Tune Lewis Hartsough, words John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt), arranged John Tudor Davies
Unusually for Welsh hymns, the English version of Gwahoddiad was created before the Welsh version, but such is the popularity of the Welsh version that it is often assumed to be Welsh in origin. The song was written as a revival hymn I Am Coming, Lord, in 1872 by Lewis Hartsough (1828–1919), an American Methodist minister at Epworth, Iowa and writer of gospel songs.
The Welsh version Gwahoddiad was written by Calvinistic Methodist minister and musician John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt) (1822-1877). This version has an additional third verse not in our arrangement.
Yr Iesu sy’n cryfhau,
O’m mewn Ei waith trwy ras;
Mae’n rhoddi nerth i’m henaid gwan,
I faeddu ‘mhechod cas.
It is Jesus who strengthens
From within me his work through grace
He gives strength to my weak soul
To conquer my hateful sin.
Lewis Hartsough (1828-1919) was born in Ithaca, New York and was a Methodist evangelist and gospel song writer. He was ordained in 1853 in New York and later moved to Wyoming and then to Iowa. In Wyoming Hartsough became editor of the Revivalist, a compendium of hymns and gospel songs. While in Iows he published his best known hymn the internationally popular I Am Coming Lord, which was translated into Welsh by Ieuan Gwyllt as Gwahoddiad.
Ieuan Gwyllt was the bardic name of musician and minister John Roberts (1822-1877). He was born near Aberystwyth. Roberts composed music from an early age but in 1859 he produced Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaol (“Book of Congregational Tunes”) which began a new era of Welsh congregational hymn singing. He had a busy life, being a clerk , teacher, hymn writer and translator, lecturer, newspaper and magazine editor, and Calvinistic Methodist minister at Merthyr Tydfil and Llanberis. He retired to Llanfaglan near Caernarfon and is buried at Caeathro cemetery also near Caernarfon.
John Tudor Davies MBE (1931-2015) taught music in Wrexham and conducted the Rhos (Rhosllanerchrugog) Male Voice Choir for many years. During his tenure the choir travelled to the United States and across Europe and won many National Eisteddfod prizes. Davies was awarded the MBE in 2001 for services to music. He played the organ at the Penuel Chapel, Rhos for over 60 years. His arrangement of Gwahoddiad has been sung by choirs all over the world.
Sources
Gwahoddiad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwahoddiad
Ieuan Gwyllt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ieuan_Gwyllt
Lewis Hartsough: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Hartsough
John Tudor Davies: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/15951510.career-musician-from-johnstown-was-liked-by-all/
Translation: https://www.angelfire.com/in/gillionhome/Worship/Emynau/MiGlywaf.html
Words
Mi glywaf dyner lais
Yn galw arnaf fi
I ddod a golchi ‘meiau i gyd
Yn afon Calfari.
Arglwydd, dyma fi
Ar dy alwad di,
Golch fi’n burlan yn y gwaed
A gaed ar Galfari.
Yr Iesu sy’n fy ngwadd
I dderbyn gyda’i saint
Ffydd, gobaith, cariad pur a hedd
A phob rhyw nefol fraint.
Gogoniant byth am drefn
Y cymod a’r glanhad;
Derbyniaf Iesu fel yr wyf
A chanaf am y gwaed.
Translation
I hear a gentle voice
Calling to me
To come and wash all my faults
In the river of Calvary.
Lord, here I am
At thy call,
Wash me purely in the blood
Which flowed on Calvary.
It is Jesus who invites me
To receive with his saints
Faith, hope, pure love and peace
And every heavenly privilege.
Glory ever for ordering
The reconciliation and the expurgation;
I will receive Jesus as I am
And sing about his blood.