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Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You Henry Van Dyke (1852 – 1933) wrote the hymn, "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You" while staying at the home of Harry A. Garfield at Williams College, Massachusetts. Van Dyke attended Princeton University, and then served as pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Seventeen years later, he returned to Princeton as a professor of English literature. Afterward, he held a number of eminent posts: American ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, Commander of the Legion of Honor, and President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. He chaired the committee that compiled the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship in 1905, and helped prepare the revised in edition in 1932. The music is the “Hymn to Joy,” from the 9th Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven; adapted by Edward Hodges. Hodges’ musical gift showed itself at an early age; by 1819, he was playing the organ at St. James’ Church in Bristol, and at St. Nicholas’, 1821-1838. He alo had an interesting mechanical bent, and spurred several technical improvements in organ design. He composed a number of services and anthem pieces, and Cambridge University awarded him a doctorate in music in 1825. Hodges eventually emigrated, accepting a post at the cathedral in Toronto, Canada, in 1838. The next year, he became music director at Trinity Parish in New York City. He became the organist at Trinity Church when it opened in 1846 (the church had its organ built to his specifications). He retired for health reasons in 1859, and returned to his native England in 1863.
Lyrics by Henry Van Dyke
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