June 1928, aged 44. Clara Novello Davies was widowed in 1931, and died in London in 1943, aged 81. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.[1]

The character "Madame Annie" in Rhys Davies' The Painted King (1954)[7] is based on Clara Novello Davies.[8]

References
  1. Griffith, Robert David (2001). "DAVIES, CLARA NOVELLO ('Pencerddes Morgannwg'; 1861 - 1943) musician". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. "The Welsh Ladies' Choir" Wilkes-Barre Times (17 October 1895): 6. via Newspapers.comopen access
  3. "JOHN, MARY HANNAH ('May') (1874 - 1962), singer and revivalist | Dictionary of Welsh Biography". biography.wales. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  4. Novello-Davies, Clara (1940). The Life I Have Loved. W. Heinemann.
  5. Snelson, John (2001). "Davies, Clara Novello". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.51276. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. Simon Callow (3 August 2012). "Ivor Novello, master of the musical". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  7. Davies, Rhys (1954). The Painted King. Doubleday.
  8. Osborne, Huw (20 June 2016). Queer Wales: The History, Culture and Politics of Queer Life in Wales. University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-1-78316-865-1.
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