O Father, by whose Name all fatherhood is known

I've been a little behind in my uploads this week, but I do have two special ones to upload today.

This, the first, is the famous hymn known by the tune name of "Rhosymedre," which is often joined with the words of F. Bland Tucker, "O Father, by whose Name".

Francis Bland Tucker (1895-1984) was the son of a bishop and brother of a Presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, he was educated at the University of Virginia, B.A., 1914, and at Virginia Theological Seminary, B.D., 1920; D.D., 1944. He was ordained deacon in 1918, priest in 1920, after having served as a private in Evacuation Hospital No.15 of the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I. He was named a member of the Joint Commission on the Revision of the Hymnal in 1937 which prepared the Hymnal 1940The Hymnal 1940 Companion, and was then named to the Joint Commission on Church Music of the Episcopal Church where he served from 1946 to 1958.

The composer of the famous melody, John David Edwards (b. Penderlwyngoch, Cardiganshire, Wales, 1805; d. Llanddoget, Denbighshire, North Wales, 1885) was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, England, and ordained an Anglican priest in 1833. He served parishes in Rhosymedre and Llanddoget and published a collection of hymn tunes, Original Sacred Music (2 vols., 1836, 1843), for use in Anglican churches in Wales.

"Rhosymedre" was published in the 1836 collection. The tune's title is derived from the Welsh parish where Edwards was pastor for some years after 1843. In Wales this tune is associated with Easter and is thought of as a jubilant hymn tune. Outside of Wales, however, it often receives a more devotional treatment.

It is certainly most famous through the wonderful setting composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams: http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/8217

I dedicate this to the memory of my own dear father, David, to all on the concert hall who are fathers, and to all who have loved us with fatherly love.