The world is indebted to John Hughes (1873-1932) for his great hymn tune-CWM Rhonda, composed circa 1907 for the inauguration of the Capel Rhondda, in Hopkinstown, near Pontypridd. Hughes was the accomplished church organist there.
He set his tune to the older text by William Williams, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah." It is said that CWM Rhondda "is a belter of a tune that defies one to sing it quietly." (The melody has become so moving and powerful worldwide that Hughes's chapel contains furniture donated by converts from Hinduism, who were so moved by the power of Hughes's music.")
The tune takes its name from the Rhondda River Valley. In Welsh, CWM, pronounced "koom," means "valley." (One will remember the "Western Cwm" in British Mount Everest mountaineering expeditions.) Rhondda in Welsh is pronounced "rhawntha," with a voiced "th." Thus we have the name "koom rhawntha."
Various hymn texts are sung to the tune: "Guide Me, O Great Jehovah," "Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending," "Christ is Coming," " God of Grace, and God of Glory." This last-mentioned hymn contains a very fine aspiring third stanza, quoted here:
"Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be
Armored with all Christ-like graces
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee."
As mentioned, the tune is sung world-wide to a number of texts. The unusual poetic meter of 8.7.8.7.8.7.7. makes few texts available for use unless one looks in the metrical index of tunes in a hymnal and finds regular 8.7.8.7.8.7. meter hymn texts and sings them, repeating the final line, thus giving the extra "7." Any substitution might be acceptable if the text suitably fits the tune.
CWM Rhondda has been called "the unofficial Welsh national anthem." It is even sung before athletic contests as, Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer." It is a very "English" tune (i.e. United Kingdom). It has been used at a number of Royal weddings, funerals, and services, including Princess Diana's funeral and the very recent Royal wedding.
The hymn was used in the John Ford award-winning 1941 movie "How Green Was My Valley," a movie set in Wales. Who can forget the missionary organist Katharine Hepburn playing and singing it with great gusto in "The African Queen."
CWM Rhondda is more often heard on recordings sung by male choirs or glee clubs. It is, of course, heard in mixed congregational singing.
The traditional hymn sung to the tune is quoted here:
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me 'till I want no more,
Feed me 'till I want no more.
Hear male choirs:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH1GwJlQwKs
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5NOVcefEYU
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