"Aberystwyth" is a

hymn tune A hymn tune is the melody of a musical composition to which a hymn text is sung. Musically speaking, a hymn is generally understood to have four-part (or more) harmony, a fast harmonic rhythm (chords change frequently), with or without refrain ...

composed by

Joseph Parry Joseph Parry (21 May 1841 – 17 February 1903) was a Welsh composer and musician. Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, he is best known as the composer of "Myfanwy" and the hymn tune "Aberystwyth", on which the African song "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" i ...

, written in 1876 and first published in 1879 in Edward Stephen's ''Ail Lyfr Tonau ac Emynau'' (

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

for ''Second Book of Tunes and Hymns''). Parry was at the time the first professor and head of the new department of music at the recently founded University College Wales,

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...

, now called

Aberystwyth University , mottoeng = A world without knowledge is no world at all , established = 1872 (as ''The University College of Wales'') , former_names = University of Wales, Aberystwyth , type = Public , endowment = ...

History

The tune "Aberystwyth" has been the most popular setting for

Charles Wesley Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include " And Can It Be", " Christ the Lord Is Risen ...

's hymn "Jesus, Lover of My Soul".

Legacy

Some claim the melody of South Africa's former anthem,

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (, ) is a Christian hymn originally composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Xhosa people, Xhosa clergyman at a Methodism, Methodist mission school near Johannesburg. The song became a pan-African liberation song and ver ...

, is derived from this hymn, while others have called the connection far fetched.

Music

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Gallery

Plac-Aberystwyth-Joseph-Parry.jpg, Plaque to commemorate the 1st performance of the hymn tune "Aberystwyth" on Aberystwyth town's former English Congregational church, now a medical surgery Capel Anibynnwyr Saesneg Aberystwyth.jpg, Church Surgery, Aberystwyth, formerly the English Congregationalist Church

References

{{authority control Compositions by Joseph Parry Hymn tunes Aberystwyth National symbols of Tanzania National symbols of Zambia National symbols of South Africa 1879 songs