Format for Meter of Hymns
Format for Meter of Hymns
There is apparently a template {{meter|xx}}, but I have not been able to find a list of allowable fields. Looking at a few examples, apparently "86. 86" exists, but not "86. 86. 86. 86". Or is that the right format, should I be using C.M. and C.M.D. instead? (Or C. M., or CM?). Personally I would prefer the numerical format, because a lot of hymns don't fit the meters abbreviated with letters. This is a relatively new topic for me, I'm certainly no expert.
Barry Johnston
Gunnison, U. S. A.
Gunnison, U. S. A.
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Re: Format for Meter of Hymns
It's confusing. Using numbers instead of letters is supposed to be more intuitive for the uninitiated but I can remember to type Category:Hymn meters http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Hymn_meters more easily than remembering the dots and spaces. http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Cate ... ._D_(C.M.D.) for CMD or 86.86. 86.86 seems like the worst of both worlds!
Re: Format for Meter of Hymns
Yes, it is confusing and difficult. Thanks, Richard Mix, for pointing out "category:hymn meters" to me. (I'm just learning the CPDL system). That is just what I needed.
There are several websites that deal with hymn meters, such as https://www.ccel.org/cceh/cceh_ind.htm (the best I know of so far).
These systems of course date from a time when people carried hymnbooks with only words in them, and they had to learn the music to go with them; knowing the meter of a hymn helped leaders choose an appropriate tune. I use it more often in reverse, coming upon a tune that clearly has words that don't match. An example here would be William Billings' "Redemption" (1781), in which a fairly upbeat, melodic tune in a strong major key with uplifting harmony is paired with words about death and woe.
Thanks again for the help in navigating CPDL.
There are several websites that deal with hymn meters, such as https://www.ccel.org/cceh/cceh_ind.htm (the best I know of so far).
These systems of course date from a time when people carried hymnbooks with only words in them, and they had to learn the music to go with them; knowing the meter of a hymn helped leaders choose an appropriate tune. I use it more often in reverse, coming upon a tune that clearly has words that don't match. An example here would be William Billings' "Redemption" (1781), in which a fairly upbeat, melodic tune in a strong major key with uplifting harmony is paired with words about death and woe.
Thanks again for the help in navigating CPDL.
Re: Format for Meter of Hymns
One needs to realize that Short, Common, and Long meter designations apply only to iambic texts. For example, by itself, 88. 88 refers to a tune with four lines, each with 8 syllables in trochaic rhythm (SwSwSwSw); on the other hand, 88. 88 (L.M.) also stands for a tune with four lines each with 8 syllables in iambic rhythm (wSwSwSwS). There is also 88. 88. D (anapestic), which stands for a tune with eight lines each with 8 syllables, each with anapestic rhythm (wSwwSwwS), as opposed to 88. 88. D (L.M.D.) in which each of the eight 8 syllable lines has iambic rhythm. It is the popularity of iambic meters that led to them being singled out as Short, Common, Long (or their doubled versions).
66. 86 (S.M.) - Short Meter - sorts as 06.06.08.06
86. 86 (C.M.) - Common Meter - sorts as 08.06.08.06
88. 88 (L.M.) - Long Meter - sorts as 08.08.08.08
66. 86. D (S.M.D.) - Short Meter Double - sorts as 06.06.08.06.06.06.08.06
86. 86. D (C.M.D.) - Common Meter Double - sorts as 08.06.08.06.08.06.08.06
88. 88. D (L.M.D.) - Long Meter Double - sorts as 08.08.08.08.08.08.08.08
66. 86 (S.M.) - Short Meter - sorts as 06.06.08.06
86. 86 (C.M.) - Common Meter - sorts as 08.06.08.06
88. 88 (L.M.) - Long Meter - sorts as 08.08.08.08
66. 86. D (S.M.D.) - Short Meter Double - sorts as 06.06.08.06.06.06.08.06
86. 86. D (C.M.D.) - Common Meter Double - sorts as 08.06.08.06.08.06.08.06
88. 88. D (L.M.D.) - Long Meter Double - sorts as 08.08.08.08.08.08.08.08
Charles H. Giffen
CPDL Board of Directors Chair
Admin at & Manager of ChoralWiki
CPDL Board of Directors Chair
Admin at & Manager of ChoralWiki