John David Edwards
Encyclopedia
John David Edwards was a Welsh
cleric and hymn-tune composer.
in Wales
. After education at Ystrad Meurig
school, he attended Jesus College, Oxford
, matriculating in 1825 and obtaining his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1830. He was ordained deacon
in 1832 and priest
in 1833, serving as curate at Llansantffraid Glyndyfrdwy in Denbighshire
and also in Aberdyfi
. In 1843, he was presented to the parish of Rhosymedre
, Denbighshire by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn
, and he remained in this post until his death. He took music lessons from Dafydd Siencyn Morgan and was regarded as a good musician. He composed various hymns tunes, publishing a collection in 1836 under the title "Original Sacred Music", which was the first book of hymn-tunes for Anglican churches in Wales. A further collection was published in 1843. He wrote the hymn tune
Rhosymedre
, later used by Ralph Vaughan Williams
as the basis for one of his organ preludes on Welsh hymn tunes. He died at his nephew's house in Llanddoged
on 24 November 1885, and was buried at Tal-y-llyn.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
cleric and hymn-tune composer.
Life
Edwards was born in Penderlwyngoch, Gwnnws, in CeredigionCeredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. After education at Ystrad Meurig
Ystrad Meurig
Ystrad Meurig is a village in Ceredigion, Wales. It lies on the B4340 road northwest of the town of Tregaron.- History & Amenities :...
school, he attended Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, matriculating in 1825 and obtaining his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1830. He was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1832 and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1833, serving as curate at Llansantffraid Glyndyfrdwy in Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
and also in Aberdyfi
Aberdyfi
Aberdyfi , or Aberdovey is a village on the north side of the estuary of the River Dyfi in Gwynedd, on the west coast of Wales....
. In 1843, he was presented to the parish of Rhosymedre
Rhosymedre
Rhosymedre is a village near Ruabon in north east Wales. The village is within the community of Cefn and the county borough of Wrexham.The Anglican church, which was consecrated in 1837, is dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and is part of the Diocese of St Asaph...
, Denbighshire by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn
Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet
Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet was a Welsh Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1841 to 1885....
, and he remained in this post until his death. He took music lessons from Dafydd Siencyn Morgan and was regarded as a good musician. He composed various hymns tunes, publishing a collection in 1836 under the title "Original Sacred Music", which was the first book of hymn-tunes for Anglican churches in Wales. A further collection was published in 1843. He wrote the hymn tune
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 harmony, a fast harmonic rhythm , and no refrain or chorus....
Rhosymedre
Rhosymedre (hymn tune)
Rhosymedre is the name of a hymn tune written by the 19th-century Welsh Anglican priest John David Edwards. Edwards named the tune after the village of Rhosymedre near Ruabon in north-east Wales, where he was the vicar from 1843 until his death in 1885. The hymn tune is seven lines long, with a...
, later used by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
as the basis for one of his organ preludes on Welsh hymn tunes. He died at his nephew's house in Llanddoged
Llanddoged
Llanddoged is a small village which lies in the hills a little over a mile to the north of Llanrwst, in Conwy county borough, Wales. The village itself has a small population, with a surrounding rural farming community. Most of the population are Welsh speakers...
on 24 November 1885, and was buried at Tal-y-llyn.