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Music Matters
May 2007
Using Hymn Tunes for Preludes and Meditation
The April 2007 Music Matters
column provided suggestions for ways to energize congregational hymn singing.
Hymn tunes are also a rich source of inspiration for other parts of worship in
addition to congregational singing, such as meditative moments. Let’s consider
some suggestions to help make the use of hymns/tunes for meditation more
effective and inspiring.
 Choosing
worship music for prelude, meditations, offertory, postlude, responses, and any
other needs should be a responsibility musicians always approach with thoughtful
and prayerful consideration. It’s unlikely that an organist or pianist will
contribute much to the worship experience by simply opening the hymnal to a
random page and beginning to play hymns in order until the ministers are seated.
Even before the time of Bach, solo compositions for keyboard instruments
based on hymn tunes have been a popular vehicle for composers. In addition,
tremendous resources are available to teach musicians the skill of embellishing
and improvising on a tune. With such a wealth of music based on hymn tunes
available, how does one decide what to use?
Selecting the music –
Here are some questions I think about when I approach the responsibility of
choosing music for a service in which I’ll be playing the piano or the organ.
Is the style of music well-suited to the intended purpose within the
service? I try to determine if the desired effect is to lift in a spirit of
praise, or to provide a setting that encourages reflection and personal
prayer, or some other purpose.
Where is the music placed in the order of service?
Is there a way to involve another instrumentalist in an effective way?
If the hymn tune is likely to be recognizable, does it have a message that
matches the theme or the season of the year?
If the hymn tune is recognizable, does it have alternate texts that some
folks might think of – texts that DON’T match the theme or season of the year?
When combining several compositions in succession (such as to provide a
longer prelude for meditation), does the sequence of music "flow" well? I
consider the way in which the message of hymn texts might complement and
integrate with each other.
Also, I think about how the key/tonality of successive compositions work
together to provide interest (a half hour of playing in the same key can get a
bit dull) and sense of progression (transitioning from E-flat major to A-major
or other unrelated keys can be jarring to the ear.)
Is the hymn tune I want to use for a meditation the same tune that will be
sung by the congregation at some point within the service? If so, I make an
intentional decision as to whether this is a good idea. For an unfamiliar
melody, this could help teach the congregation the tune before they sing it.
For a familiar hymn, the repetition may help lend unity to the service. OR, if
I don't plan well, it can sound like I just didn’t bother to look at the order
of service when planning my music.
Finally, if the hymn tune is familiar, do I know the piece well? If I’m
not familiar with the music, do I have time to learn it to play it well?
Hearing a familiar tune, and recalling familiar words, can assist the
congregation members in meaningful, spiritual moments. However, if I don't
play the piece well, my wrong notes or rhythms can be the distractions that
disrupt a potential encounter with the Divine.
There are some excellent resources to help the musician develop their skills
for both hymn accompaniment AND for use of hymn tunes for meditation. Visit the
web home for the American Guild of Organists at
www.agohq.org/home.html
and follow links to AGO Resources (it is the online store for the Guild.) Don’t
be intimidated by the name of the web site “American Guild of Organists”– there
are great materials online).
—Blake West
If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist and Director of Music
Community of Christ Headquarters
Independence, MO, USA
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