One of those impressed by that film was Sam Jones, who was at the time producer of Welsh programmes with the B.B.C., and after realising that Idris Lewis was a Welshman he succeeded in persuading him to join the B.B.C. in Cardiff, where he became musical director of the Welsh region (1936-52), the first to be appointed to that post. He d. at his home in Llandaff, 15 Apr. 1952, and his remains were cremated in Glyntaff.

He is an important figure in the history of Welsh music, chiefly because of his pioneering work in broadcasting orchestral concerts from Cardiff. He was also responsible for arranging several series of popular vocal programmes on sound radio, including ‘Melys Lais’; and ‘Cenwch im yr hen ganiadau’. Although he was not a prolific composer, he arranged a number of works for male voice choirs, and some of the songs from his setting of ‘Alun Mabon’ (Ceiriog), which was first broadcast in 1935, remain popular on eisteddfod and concert platforms. He was the author of a useful volume Cerddoriaeth yng Nghymru (1945) which was translated into Welsh by Enid Parry.

His brother was D.H. Lewis, Llanelli, author of Cofiant J.T. Rees, and also of a number of articles on Welsh musicians which were published in Y Genhinen and other periodicals.