ohn Hughes (22 November 1873 - 14 May 1932) was a Welsh composer of church songs . He is best known for the tune Cwm Rhondda .
Hughes was born in Dowlais and grew up in Llanilltud Faerdref (in English: Llantwit Fardre ), Pontypridd. At the age of 12, he began working in the Glynn Colliery in his hometown and then became a clerk at the Great Western Colliery Pontypridd , where he worked for over 40 years. He served as a deacon and leader of congregational singing at Salem Baptist Chapel in Llanilltud Faerdref.
The first version of his famous tune "Cwm Rhondda", originally called "Rhondda", was written for the Cymanfa Ganu (Hymn Festival) in Pontypridd in 1905, when the enthusiasm of the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 was still going on. [4] The present form was developed for the dedication of the organ at Capel Rhondda, in Hopkinstown in the Rhondda Valley, in 1907 . [5] Hughes himself played the organ at this performance, using the English translation of the words of William Williams , because of the large number of English-speaking industrial workers who had migrated to the area. [6] Cwm Rhondda was taken to words of William Williams 'Arglwydd arwain trwy'r anialwch', which translates as "Lead me, O great redeemer" , one of the most famous Welsh hymns, which continues "Pilgrims through this barren land" and refers to the plight of the children of Israel, doomed to wander through the desert wilderness. Popular in Welsh chapels, it was widely used in English church services and is still considered one of the best church hymns.
A number of his other compositions were popular during his lifetime, but have not endured. The name was changed from "Rhondda" to "Cwm Rhondda" by Harry Evans of Dowlais to avoid confusion with another tune by MO Jones.
As described by William Jensen Reynolds, Hughes worked in secular occupations throughout his life; his worldwide fame as a composer of church songs was the result of a hobby he pursued on the side.
