Aberystwyth (hymn tune)

"Aberystwyth" is a hymn tune composed by Joseph Parry, written in 1876 and first published in 1879 in Edward Stephen's Ail Lyfr Tonau ac Emynau (Welsh for Second Book of Tunes and Hymns).^[1]^[2] Parry was at the time the first professor and head of the new department of music at the recently founded University College Wales, Aberystwyth, now called Aberystwyth University.

History

The tune "Aberystwyth" has been the most popular setting for Charles Wesley's hymn "Jesus, Lover of My Soul".^[3]

Legacy

Some claim that the melody of the African hymn Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, which today forms part of the national anthem of South Africa, is derived from this hymn,^[4] while others have called the connection far fetched.^[5]

Music

$\relative d' {\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"church organ" \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 75 \key d \minor \time 4/4 d4 d8 e f g a4 f e d2 f4 e d cis d8 e f4 e2 d4 d8 e f g a4 f e d2 e4 f8 g a4 g f e d2 d4 c d e f a8 g f2 f4 e f g a c8 b a2 d4 d c a f g a2 d,4 d8 e f g a4 f e d2 \bar "|." }$

Gallery

Plaque to commemorate the 1st performance of the hymn tune "Aberystwyth" on Aberystwyth town's former English Congregational church, now a medical surgery
Church Surgery, Aberystwyth, formerly the English Congregationalist Church

References

^ The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music
^ Let the People Sing: Hymn Tunes in Perspective, Paul Westermeyer, page 217
^ Hymnary.org
^ "An Anthem To Ignorance – The Case of 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'". The Anton Mostert Chair of Intellectual Property [Stellenbosch University]. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "How many national athems are plagiarised?". BBC News. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2020.

[1] The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music

[2] Let the People Sing: Hymn Tunes in Perspective, Paul Westermeyer, page 217

[3] Hymnary.org

[4] "An Anthem To Ignorance – The Case of 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'". The Anton Mostert Chair of Intellectual Property [Stellenbosch University]. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[BBC-5] "How many national athems are plagiarised?". BBC News. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2020.

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