[MUSIC] John Thomas (1795-1871) Welsh, born in Carmarthen, musician, poet and schoolmaster who taught in Machen and Merthyr before moving to the Pontypridd district in 1850. From his time in Merthyr he pioneered choral music in Wales, leading his own choirs to success in eisteddfodau in the 1830s. He was also an essayist on Welsh music and culture, winning awards at eisteddfodau in 1838 and 1840, and in 1845 published Y Caniedydd Cymreig, a collection of airs with English and Welsh words. ALS, 1875, 2pp. To Mr. Planch_, probably James Robinson Planch_ (1796 _ 1880) the British dramatist. Thomas is anxious to set up a meeting about "a Libretto...", approx. 4-1/2 x 7".

VG