Hymn Story: Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!

“Lying bedridden with a near fatal illness in 1866, William C. Dix found the hope to pen the words to the joyful hymn of victory, “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!” Inspired by the words of Revelation to sing a new song, this hymn calls us to lift our voices and praise the ascended Christ, who yet remains with us and intercedes for us.”

William C. Dix was born in 1837 England and published various volumes of his hymns. He died in 1898 in Somerset, England.

The melody is known as Hyfrydol and is a well-known melody used for other well-known hymns such as Love Divine Love Excelling, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, I will Sing of My Redeemer and I will Sing he Wondrous Story.

The tune was composed by Rowland Prichard, a Welsh musician, in 1844 when he was twenty-years old.

The best-known arrangements of the melody are by Ralph Vaughan Williams.