The tune that came into my head when I first read the words was St Peter, which
seems to fit the words and not destroy the sense. I much prefer, however, to
use the tune to which a new hymn is set, unless it is really difficult to pick
up. A practice before the service or a play-through beforehand can help. I knew
an organist who would play an unfamiliar tune as a voluntary before the service
and/or during the offering. People would then happily sing it, thinking, "I
know that tune, but I can't think where I've heard it before."
It occurs to me that a Zoom service may be a good opportunity for people to
learn new hymns and tunes, provided a good congregational recording can be
found.
John Barnett
On 10 January 2021 at 14:20 methodist <john.staton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My thought on reading through the text is that a CM tune would break the
rhyming scheme and the sense of the lines, but I do not know the tune, so if
what Tom says about the tune John Bell wrote is correct, Kilmarnock may be
acceptable.
Best Wishes
JOHN E STATON
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK
www.christianreflection.org.uk
Sent from my iPad
> > On 10 Jan 2021, at 12:48, Tom Osborne <mendipnomad@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> >
>
John and Graham principally write/wrote for piano, not organ. I
would argue a competent pianist should be able to lead any size of
congregation with the set tune – right hand melody-only once through and
then introduce harmonies once singing. They also wrote (John still does)
for settings in which time was given at the start of worship to teach and
learn new songs, and would strongly recommend that as a practice.
All that said, yes, it seems it would go well to Kilmarnock – I
think it’s frequently the case that where John writes original tunes there
may be an alternative Scottish tune available! It is an intriguing set of
words and music, since the words are clearly 464 86, yet the tune is very
much 446 86 and that certainly allows some 86 86 tunes to be considered.
As always, happy to see John & Graham’s work being commended. This
morning we had StF 139, “Today I awake” as our opening hymn at our Circuit
Zoom Service.
Shalom,
Tom
From: methmins-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <methmins-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Behalf Of Alan Sharp
Sent: 10 January 2021 12:27
To: methmins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [methmins] StF 612
In the Connexional Lectionary (inside the Prayer Handbook)
yesterday's hymn was 612. I'd not come across this before but the words
seem highly relevant at the present time. But the tune may not be
suitable for small congregations (or any Church without a choir?) and the
listed metre seems unique - 44 6 86. But this disguises the fact that it
can be sung to most CM tunes, and I thing "Kilmarnock", StF 542, is very
suitable.
It would be unfortunate if the words are not sung because the set
tune may seem difficult - although I can see that it does reflect the words
very well.
Alan
>
