Cranbrook (hymn tune)
Encyclopedia
"Cranbrook" is a hymn tune composed in the 1790s or early 1800s by Thomas Clark
(1775–1859), a cobbler of Canterbury
, and is best known as the tune to the Yorkshire
"national anthem" "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at".
The tune was originally published in "A Sett of Psalm & Hymn Tunes with some Select Pieces and an Anthem" in 1805 as a setting for "Grace 'tis a charming sound" by Philip Doddridge
, but soon became more widely known as a tune for "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
" by Nahum Tate
. It can be used as a setting to many common metre
hymns by repeating the last line.
Thomas Clark was a regular visitor to Cranbrook, Kent
in the 1790s, and he may have composed the tune there, possibly with the help of a local schoolmaster, John Francis. Clark later went on to become a choirmaster and to compose many other tunes for churches and Sunday Schools.
Thomas Clark (of Canterbury)
Thomas Clark was a Canterbury shoemaker and a prolific composer of West Gallery music, especially for the non-conformist churches of the South East of England...
(1775–1859), a cobbler of Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, and is best known as the tune to the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
"national anthem" "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at".
The tune was originally published in "A Sett of Psalm & Hymn Tunes with some Select Pieces and an Anthem" in 1805 as a setting for "Grace 'tis a charming sound" by Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge DD was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.-Early life:...
, but soon became more widely known as a tune for "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" is a Christmas carol describing the Annunciation to the Shepherds, with words attributed to Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's Poet Laureate, Nahum Tate....
" by Nahum Tate
Nahum Tate
Nahum Tate was an Irish poet, hymnist, and lyricist, who became England's poet laureate in 1692.-Life:Nahum Teate came from a family of Puritan clergymen...
. It can be used as a setting to many common metre
Common metre
Common metre or Common measure, abbreviated C. M., is a poetic meter consisting of four lines which alternate between iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter Common metre or Common measure, abbreviated C. M., is a poetic meter consisting of four lines which alternate between iambic tetrameter (four...
hymns by repeating the last line.
Thomas Clark was a regular visitor to Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook is a small town in Kent in South East England which was granted a charter in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham, allowing it to hold a market in the High Street. Located on the Maidstone to Hastings road, it is five miles north of Hawkhurst. The smaller settlements of Swattenden, Colliers...
in the 1790s, and he may have composed the tune there, possibly with the help of a local schoolmaster, John Francis. Clark later went on to become a choirmaster and to compose many other tunes for churches and Sunday Schools.