Hymn tunes

Most of 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:

Some tunes are not yet named. This is solely because tune-names are a precious resource, with the added risk of conflicting with the same name already in use in a hymn book. So I tend to name tunes only when there is a significant request or need from outside; a typical case is when going to external publication.

The examples include texts which may be by other copyright owners. In such cases the links to the PDF and examples are intermediate stepping stones, requiring you to note, accept and abide by that text's copyright.

Metre Name Score Audio Comments Examples
(text author) 		Published; awards
5.4 5.5 7   PDF   We are your people
(Brian Wren) 		 
5.6.10 5.6.10
 or
11.10 11.10 		Vocation PDF   The Lord called Moses
(Christopher Idle) 		Praise! Trust[1] 1247
6.4 6.4 D   PDF   Jesus, our Lord and King, keep us from sin
(Chris Porteous) 		 
6.4 6.6 6   PDF Simple, three-part, modal. Be with me through this day
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
6.6 6.6   PDF   Into a world of dark
(Ann Phillips) 		 
6.6 6.6 6.6 8.6 Eights Marina PDF   Come, worship God Most High (Te Deum)
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
6.6 6.6 8.8   PDF   Author of life divine
(Charles Wesley) 		 
6.6 6.6 8.8   PDF   The light of glory breaks
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
6.6 8.4 D   PDF   Rejoice in God, my heart
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
6.6 8.6 (SM) Carholme Major; Carholme Minor PDF Two related tunes; one major key, the other minor. The faithful prophets shared
(Martin Leckebusch) 		 
6.6 8.6 (SM) Lacuna PDF   Did Eve hold Abel thus?
(Kate Bluett) 		 
6.6 8.6 (SM)   PDF   Be gracious to me, Lord
(Michael Perry) 		 
6.6 8.6 D (SMD) Dryburn SMD
(See also Dryburn) 		PDF   When I am in the dark
(Kate Bluett) 		 
6.6 8.6 D (SMD) Kingsgate Bridge PDF   O bless the Lord, my soul
(Isaac Watts) 		In Melody and Songs[2]
6.6 8.6 6.6 6.6
 or
6.6 8.6 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
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
6.6 8.6 6.6 6.6 Dryburn
(See also Dryburn SMD) 		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
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
6.6 8.8 8.6 Pelaw Wood PDF   Our God and Father bless (Benedictus)
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		Psalms for All Seasons.[3]
7.4 7.4 7.7 7.4 Evening Shadows PDF     Soft the evening shadows fall
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		The Carol Book[4]
7.5 7.5 7.7 7.7
 or
7.5 7.5 7.7 7.5 		  PDF While the final line of the original text has seven syllables, it also enabled a tune in which it could be shortened to five. For riches of salvation
(Martin Leckebusch) 		 
7.6 7.6 D Cenaculum PDF     Wesley Music for the Millennium[5] (in an arrangement for music-group leading).
7.6 7.6 D Redhills PDF A bright, gentle tune with a quasi-Celtic feel. A rich young man came seeking
(Marjorie Dobson)
7.6 7.6 D   PDF   O Jesus, you have called us
(Kate Bluett) 		 
7.7 7.7   PDF   Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life
(George Herbert) 		 
7.7 7.7 and Alleluias
 or
7.4 7.4 D 		  PDF   In our darkness light has shone Alleluia!
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
7.7 7.7 D Angelic Choirs PDF   Choirs of angels, tell abroad
