John Bacchus Dykes
Life
Born: 10 March 1823, Kingston upon Hull
Died: 22 January 1876, Ticehurst, Sussex
Biography
John Bacchus Dykes was an English clergyman and hymnist. He was born in Hull, England, and by age 10 was the assistant organist at St. John's Church, Hull, where his grandfather was vicar. He studied at Wakefield and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, earning a B.A. in Classics in 1847. He cofounded the Cambridge University Musical Society. He was ordained as curate of Malton in 1847. For a short time, he was canon of Durham Cathedral, then precentor (1849 – 1862). In 1862 he became vicar of St. Oswald's, Durham until his death in 1876.
He published sermons and articles on religion but is best known for over 300 hymn tunes he composed. Amongst his many notable hymns which are still in wide use may be mentioned: Nicaea, commonly sung to the words "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!"; Wir Pflügen, harmonised by Dykes and commonly sung to the words "We plough the fields, and scatter" (a translation of the German hymn "Wir pflügen und wir streuen" by the late 18th century German poet Matthias Claudius); Melita, sung to the words "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" (sometimes known as "For those in Peril on the Sea" from its recurring last line); Gerontius, sung to the words "Praise to the Holiest in the Height" (taken from Cardinal Newman's poem The Dream of Gerontius); O Perfect Love; and Dominus Regit Me, sung to the words "The King of love my Shepherd is", one of the many metrical versions of Psalm 23.
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List of choral works
Services & Anthems
Hymntunes
Other works not listed above (See Template:CheckMissing for possible reasons and solutions)
- Hosanna to the living Lord!
- O for a closer walk with God
- O perfect Love
- Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless
- Sing, my soul, his wondrous love
- Take my life, and let it be
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