Music of Wales in the country's national sport of rugby, which in 1905 saw the first singing of a national anthem, Wales's "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", at the start of an international sporting encounter. A tradition of brass bands dating from the Victorian era continues, particularly in the South Wales Valleys, with Welsh bands such as the Cory Band being one of the most successful in the world. The 20th century saw many solo singers from Wales become not only national but international stars. Ivor Novello, who was a singer-songwriter during the First World War. Also, opera-singers such as Geraint Evans and later
Isaac Clarke (publisher) "Gems of Welsh Melody" by Owain Alaw. Owain had been the adjudicator of the Llangollen Eisteddfod competition and gave it the title "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (Land of my Fathers). The song, later became the first Welsh language song to be put on vinyl, sung by Madge Breese and recorded by the Gramophone Company on 11 March 1899. In 1860 Isaac Clarke also published the first editions of "Oriau'r Hwyr"and "Oriau'r Boreu" by Mr J. Ceriog Hughes subsequently publishing further 5 editions of these books. Also that year 4 years after its composition Owain Alaw wrote to James Jams asking