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
7.7 7.7 D Blaid's Wood PDF   Can a sinner like me stand Praise! Trust[1] 1199
7.7 7.7 D Merrifield Close PDF   Come and listen to the song Praise! Trust[1] 1085
7.7 7.7 D   PDF   Come and see where Jesus lay  
7.7 7.7 7.7   PDF   God of all human history
(Christopher Idle) 		 
7.8 7.8   PDF   Bless the Lord as day departs
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
7.8 7.8   PDF   You have won me with a love
(Martin Leckebusch) 		 
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
(David Lee) 		 
8.5 8.5 8.4.3
 or
8.5 8.5 8.7 		  PDF   Lord, you call us to your service
(Marjorie Dobson) 		 
8.6 8.6 (CM)   PDF Simple, two-part echo/canon. Be with us, Lord, who seek your aid
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.6 8.6 (CM)   PDF   To Christ our King in songs of praise
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Clayport Gate PDF   Your mercies fill the earth, O Lord
(Isaac Watts) 		In Melody and Songs[2]
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Nevilles Cross PDF   With all who in this hallowed place
(Timothy Dudley-Smith)
  • High Days and Holy Days.[7]
  • Wesley Music for the Millennium[5]
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Salvation's Song PDF   How shall we sing salvation's song?
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.6 8.6 D (CMD) Whitwell PDF   How silent waits the listening earth
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		Wesley Music for the Millennium[5]
8.6 8.6 D (CMD)   PDF   I know that my Redeemer lives
(Charles Wesley) 		 
8.6 8.6 D (CMD)   PDF   O God whose thoughts are not as ours
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.6 8.6 8.6   PDF   O Father, grower of the vine
(Kate Bluett) 		 
8.6 8.6 8.8   PDF   O God of feast and festival
(Rosalind Brown) 		 
8.6 8.8 6   PDF   Be present, Spirit of the Lord
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
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
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.6 8.8.8.4 Whinney Hill PDF   The desolate Messiah dies
(Gareth Hill) 		Singing the Faith[6]
8.7 8.7   PDF Lord, you sometimes speak in wonders
(Christopher Idle) 		 
8.7 8.7   PDF As the world turns
(Gareth Hill) 		 
8.7 8.7 (iambic)   PDF Find rest, my soul, in God alone
(Christopher Idle) 		 
8.7 8.7 7   PDF When the bonds of love are breaking
(Herman G. Stuempfle) 		 
8.7 8.7 8.7 Travail PDF Earth was waiting, spent and restless
(Walter Chalmers Smith) 		Sing a New Song, MWF, 2008
8.7 8.7 8.7   PDF Jesus, greatest at the table
(Stephen P. Stark) 		 
8.7 8.7 D Finchale Priory PDF Celebratory tune; descant. We believe in God the Father
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		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
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.7 8.7 D Hill Meadows PDF Celebratory tune; descant. Suitable for music groups. We believe in God the Father
(Timothy Dudley-Smith)
  • Was scheduled for Music for Common Worship I, RSCM, Autumn 2000.
  • Wesley Music for the Millennium[5]
8.7 8.7 D Long ago PDF Rock'n'roll. Long ago God spoke to people
(Andrew Pratt)
  • Sound Bytes[8]
  • Whatever Name or Creed[9]
8.7 8.7 D   PDF   Come, O Christians, join in singing
(Bruce Wittmaier) 		 
8.7 8.7 8.7 8.7 7 Elvet Banks PDF   May God bestow on us his grace
(Martin Luther)

