Hymns: Using the Metrical Index
Many standard hymn books, in addition to having an alphabetical listing of each hymn, and other indices, provide a valuable index of the metre of each hymn. This is usually accompanied by an alphabetical listing of the tunes by name. (Not only the words have a name; many times the tunes do as well.) If you are leading a service, you may find this information helpful.
For example, the name of the tune for “The Church’s One Foundation” is “Aurelia,” and the metre is 7.6.7.6 D. (The “D” stands for doubled.) This tells us each verse of the hymn contains 8 lines of verse (4 x 2), and each line contains 7 or 6 sounded syllables, alternately, as follows:
The Chur-ch’s one foun-da-tion =7
Is Je-sus Christ her Lord =6
She is His new cre-a-tion =7
By wa-ter and the Word =6
From heav’n He came and sought her =7
To be His holy bride =6
With His own blood He bought her =7
And for her life He died =6
The metre of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is 8.7.8.7. D. (Count out the syllables and see.)
With that kind of information, it is possible for you to combine a tune with different words, or sing the words to a different tune. Perhaps the words you want to sing have an unfamiliar tune, or one that is difficult to sing. But, knowing the metre, you often can make a switch. It also gives a new feel to old hymns and helps us to appreciate the message all over again. Example: Try using the tune “Aurelia” with the hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded.” Both have the metre 7.6.7.6. D, so we know there are the same number of lines and the same number of syllables per line.
A couple of cautions are in order when it comes to switching tunes. 1) Sometimes, you’ll find that the em-PHA-sis is not on the right syl-LA-ble! You will have to check that out. 2) The other thing is that the mood of the tune may not fit the words you want to put it with. A bright or martial tune will not likely fit as well with lyrics about the suffering of Christ on the cross (or vice versa).
Sometimes a tune with a slightly different metre will still fit. For instance, consider “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (the usual tune of which is “Hamburg”). This is a “Long Metre” hymn (LM), all of which use the pattern 8.8.8.8. But it can be sung effectively to the tune “Appalachia” (8.8.9.8), if some notes in the line with 9 sounded syllables are sung on the same word. (Try it and see!) Do a bit of experimenting. You may well discover a wonderful combination that will bless your congregation.