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