Charles Wesley
A leader of the Methodist movement in England and younger brother of John Wesley. it was first published in the book "Hymns and Sacred Poems" in 1739. the tune most frequently associated with it today was based on a chorus by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. Written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church, in 1739. A sombre man, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics and thus “Hark the herald angels sing” was sung to a different tune initially. Over a hundred years later Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. English musician William H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s music to fit the lyrics of “Hark the herald angels sing” already written by Wesley. "And Can It Be" was first published in John Wesley's Psalms and Hymns in 1738, then in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. From middle of the nineteenth century on, "And Can It Be" has been set to SAGINA composed by Thomas Campbell Lyrics by Wesley, music by Darwall. We sing "Rejoice, the Lord Is King" to the hymn tune Darwall’s 148th. An alternate hymn tune, Gopsal, was composed by G. F. Handel for the hymn. Charles Wesley wrote "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" in 1747, originally calling it "The Whole Armor of God, Ephesians VI." The music DIADEMATA was written by Elvey in 1868. Lyra Davidica wrote the music in 1708. Charles Wesley wrote this hymn in 1739, in celebration of the first service of London's first Wesleyan Chapel. Words to stanzas 1-7 by Wesley. Stanzas 8-10, author unknown, 14th Century; translated from Latin to English in Lyra Davidica. EASTER HYMN, the hymn tune to which we sing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" was published anonymously in Lyra Davidica, 1708. This exuberant song is one of the most popular Easter hymns in the English language.
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