Foggy, dreary, wet this morning; and no hymn requests, so I’m on my own.
How about a nice Welsh hymn? Hyfrydol, with Bryn Terfel as soloist, backed up by the Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Don’t worry if you can’t make out the lyrics; they’re in Welsh. But the music speaks for itself… and says “Amen.”
My wife chanced to discover this last night, and we both agreed it was one of the most beautiful pieces of music that we’d ever heard–the Welsh melody, “Hyfrydol,” played on a mountain dulcimer. Wonderful! Brought us close to tears. I just had to share it with you.
I used to know someone whose father made dulcimers. They lived in West Virginia.
Many hymns have adopted “Hyfrydol” as their setting, including some whose lyrics were written long before the melody was composed by Rowland Pritchard in the 19th century. If it seems familiar to you… well, you’ve probably heard it or sung it in church.
The Welsh melody “Hyfrydol” goes with several different hymns and this is one of them–Alleluiah, Sing to Jesus, performed here by St. Michael’s Singers at Coventry Cathedral.
We’re open for hymn requests, everybody, if you’ve got any.
The Welsh melody Hyfrydol provides the music for many different hymns. Here we have it with Alleluiah! Sing to Jesus, sung by St. Michael’s Singers at Coventry Cathedral.
My allergies are still tormenting me, but at least I got some sleep last night. Maybe I’ll be better by the afternoon.
Requested by SlimJim–and it turns out this is another appearance by our old friend, the Welsh melody, Hyfrydol. I don’t know how many different sets of hymn lyrics this melody supports, but it’s always a pleasure to listen.
Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners… with background sets by God the Father.
We’ll have a hymn now. It can’t hurt.
Please pray for us.
Hyfrydol (“Alleluiah, Sing to Jesus”), by the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge.
To this day I don’t know how many lyrics have been written to the melody of the Welsh hymn, Hyfrydol. Here’s one I’d never heard before–God Is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him. Choir and congregation sing it with a will (although YouTube doesn’t give us the name of the church).
Every denomination, it seems has its own set of lyrics to go with this hymn. But here we have the original Hyfrydol, sung in Welsh by a Welsh choir. I can’t translate a word of it, but I don’t think I have to: the music speaks for itself.
Once upon a time, in February of 2019, I posted a Welsh hymn, Hyfrydol, sung by a Welsh choir; and 577 views came pouring in for that post alone. No other post has ever come close to matching it.
I think every denomination’s hymnal has its own set of lyrics to go with this melody. I don’t understand a word of the Welsh lyrics, but I don’t think you have to: the music speaks directly to one’s spirit.
Look, I’m trying not to do any nooze today, it’s Sunday, all the bad business will still be there tomorrow–and may the Lord God Almighty, holy and righteous and just, all-powerful, all-wise… fight for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Welsh hymn, Hyfrydol, seems to have a different set of lyrics for every denomination’s hymnal. Here the choir at the First Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, sings at as Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. Whatever the version, I’ve always loved it.
Fun fact: A posting of Hyfrydol (not this one) a year or two ago produced this blog’s all-time high single day’s viewership–over 300 views that day. I guess I’m not the only one who loves it!