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Words by S. Baring-Gould
Music by A. S. Sullivan
This favorite hymn of both children and adults was written by the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, who also wrote "Now The Day Is Over."
Onward Christian soldiers was written for a special occasion, the author was totally unprepared for the subsequent popularity of this hymn. In 1895 he said regarding its composition:
“Whit-Monday is a great day for school festivals in Yorkshire. One Whit-Monday, thirty years ago, it was arranged that our school should join forces with that of a neighboring village. I wanted the children to sing when marching from one village to another, but couldn’t think of anything quite suitable; so I sat up at night, resolved that I would write something myself. ‘Onward, Christian soldiers’ was the result.
“It was written in great haste, and I am afraid some of the rhymes are faulty. Certainly nothing has surprised me more than its popularity. I don’t remember how it got printed first, but I know that very soon it found its way into several collections. I have written a few other hymns since then, but only two or three have become at all well-known.”
The music was composed by Sir Arthur Sullivan who, in collaboration with William S. Gilbert, wrote the "Gilbert-Sullivan" operettas - "H.M.S. Pinafore," "The Mikado," "Iolanthe" and many others.
Arthur Sullivan was born in Lambeth, England, May 13, 1842, son of an Irish soldier who was also a musician. He was educated in music and, at the age of twenty, found himself acclaimed as a composer of ballet and orchestral music. He received a Doctorate of Music from both Cambridge and Oxford, and in 1883 was knighted by Queen Victoria. Sir Arthur died in Westminster November 22, 1900.