Where else are we exposed to classical music themes, but may not know them? In church. This may appeal to a reduced audience, but most people have been in church at some time or other in their lives. Most churches have hymnals available with which singing congregants can follow the words and music of any selected song. (Unfortunately, many “up to date” churches are tending more and more to projecting onto a screen only the words without music.)
Many hymn tunes have been borrowed or adapted from classical themes. If you are in church, take a hymnal and check it out. (But not during the sermon, please!) Usually you will find under the title a couple of names, one on the left and the other on the right. The name on the left is normally that of the writer, while the name on the right is that of the composer or arranger or both. Some hymnals have a number of indexes at the back, including a composer index. Here are a number of hymns drawn from a couple of popular hymnals.
Adolphe Adam O Holy Night
Arne, Thomas Am I a Soldier of the Cross
Bach, Johann Sebastian (arr.) Ein Feste Burg (A Mighty Fortress is Our God)
Bach, Johann Sebastian O Sacred Head now Wounded
Bach, Johann Sebastian (arr.) Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
Bach, J.S. & Gounod, Charles Ave Maria
Beethoven, Ludwig van Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Beethoven, Ludwig van May the Grace of Christ Our Savior
Brahms, Johannes We are God’s People
Gottschalk, Louis M. Holy Ghost, with Light Divine
Gounod, Charles Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies
Gretry, Andre My Faith has Found a Resting Place
Handel, Georg Frideric Hallelujah Chorus, from The Messiah
Handel, Georg Frideric Joy to the World
Handel, Georg Frideric While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Handel, Georg Frideric For unto Us is Born, from
Handel, Georg Frideric I Know that My Redeemer Liveth, fr. The Messiah
Handel, Georg Frideric Thine is the Glory
Haydn, Franz Joseph Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him
Haydn, Franz Joseph The Spacious Firmament
Haydn, Franz Joseph Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken
Haydn, Johann Michael O Worship the King
Mendelssohn, Felix Cast Thy Burden upon the Lord
Mendelssohn, Felix Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mendelssohn, Felix Here, O My Lord, I See Thee
Mendelssohn, Felix In Heavenly Love Abiding
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Jesus, I My Cross have Taken
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus It is Good to Sing Thy Praises
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth
Praetorius, Michael Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Schubert, Franz Ave Maria
Schubert, Franz Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord
Schumann, Robert A Hymn of Joy We Sing
Schumann, Robert Lord, Speak to Me
Schumann, Robert We Give Thee but Thine Own
Schutz, Johann Jakob Sing to God Who Reigns Above
Sibelius, Jean Be Still, My Soul
Sullivan, Arthur S. Onward, Christian Soldiers
Tallis, Thomas God Moves in a Mysterious Way
Tallis, Thomas All Praise to Thee, My God
Vaughan Williams, Ralph For All the Saints
Vaughan Williams, Ralph At the Name of Jesus
A couple of notes to add:
1. During the early years of western music it was not uncommon to borrow themes from other composers. As a consequence, sometimes we see a composer named as creator of the melody, when in fact he simply may have arranged it or orchestrated it. Apparently, the bigger name stuck; the lesser name has been forgotten.
2. Over the course of many years, a number of Christian traditions (sects) have adopted their own versions of hymns and their tunes. Thus, a tune listed here may be different from one you are more familiar with. Also, some texts have had music written for them by more than one composer over a span of time, creating more confusion about the tune for a hymn.
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