Mathias, William (b Whitland, Dyfed, 1934; d Menai Bridge, 1992). Welsh composer and pianist. Bax Soc. prize 1968. Lect. in mus., Univ. Coll. of N. Wales, Bangor, 1959–68, senior lect. in comp. Edinburgh Univ. 1968–70, prof. of mus. and head of mus. dept., Univ. Coll. of N. Wales 1970–88. Art. dir. N. Wales Mus. Fest. from 1972. CBE 1985. Prin. works:OPERA: The Servants (1980).ORCH.: syms.: No.1 (1966), No.2 (Summer Music) (1982–3), No.3 (1991); Divertimento, str. (1958); Music for Strings (1961); Serenade, Invocation and Dance (1962); Dance Overture (1962); Concerto for Orchestra (1966); Litanies (1966); Sinfonietta (1967); Holiday Overture (1971); Celtic Dances (1972); Laudi (1973); Vistas (1975); Dance Variations (1977); Melos (1977); Helios (1977); Requiescat (1978); Carnival of Wales (1987); Threnos, str. (1990); In Arcadia (1991–2).CONCERTOS: pf. No.1 (1955), No.2 (1961), No.3 (1968); hp. (1970); hpd., str., perc. (1971); cl. (1975); hn. (1984); org. (1984); ob. (1990); vn. (1991); fl. (1992).VOICE(S) & ORCH. or PIANO: Ave Rex, mixed ch., orch. (1969); Elegy for a Prince, bar., orch. (1972); A Vision of Time and Eternity, cont., pf. (1972); This Worldes Joie, soloists, ch., orch. (1974); The Fields of Praise, ten., pf. (1977); A May Magnificat, double ch. (1977–8); Shakespeare Songs, ch., pf. (1978); Songs of William Blake, mez., hp., pf., cel., str. (1979); Lux Aeterna, sop., mez., cont., ch., boys’ ch., org., orch. (1981–2); Psalm 67 (Let the People Praise Thee, O God), ch., org. or orch. (1981); Angelus, women's vv. (1983); Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, ch., orch. (1984); Jonah: a Musical Morality, bar., ten., ch., orch. (1988); World's Fire, sop., bar., ch., orch. (1989).CHURCH: Festival Te Deum (1965); Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (1970); Missa brevis, No.1 (1973), No.2 (1984); Te Deum, sop., mez., ten., ch., orch. (1981); Tantum Ergo, ch., org. (1983); Come, Holy Ghost (1992); Ad majorem Dei gloriam (1992).CHAMBER MUSIC: str. qt. No.1 (1968), No.2 (1982), No.3 (1987); Sonatina, cl., pf. (1957); vn. sonata, No.1 (1962), No.2 (1984); wind quintet (1963); pf. sonata, No.1 (1964), No.2 (1979); Soundings, brass quintet (1988); Summer Dances, brass quintet (1990).ORGAN: Partita (1962); Variations on a Hymn-Tune (‘Braint’) (1962); Invocations (1967); Fantasy (1978); conc. (1984); Fenestra (1989).