And the Bargoed-born award-winning composer is due to be guest of honour at the concert in Swansea.

Spence will team up with Welsh pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen, who introduced him to Hoddinott’s Six Welsh Folk Songs.

The piece is made up of Two Hearts Remain (Tra bo dau), O Gentle Dove (Y deryn pur), If She Were Mine (Pe cawn i hon), Ap Shenkin, The Golden Wheat (Bugeilio’r gwenith gwyn) and Fairest Gwen (Mentra Gwen).

Hoddinott, 78, is regarded as one of Wales’ finest and most prolific composers, writing symphonies, sonatas and concertos.

Among his accolades have been the Glyndr Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arts Council of Wales, Fellowship of the Welsh Music Guild and the presentation of a medal by the Queen to mark the official opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Spence, pictured, who is from Dumfries, has toured with Dame Shirley Bassey and Katherine Jenkins and his debut album, My First Love, topped the charts.

He has sung for the Queen at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican and at the Royal Variety Performance at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Born in Wales, Matthews-Owen studied at the Royal Academy of Music.

Specialising in song accompaniment, he has partnered singers in recitals at major venues including the Wigmore Hall.

He recently received an award from the Arts Council of Wales and PRS Foundation for New Music and commissioned the Hoddinott to write Towy Landscape, a scena for soprano, baritone and piano duet.

Saturday’s concert is part of the new series of performances from Crwth, a non-profit making organisation formed in Swansea in 1999 to promote chamber music.

The concert takes place at Brunswick Methodist Church, Swansea, on Saturday 22 Sept at 7.30pm.

Source: Western Mail