RICHMOND (also known as CHESTERFIELD) is a florid tune originally written by Thomas Haweis (PHH 270) and published in his collection Carmina Christo (1792). Samuel Webbe, Jr., adapted and shortened the tune and published it in his Collection of Psalm Tunes (1808). It was reprinted in 1853 in Webbe's Psalmody. Webbe named the tune after Rev. Leigh Richmond, a friend of Haweis's. The CHESTERFIELD name comes from Lord Chesterfield, a statesman who frequently visited Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, for whom Haweis worked as a chaplain.
At its opening the tune has a "rocket" motif radiating a sense of confidence. With its various revisions the melody has lost its original florid character, but the harmonization (from Hymns Ancient and Modern Revised, 1950) provides strength and vigor, and the descant by Craig S. Lang (PHH 253) introduces another florid line for festive singing of stanza 4.
Sing stanza 1 in unison and stanzas 2 and 3 with jubilant accompaniment. Because stanza 4 is the only one directed to Christ, it should receive a different musical treat¬ment than the other stanzas. Strong unison singing, a full accompaniment, and the use of the vocal or instrumental descant will help the "glad hosannas. . . ring."
Like his father Samuel, Sr. (PHH 112), Samuel Webbe, Jr. (b. London, 1770; d. London, 1843), was very active in both sacred and secular music. Together they published A Collection of Motets and Antiphons (1792). He was active as organist in Liverpool and London at both Unitarian and Roman Catholic churches.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988
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