HYMN TUNES

Hymn Tunes

In the Mass and other liturgical celebrations, we commonly use hymns to help lift our hearts and minds to God. Hymns are songs of praise to God, often written under some poetic, rhythmic, and melodic rules. These hymn tunes are the melodies to which hymn texts are sung.


One phenomenon popularized during the period of the Reformation and Counter Reformation is that of common hymn tunes, in which song texts are treated with familiar melodies. Think of it as musical recycling: one hymn’s text can have multiple melodies, and one melody can be used to sing multiple hymn texts.


This is possible through the use of meter. Meters dictate the number of syllables in a melody, especially in each line of a melody. In many hymns, each strophe (or verse) has the same number of syllables.


Let’s take a look at the tune Hyfrydol as an example. Hyfrydol was composed by Rowland Prichard for the Welsh songbook Cyfaill y Cantorion ("The Singers' Friend") in 1844. It has a simple meter, with alternating lines of 8 and 7 syllables–the meter is typically written as 8.7.8.7. D (the D being an abbreviation for “Double”, or the pattern sung twice).

Here’s a video recording of the hymn tune. Because each of the hymns has the same meter (8.7.8.7. D), all can be sung to the same tune. Try to sing each of the following hymn verses below to the tune!

Love Divine,

All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heav’n, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

pure, unbounded love thou art.

Visit us with thy salvation;

enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Alleluia!

Sing to Jesus

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;

his the scepter, his the throne;

Alleluia! his the triumph,

his the victory alone.

Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion

thunder like a mighty flood:

"Jesus, out of ev'ry nation

has redeemed us by his blood."

Come, Thou

Long-Expected Jesus

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

Here are some of the most common hymn tunes we use at St. Mary of the Bay, their corresponding meters, and a (non-exhaustive) list of the texts we sing to them:

ABER (6.6.8.6)

  • In Hunger, Watch, and Prayer

  • Lord Jesus, Think on Me

  • O Perfect Life of Love

ABBOT’S LEIGH (8.7.8.7 D)

  • God Is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him

  • Lord, You Give the Great Commission

  • God Is Here! As We His People

HEINLEIN (7.7.7.7)

  • Forty Days and Forty Nights

  • From the Depths We Cry to Thee

  • Never Further than Thy Cross

HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7 D)

  • Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

  • Alleluia, Sing to Jesus

  • Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

HYMN TO JOY (8.7.8.7 D)

  • Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

  • Alleluia! Alleluia!

  • Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens

MENDELSSOHN (7.7.7.7)

  • Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

  • Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

NETTLETON (8.7.8.7 D)

  • God, We Praise You

  • As We Gather At Your Table

  • Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

  • Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

NICAEA (11.12.12.10)

  • Holy, Holy, Holy!

OLD HUNDREDTH (10.10.10.10)

  • Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

  • All People that on Earth Do Dwell

  • The Glory of These Forty Days

SLANE (10.10.10.10)

  • Be Thou My Vision

  • Lord of All Hopefulness

WAYFARING STRANGER (9.8.9.8 D)

  • Poor Wayfaring Stranger

  • Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken

  • From Highest Heaven