Classical Music in Hymn Tunes in Classical Music

The Kindly Kurmudgeon # 17 11/12/09

It is interesting to note that a full cycle may occur in classical music. That is, a classical melody may be adopted for a hymn text, then, later, another classical composition incorporated the hymn tune into yet another classical work. A few examples should tell the story.

American composer Charles Ives lived early in the 20th century (1874-1954). He served as church organist, but also composed a considerable body of music himself. Ives seemed to have a way of weaving classical themes and hymn tunes together into a continuous, although sometimes disconcerting, work. One was his first string quartet. Another is his first violin sonata. He wrote a number of hymns and variations on others.

Perhaps both his serious and comedic genius shine through best in his fourth symphony. Here you will here a variety of church hymns, such as Watchman Tell Us of the Night, In the Sweet By and By, Bringing in the Sheaves, Beulah Land. But they don’t always play at different times. Sometimes, Ives had them playing at the same time, but in different keys! To this he often added popular tunes, such as Turkey in the Straw , Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean , Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair and Camptown Races. In this music, he intended to point to a day in the park where one could hear church music in one corner, popular music in another and a poorly-rehearsed marching band in another. Sometimes, if you listen carefully, you will hear them all at once in a wonderful cacophony of familiar music.

By the say, Ives was a very successful insurance salesman who developed the concept of financial planning. His music was an avocation for him. Good thing, too, because his music is sometimes so strange that, at that time, few people would want to listen to it.

Another American composer borrowed hymn tunes for his Symphony on a Hymn Tune. His name was Virgil Thomson. In this symphony you won’t hear multiple tunes playing against each other. They appear singly in various orchestrations and arrangements. If you listen, you will hear How Firm a Foundation and Yes, Jesus Loves Me rather prominently played throughout the work.

A couple more American composers who borrowed hymn tunes are William Schuman and Aaron Copland.

Schuman wrote a composition called A New England Triptych, in which there is a section called Chester. Hymn tunes often have a name assigned to the tune itself; Chester is one of these. It is the tune that accompanies us when we sing Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun.

Perhaps the most familiar is the music used by Aaron Copland. In fact, he used this tune in several of his works. The tune is the old Shaker song ‘Tis the Gift to be Simple. Copland used this in his collection of Old American Songs. He also closed his beautiful ballet Appalachian Spring with this melody.

I don’t think that karma is the right word for it, but, most certainly, in this music “what goes around, comes around.” Hear it for yourself.