HYMNS TO “SOAPY” TUNES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21938, 12 November 1936, Page 10

HYMNS TO “SOAPY” TUNES

* COMPLAINT BY BISHOP OF LIVERPOOL (FROM OCR OWJ! CORRESPOSDEXT.) LONDON, October 7. To the recent suggestion by the Bishop of Chelmsford (Dr. Henry Wilson) that nine famous hymns “shou]d be eliminated from our repertoire for the next 12 months,” because they have been “worked to death,” the Bishop of Liverpool (Dr. A, A. David) adds a plaint of his own—weariness of bad tunes. Writing in the Liverpool “Diocesan Review,” Dr. David states;—“ln at least 50 of my yearly confirmation services, I sing sometimes twice a day a fine hymn which I could make into real prayer were it not, by an unfortunate misalliance, wedded in most of our hymn books to the singularly silly and soapy tune ‘Day of Rest.’ I say to myself, ‘people like this tune and therefore I *must get used to it.’ ” The hymns which Dr. Wilson suggested should be given a year’s holiday were - “All People that on Earth do Dwell,” “We Love this Place, O God,” “City of God,” “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones,” “Now Thank We All Our God,” "Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven,” “O God Our Help. In Ages Past,” “The Church’s One Foundation,” and “Lead Us, Heavenly \ Father,” References to favourite hymns often sung to unsuitable tunes were made by Dr. W. H. Harris, organist of St. Gteorge’s Chapel, Windsor, at a conference of clergy, organists, and choirmasters, held at Canterbury. He said that certain tunes like “St. Anne” and the “Old Hundredth” stood four-square against a.l winds and weathers, and in spite of criticism were perfectly safe. A good hymn tune had to “sing well.” It should have a moderate compass, and should fit the metre and mood of the words. Certain tunes, though metrically appropriate. could be completely out of mood with the words. Other tunes were more like part songs than hymns, and were therefore uncongregational. The best of them could well be sung as anthems In the case of popular favourites, however, it might be asked whether it was wise to take from the people what they liked. There was a danger that some musicians might become too "highbrow,” but there was no doubt that there was a growing body of people to whom many of the old popular favourites were not in the least helpful. They were repelled by harmony that was weak and enervating. He referred to the hymn “O Jesus. I Have Promised,” often sung at confirmations by young people at * the most impressionable period of their lives. Yet the tune usually sung did nothing for the words. Could they think of anything serious when singing that “pretty-pretty” tune? It had been describe'd as a miserable, whining tune. One which, would suit the mood of the hymn much better was that of “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed.” Another tune criticised by Dr. Harris was that usually set to “Fight the Good Fight,” which, he said, was often sung by large bodies of strong, healthy men in a manner which was almost enough to make one turn infidel.