Richard William Beaty facts for kids

Richard William Beaty (born around 1799, died 1883) was an Irish music teacher, composer, and organist. He is best known today for a popular hymn tune from the 1800s called Tenderness.

Who was Richard Beaty?

Richard William Beaty was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father was William Beary. Richard studied music at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, a famous church in the city.

Early Career and Teaching

Around 1824, Beaty became the organist and music teacher at the Molyneux Asylum for Blind Women in Dublin. This was a special place that helped blind women.

He lived on Blessington Street in Dublin. From 1828 to 1877, he was the preacher and organist at the Free Church, Great Charles Street, Dublin. After he left, one of his students, Richard Harrison, took over his job as organist.

In February 1830, Beaty also became the master of the choristers (the people who lead the choir) at Christ Church Cathedral. He had been filling in for someone else before getting the job permanently. He stayed in this role until 1872. Another one of his famous students was the musician Robert Prescott Stewart. Richard Beaty passed away in Dublin in 1883.

What Music Did He Create?

Richard Beaty helped create and publish several music books:

• The hymns and psalms ... as sung in the Magdalen Asylum Leeson Street (1825): This was a revision of a book by David Weyman.
• One hundred and fifty hymns (1844): A collection of 150 hymns.
• Sequel to Melodia Sacra, vol. III: This book included hymns by Thomas Kelly, with help from J. Smith, R. P. Stewart, and J. Rambaut.

The Famous Tune: Tenderness

Beaty composed the tune Tenderness, which is sometimes also called "Caritas." A music expert named George Arthur Crawford said that Beaty wrote this tune.

The tune was first written for children at a school in Summerhill, a part of Northside, Dublin. This school was started in 1825 with support from Viscountess Harberton.

In the 1894 Church Hymnal (a book of hymns) by R. P. Stewart, "Caritas" is listed as another tune for the hymn One there is above all others. This hymn was written by Marianne Nunn, based on an original by John Newton. Stewart noted that Beaty composed the tune around 1830.

Even though the tune became very popular in hymn books, many people forgot the details about Richard Beaty himself. However, his connection to the tune Tenderness (or "Caritas") was remembered.