Rachie

The music was composed by Caradog Roberts, with lyrics by Henry Lloyd, who is better known by his bardic name Ap Hefin.

It is named after the daughter – then a child – of the pastor of the Congregational Church at Resolven and is pronounced ‘Ray-chee’, which is short for ‘Rachel’."

The name of the tune derives from a visit in 1918 by Caradog Roberts to the Jerusalem Chapel[3] in Resolven.

This visit was to conduct a Cymanfa Ganu (a Welsh hymn singing festival) in a large chapel that seated 970 people.

Dr Caradog Roberts introduced his new tune to the Cymanfa Ganu in Jerusalem Chapel (7 April 1918).

The words sung in Welsh to "Rachie" are typically I Bob Un Sydd Ffyddlon,[4] and were written by Henry Lloyd (1870-1946), who is better known by his bardic name Ap Hefin.

The words express a similar call to arms as does the hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers".

The well-known male voice choir version of "Rachie" to the words I Bob Un Sydd Ffyddlon is an arrangement by Alwyn Humphreys (published by Curiad in North Wales in 1996) and has popularised an extra ending to "Rachie".

This arrangement finishes with Haleliwia, Haleliwia, Moliant iddo byth, Amen (roughly translated as "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Praise to him forever, Amen") that musically derives from the finale of the Welsh hymn tune: Mawlgan (J.H.

"Rachie" is used in hymn singing in places of worship and as an exuberant tune for choirs, congregations and organs.