Hymn tunes

Almost all these tunes are written in direct response to particular texts, usually that specified in the "Examples" column. As with most hymnody, the tunes may also, of course, be considered for use with other texts if desired. Some of them also have descants.

All tunes are original, except for:

This list is significantly incomplete.


Metre Name Score Audio Comments Examples Published; awards
6.4 6.6 6   PDF Simple, three-part, modal. Be with me through this day  
6.6 6.6 6.6 8.6 Eights Marina PDF   Come, worship God Most High (Te Deum)  
6.6 6.6 8.8   PDF   The light of glory breaks  
6.6 8.4 D   PDF   Rejoice in God, my heart  
6.6 8.6 D (SMD) Kingsgate Bridge PDF   O bless the Lord, my soul In Melody and Songs.[1]
6.6 8.6 6.6
 or
6.6 8.6 6.6 6.6
  PDF   The underlying text is a six-line 6.6 8.6 6.6. This tune repeats the final pair of lines making an eight-line 6.6 8.6 6.6 6.6. Give thanks to God on high  
6.6 8.6 6.6
 or
6.6 8.6 6.6 6.6
  PDF The underlying text is a six-line 6.6 8.6 6.6 where the fifth line in each verse is "for Jesus is risen". This tune repeats that line twice, making an eight-line 6.6 8.6 6.6 6.6. This day above all days  
6.6 8.8 8.6 Pelaw Wood PDF   Our God and Father bless (Benedictus) Psalms for All Seasons.[2]
7.6 7.6 D Cenaculum PDF (choral)

PDF (music group)
MIDI (choral)     Wesley Music for the Millennium.[3]
7.6 7.6 D Redhills PDF A bright, gentle tune with a quasi-Celtic feel. A rich young man came seeking Singing the Faith.[4]
7.7 7.7 and Alleluias
 or
7.4 7.4 D
  PDF   In our darkness light has shone Alleluia!  
7.7 7.7 D Angelic Choirs PDF   Choirs of angels, tell abroad  
7.8 7.8   PDF   Bless the Lord as day departs  
7.8 7.8 8.8 Saxilby PDF Written alongside a re-translation of Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, and in the same metre. Called by you and by your word  
8.6 8.6 (CM)   PDF Simple, two-part echo/canon. Be with us, Lord, who seek your aid  
8.6 8.6 (CM)   PDF   To Christ our King in songs of praise  
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Clayport Gate PDF   Your mercies fill the earth, O Lord In Melody and Songs.[1]
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Nevilles Cross PDF   With all who in this hallowed place
  • High Days and Holy Days.[5]
  • Wesley Music for the Millennium.[3]
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Salvation's Song PDF   How shall we sing salvation's song?  
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Whitwell PDF   How silent waits the listening earth Wesley Music for the Millennium.[3]
8.6 8.6 D (CMD)   PDF   O God whose thoughts are not as ours  
8.6 8.8 6   PDF   Be present, Spirit of the Lord  
8.6 8.8 6(.6)   PDF Jazz-flavoured harmony. A five-line tune with a final-line repeat. Be present, Spirit of the Lord  
8.7 8.7 8.7 Travail PDF Earth was waiting, spent and restless  
8.7 8.7 D Finchale Priory PDF Celebratory tune; descant. We believe in God the Father Top 16 of St. Paul's Cathedral Millennium Hymn competition, 1999.
8.7 8.7 D Haswell PDF Jazz-flavoured harmony; descant. From the night of ages waking  
8.7 8.7 D Hill Meadows PDF Celebratory tune; descant. Suitable for music groups. We believe in God the Father
  • Was scheduled for Music for Common Worship I, RSCM, Autumn 2000.
  • Wesley Music for the Millennium.[3]
8.7 8.7 8.7 8.7 7 Elvet Banks PDF   May God bestow on us his grace

To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord
Lutheran Service Book to two different texts.[6]
8.7 8.8 8.7 7.7 Observatory Hill PDF   God is King! The Lord is reigning  
8.8 8.8 (LM) Archery Rise PDF   Great Lord and God we greet this day Durham Sings![7]
8.8 8.8 (LM) Coniscliffe PDF   From deep distress and troubled thought
  • Wesley Music for the Millennium.[3]
  • In Melody and Songs.[1]
8.8 8.8 (LM) Kepier PDF   Acclaim the Lord, you heavenly powers  
8.8 8.8 (LM) Mary's Eyes PDF   We see the eyes of Mary shine
  • More than Hymns.[8]
8.8 8.8 (LM) Puer Nobis Nascitur (arr.) PDF The usual arrangement of this hymn seems anachronistic: a medieval melody but lumbered with a Victorian harmony. This new harmonisation seems more in keeping with the original. Come, thou Redeemer of the earth  
8.8 8.8 D (LMD) Wharton Park PDF   Bless, O my soul, the living God In Melody and Songs.[1]
8.8 8.8 8.8 Shincliffe St. Mary PDF Lilting jazz tune suitable for music groups. O Christ, who taught on earth of old  
9.8 9.8 Horkstow Grange (arr.) PDF Tune collected by Percy Grainger. First known use as a hymn tune. Harmonised and arranged here. O radiant light of his pure glory  
9 9 5 8 10 Elgar 1 (arr.) PDF Theme from Elgar's First Symphony. First known use as a hymn tune. Sing unto the Lord a fresh new song  
10.10 10.10   PDF   As in that upper room  
10.10 10.10 (10) Erleigh PDF For five-line texts or 10.10 10.10 with a final-line repeat. O Father God and Sovereign Lord of all  
10.10 10.10 10.10   PDF   Here is the centre  
10.10 11.8 Gresford (arr.) PDF First known use as a sung hymn tune. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord Durham Newslink[9]
11.10 11.10 D Chilton and Cornforth PDF To accompany a text by Timothy Dudley-Smith, who highly commended it. Here on the threshold of a new beginning  
11.10 11.10 11.10 Ancient Vigil PDF   Come now with awe  
12.11 12.11 12.11   PDF   The heavens are singing  
12.12 12.12 Crossgate Peth PDF   As we meet in your presence  
14.14 14.14 Enns PDF   In chaos and nothingness  

[1] In Melody and Songs: Hymns from the Psalm Versions of Isaac Watts, 2014, Darcey Press, ISBN 978-1889079592

[2] Psalms for All Seasons, 2012, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, ISBN 978-1-59255-444-7

[3] Wesley Music for the Millennium

[4] Singing the Faith, 2011, Methodist Church, ISBN 978-184825067-3

[5] High Days and Holy Days, 2007, Canterbury Press, ISBN 978-1-85311-819-7

[6] Lutheran Service Book, 2006, Concordia Publishing House (LCMS), ISBN 978-0-7586-1217-5

[7] Durham Sings! Durham's contribution to English Hymnody, 2009, Friends of Durham Cathedral, ISBN 978-0-9544825-1-0

[8] More than Hymns, 2015, Stainer & Bell, ISBN 978-0-85249-944-3

[9] Durham Newslink, Jan. 2012, Diocese of Durham