Samuel Wesley (1766-1837), younger son of Charles Wesley, and father of Samuel Sebastian Wesley, was a musical and literary prodigy: he taught himself to read and write, and at the age of seven composed an oratorio, which was praised by Dr. Boycs. He was an excellent performer on several instruments, but was recognized as the most skilled organist of the time, with no rival in extemporaneous performance. He wrote a variety of concert music (both sacred and secular); even before Mendelssohn, he was an enthusiastic promoter of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in England.

This tune was written for The Psalmist: A Collection of Psalms and Hymn Tunes, edited by Vincent Novello, Part 4, published in 1842.

#fncw See also Praise the Lord who reigns above and "Savannah". #fnfm Perhaps the most active composer of hymn tunes among the "great" composers of the romantic era; represented by several hymn tunes in our books including "Seasons" (In heavenly love abiding); "Mendelssohn" (Hark, the herald angels sing) is an adaptation from one of his secular works. #fnjsb Perhaps regarded by musicians as the great composer; his harmonizations of older chorales are in wide use; see "Ein feste berg". #fnssw Also a superlative organist and extemporaneous performer; also a musical reformer and composer of sacred music including hymn tunes; perhaps best known for "Aurelia" (the normal tune for The Church's one Foundation). #fnv Novello was a composer of sacred concert music, but he is best known as the founder of the music publishing firm, which under his leadership published sacred music by Purcell, Croft, Boyce, and the great Austrian classical composers.and