Music: Tydi a Roddaist (Thou gavest)

Composer, Rodney Newton, takes a look at Dan Price's latest 'meditative interlude'

Nigel Weeks commissioned this work in 2015 for Dalewool Auckland Brass Band as a tribute to the band's late President, Murray Carey, who was very fond of hymn tunes.

Since Nigel is Welsh, Dan Price accordingly chose Arwel Hughes's beautiful Tydi a Roddaist (a setting of T. Rowland Hughes' hymn, O Thou who gavest the dawn its form) on which to rhapsodise.

It is a dark, melancholy melody in the minor key that evokes the brooding hills of Wales, and weaves in and out of the score, undergoing development and variation.

At around four minutes, this piece would make a moving, meditative interlude and it should be within the range of a good Section 3 band and upwards.

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