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Aberystwyth (hymn tune)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"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

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

Legacy

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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

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 \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 "|."
  }
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References

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  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)
  5. ^ "How many national athems are plagiarised?". BBC News. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2020.