To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord
(Martin Luther) 		Lutheran Service Book to two different texts.[10]
8.7 8.8 8.7 7.7 Observatory Hill PDF   God is King! The Lord is reigning
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.8 8.8 (LM) Archery Rise PDF   Great Lord and God we greet this day
(Michael Sadgrove) 		Durham Sings![11]
8.8 8.8 (LM) Coniscliffe PDF   From deep distress and troubled thought
(Isaac Watts)
  • Wesley Music for the Millennium[5]
  • In Melody and Songs[2]
8.8 8.8 (LM) Kepier PDF   Acclaim the Lord, you heavenly powers
(David Lee) 		 
8.8 8.8 (LM) Mary's Eyes PDF   We see the eyes of Mary shine
(Andrew Pratt)
  • More than Hymns.[12]
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)   PDF   Say when will you restore us, Lord?
(Kate Bluett) 		 
8.8 8.8 D (LMD) Count's Corner PDF   To you, my God, all praise is due Praise! Trust[1] 1095
8.8 8.8 D (LMD) Wharton Park PDF   Bless, O my soul, the living God
(Isaac Watts) 		In Melody and Songs[2]
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
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
8.8 8.8 8.8   PDF   When Jesus led his chosen three
(Christopher Idle) 		 
8.8 8.10 Leazes Bowl PDF   When anxious thoughts assail my mind
(Martin Leckebusch) 		Praise! Trust[1] 1167
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
(David Lee) 		 
9.8 9.8 D   PDF   Though no one can say when it's coming
(Kate Bluett) 		 
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
(David Lee) 		 
9.9 9.9 9.9   PDF   Christ is our freedom
(Martin Leckebusch) 		 
9.9 9.9 9.9 Sing Our Songs PDF   How are we to sing our songs to you?
(Martin Leckebusch)
10.9 10.9 Fosse Way
(See also Fosse Way Anacrusis) 		PDF   You who walked
(Kate Bluett) 		 
10 10 10 and Alleluias   PDF   Go to the world!
(Sylvia Dunstan) 		 
10.10 6.6 10   PDF   So free, so bright, so beautiful and fair
(John Bennett) 		 
10.10 10.10   PDF   As in that upper room
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
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
(David Lee) 		 
10.10 10.10 10.10   PDF   Behold! The night is dark
(Kate Bluett) 		 
10.10 10.10 10.10   PDF   Here is the centre
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
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
(David Lee) 		Durham Newslink[14]
10.10 11.10   PDF   One in Christ and must we fight each other?
(Christopher Idle) 		 
10.10 11.11 Quarryheads Lane PDF   Faith is not merely the songs that we sing
(Martin Leckebusch) 		Praise! Trust[1] 1168
10.11 11.11   PDF   Come, wounded healer
(Martin Leckebusch) 		 
10.11 10.11   PDF   Thanks be to God for his grace beyond speech
(Christopher Idle) 		 
11.10 11.10 Fosse Way Anacrusis
(See also Fosse Way) 		PDF   We work the soil
(Kate Bluett) 		 
11.10 11.10 In the Beginning PDF Light jazz swing. In the beginning God played with the planets
(Andrew Pratt)
  • Singing the Faith[6]
  • Sound Bytes[8]
  • Whatever Name or Creed[9]
11.10 11.10 Christmas Midnight PDF   Mark how the stars in their enormous patterns
(John Bennett) 		 
11.10 11.10   PDF   Powerful for making us wise to salvation
(Christopher Idle) 		 
11.10 11.10
 or
5.6.10 5.6.10 		Vocation PDF   The Lord called Moses
(Christopher Idle) 		Praise! Trust[1] 1247
11.10 11.10 11.10 Windmill Hill PDF   With wonder see the bridegroom so committed Praise! Trust[1] 1160
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
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
11.10 11.10 11.10 Ancient Vigil PDF The final verse descant quotes from the well-known "Gloria" of the Christmas carol "Ding dong! merrily on high". Come now with awe
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
11.11 11.11 Water of Tyne (arr.) PDF Traditional folk tune from northeast England. First known use as a hymn tune. Harmonised and arranged here. Contented are those who are humble in mind
(David Lee) 		 
11.11 11.11 11   PDF   Down from the windows, the windows of heaven
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
12.11 12.11   PDF   So this is the day when his God does not answer
(Christopher Idle) 		 
12.11 12.11 12.11   PDF   The heavens are singing
(Timothy Dudley-Smith) 		 
12.12 12.11 and refrain   PDF   Ever-journeying friend
(Brian Wren) 		 
12.12 12.12 Crossgate Peth PDF   As we meet in your presence
(Martin Leckebusch) 		 
14.14 14.14 Enns PDF   In chaos and nothingness
(David Lee) 		 

[1] Praise! Online Resources, Praise Trust

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

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

[4] The Carol Book, 2005, RSCM, ISBN 979-0570180639

[5] Wesley Music for the Millennium

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

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

[8] Sound Bytes, 1999, Stainer & Bell, ISBN 978-085249856-9

[9] Whatever Name or Creed, 2002, Stainer & Bell, ISBN 978-0-85249-874-3

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

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

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

[13] First Flight Feathers: The Best of Worship Live, 2023, Sacristy Press, ISBN 978-1-78959-285-6

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