This is the website of composer and sound artist Hywel Davies.  It is relatively new, and so probably won't work that well on a phone, yet.  Any questions/queries please contact me at mail@hyweldavies.co.uk.

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​NEWS

March 2026

 

A recording I made in 2018 (playing the piano) with Luke Belcher (bass) and Tilly Peacock (voice) of a version of Night so Traurig (BWV 384) is being used for the Intro/outro music of a comedy Podcast Called Brian and Roger on BBC Radio/Sounds

September 2025

 

Having made a setting of one of the ’O’ Antiphons (O Oriens) for the choir of St John’s Glastonbury a couple of years ago. I have been commissioned by St Paul’s London Ontario, to set two more (these will be O Gentium and O Adonai for performance in 2025/26)

December 2025

 

Performance of Blake’s Cradle Song (unaccompanied SATB) by the choir of the Chapels Royal, Tower of London

 

Performance of Blake’s cradle Song (unaccompanied SATB) by Quindici at Gregynog Hall, Powys

August 2025

 

Boosey and Hawkes have committed to publishing (with exemplar recordings)

A lot of my choral pieces, I’m hoping that these will be in the catalogue at some point in 2026

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October 2024

I have been commissioned by Children’s voices of Enfield to write a set of songs for unison voices and piano for performance in Early 2025. This commission is funded by Arts Council England and the RVW Foundation

 

 

This year’s new Christmas Choral Item is a setting of O Magnum Mysterium which will be premiered by Mark Forkgen and London Concert Choir on 18 December at Holy Trinity Sloane Square, London

 

Other Christmas performances include Two French Carols which will be performed by both East Harptree church choir and the Swan Singers in Somerset during December

 

There are also going to be two performances of Blake’s Cradle Song by Quindici, This mid-wales-based chamber choir will be performing it at Gregynog Hall and Tregynon parish Church in Early December

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February 2024

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I am very happy to share that Wells Cathedral are commissioning me to write a a new set of responses for their junior choir and cathedral choir to perform together

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16, 17 MARCH 16,17 MARCH 2023

​The covid-delayed premiere of THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO (Part one) is finally happening, this dramatic oratorio was commissioned by Tonbridge School and is scored for all 800 students (unchanged male voices, treble choir three soloists and orchestra directed by Mark Forkgen

 

DECEMBER 2022

 

Carol time again! 

These are the new ones, plus two performances of Blake's Cradle Song at Wells Cathedral.

10/14 December - Out of the blossom sprang a thorn - Exultate! - St James Priory Bristol, premiere and second/third performances

17 December - Farewell! Advent - Swan Singers - Farmborough Church - premiere

17/21/22/23 December - Carol of the bells (arrangement) - Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Chorus, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Liverpool Philharminc Orchestra 'Spirit of Christmas' premiere and subsequent performances

20 December - This is the day (Hodie) - London Concert Choir - premiere

22/23 December - Blake's Cradle Song - Wells Cathedral Choir

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January 2022

I am very happy to share the news that the excellent QUAD Gallery in Derby are to be my R&D partner for my DYCP project - now called HOMESPUN.

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December 2021

It's carol time.  This year I am lucky enough to have three world premieres and one UK premiere.  Thanks to the choirs and choral directors for having a punt on new work.

O Oriens - the choir of St John the Baptist's Church, Glastonbury, directed by Matthew Redman (World Premiere)

Sweet was the song - Swan Singers, directed by Patricia Rees-Jones, All Saint's Church, Farmborough (UK Premiere)

Blake's Cradle Song - Canticum, directed by Mark Forkgen, St Saviour's, Pimlico (World Premiere)

Somerset Wassail - the choir of St John the Baptist's Church, Glastonbury, directed by Matthew Redman (World Premiere)

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November 2021

PILGRIM, the outdoor installation at Mottisfont Abbey (National Trust), is up and running again after a break for summer activities.  This is the last planned period on installation which will last until April 2022.  So still plenty of opportunity to experience the work.

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August 2021

My application to Arts Council England for a Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP) grant has been successful.  As the name of the fund suggests, the fund seeks to extent existing practice.  For me this is research and development into enabling the realising of multi-source sound installations in the domestic context using existing web-ready devices.  I am currently looking for a R&D partner for the pilot.

 

July 2020

PILGRIM - it is now possible to visit the outdoor element of this new sound installation made for the Beech Circle at Mottisfont Abbey (National Trust).  The work opened at the end of January 2020, but access was suspended from the end of March to mid-July as a result of COVID-19 lockdown.  To visit you will need to book in advance here [add link].

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JUNE 2022

WORLD PREMIERE Of my orchesrral arrangement of PIAZZOLLA'S MUSIC for A Midsummer Night's Dream is being premiered by the RLPO conducted by Clark Rundell

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VOYAGE OF THE ARGO (Part One) - the first performances of this new, hour-long dramatic oratorio have been postponed because of Coronavirus.  The work, scored for 3 soloists,massed men's voices (all the pupils in the school was commissioned by Tonbridge School.

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