On this Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord we sing Alleluia! Sing to Jesus.  William C. Dix (1837-1898) wrote the text to this hymn in 1866 as a communion hymn for this Solemnity.  It was first published in his collection Altar Songs, Verses on the Holy Eucharist (London, 1867).  Originally the hymn was entitled “Redemption through the Precious Blood” and it was based on the 5^th Chapter of the Book of Revelation, Verse 9.  Dix printed the hymn with five stanzas; the first was repeated at the end.  Minor changes have been made in RitualSong for archaic language.

   The tune HYFRYDOL (meaning “good cheer” in the Welsh language) was written before the composer, Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1887), was twenty years old, and was included in the Welsh hymnal Cyfaill y Cantorion (meaning “The Singers Friend”) in 1844.  With its lilting ¾ meter one cannot help but to sing this tune with some “hyfrydol”.