Sir Arthur Sullivan composed its tune—the one best known, "Lux Eoi"—and the very lilt of the music seems somehow to suggest the work of the great musician who gave us similar "swinging" tunes for "Onward, Christian soldiers" ("St. Gertrude") and for "The Jubilee Hymn." But Sir Arthur tells me that "Lux Eoi" was not composed especially for this hymn, but for another one less famous. The rapidity of Sir Arthur's composition is only equalled by that of Arthur H. Brown, already mentioned. The gifted composer of The Golden Legend thinks long before he puts pen to paper, and often defers doing this "till the last minute," as we say; but when he does get started, he goes at it as few composers can, and will polish off the introduction to an oratorio in a night!
(Photo: Elliott and Fry, Baker Street, W.)
THE LATE BISHOP WORDSWORTH.
"When I survey the wondrous Cross," that splendid old hymn of that splendid old divine, Dr. Isaac Watts, is probably one of our very oldest hymns that is at all well known to-day. Everybody sings it, for everybody knows both words and tune: Englishman, native African, Brother Jonathan, converted Chinese, all sing alike from the heart, after they have felt the real significance and power of that death and resurrection—
"Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my life, my soul, my all!"
"Rockingham," the tune to which this hymn is eternally wedded, was composed by Dr. Edward Miller. There is a magnificent roll and stateliness about it which suits the words perfectly, and the wonderful magnetic force which comes over one as one listens to six thousand people—led by, say, Mr. Ira D. Sankey, singing "When I survey the wondrous Cross"—was well described by the nameless slave in America, who, hearing it thus sung by a crowd, and being reproved for humming the tune as the people sang, said, "Massa, it no use; me must jine in!"
(Photo: J. C. Schaarwächter, Berlin.)
SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN.