Love divine, all loves excelling (StF 503)

Authors & translators:
Wesley, Charles
Tune:
Blaenwern
Composers & arrangers:
Wright, Paul Leddington
Country or culture:
Wales
Composers & arrangers:
Rowlands, William Penfro
Source:
Singing the Faith: 503 (CD21 #3)
Verses:
3
STF Number:
503

Ideas for use

The tune "Blaenwern" is one of a number of hymn tunes in Singing the Faith drawn from Welsh heritage. It's a "big" tune: rousing, best sung by a decent number of gathered people, and demanding large reserves of breath. Think Welsh male voice choir in full flow. Unaccompanied four-part harmony makes a wonderful sound but a strong organ or band accompaniment will most likely be needed.

A unison arrangement of the tune with added descant by Paul Leddington Wright is provided for verse 3.

More information

The combination of stirring tune and Charles Wesley’s words may be said to have provided Methodism with one of its most iconic hymns. The steady rise of each verse from its opening low notes towards a high, confident and emphatically faith-full climax can bind a singing community together like no other hymn:

changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Unsurprisingly, the tune’s composer, William Penfro Rowlands, was an experienced choral conductor, of the Morriston United Choral Society and, from 1892, also precentor of the Tabernacle Congregational Church in Morriston, Swansea. Blaenwern itself was composed around 1904-5 during the Welsh revival of that time, largely experienced in the chapels and churches of Wales through the medium of the Welsh language. The tune was named for a small farm near Tufton, Dyfed (formerly Pembrokeshire), where the composer had recuperated from a serious illness during boyhood.

See Songs for St David.

I know that my Redeemer lives (StF 502)
May the mind of Christ my Saviour (StF 504)

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Privacy Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you visit our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your journey through the website. This information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Marketing cookie

ON
OFF

When you visit our website we use a Facebook Pixel to collect information on your journey through the website. This information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.