The San Francisco call., 1906-06-10

With his accustomed meekness of
spirit in matters that did not impinge
upon his dearest beliefs, John Henry
cardinaD Newman once remarked to a
-!ead that it was not the words of his
.mn, Lead, kindly Light" which had
cuieved its popularity, but the tune.
The tune is by Dykes. and DR.. Dykes
tras great master" This statement
is amiable. but it is hardly an exact
one. Compared TO the music Of On
Yard. Christian Soldiers" the effort Of
dykes is lacking in originality That
x is "a great favorite throughout the
world-a favorite. TOO, of Gladstone and
President William -lckinley - only
proves that If the words are potent
,nough the music. unless il be down
right poverty ridden in idea, of hymn
ilay become a household and churchly
classic. Newman has written other
beautiful poetry in addition TO this
hymn, DR.. Dykes more ambitious music.
but without the success of Lead.
kindly Light"
There is not much TO learn OF this
worthy musical divine. John Bacchus
DYKES was born at Kingston upon Hull.
England, March 10, 1923 He died at St
Leonards. January p. 1876. He was a
church composer. a pupil Of Shelton,
erganist at Hull; he then studied at
Cambridge under Walisley, and in lS47
became curate at Nation. Yorkshire In
1S49 he was minor canon and precentor
~ Durham Cathedral, and in 1852 vicar
- St Oswald, Durham He was made
3 musical doctor at Durham in 1861.
His works are Service in F; the 2Sd
Psalm; anthems, Psalms and hymns.
Lead. Kindly Light" was composed in
1861 by DR.. Dykes as he was walking
through the Strand, London.
Usually sung in the rich and unc-
tuous key of A fat. the hymn is in
three two-Iime and by no modification
Of tempo can we radically alter its in
trinsically solemn and somewhat rigid
character with Sullivan's music to
Onward. Christian Soldiers" such is
not the case. There are as many
settings Of Newman's poem as leaves
on tree. Next in popularity to
Dykes is that of A. L. Peace. 1t is
not. very interesting. Harry Rowe
Shelley. the New York composer. com
posed music for the hymn as long ago
as 1883. It is in the same key and
time measure as Dykes. though
broader in conception and follows more
closely and with more fexibility the
moods and rhythms OF the poet For
soprano solo and quartet the Shelley
setting is absolutely without the drone-
like quality so beloved of certain
churchgoers who delight in nasal piety.
There is climax OF a sufficiently ex-
alted character at the refrain. But
now lead Thou me on" where ingenious
todulation produces an admirable
vloring. so long Thy power" is also
aappy in conception. The closing. with
rs massive. full harmonies, is cry
fective. But in hymn writing the less
complex the musical outline the better
chance for survival; the skeleton often
outIives the full ieshed composition.
The Dykes version is very simple. That
IS one reason for its popularity. But it
is the exquisite music Of the poem,
with its veiled supplication to the
Heavenly Father and its somber note
Of half concealed despair which carry
this hymn TO the heart. Only in the
last verse is there a major affirmation;
until that is reached the mood is in
the minor key
Newman composed the hymn Sunday,
June ls, 1899 He was still in the
Church OF England, an ordained clergy
man, and in III health when he wrote
IT, But his own words should be read:
4 went down to Sicily without COM
panion at the end Of April. 1 struck
into the middle OF the island and fell
III Of a fever at Leonforte. My servant
thought ! was dying and begged for