How the tune got its name

You are here

Home » Forums » Hymnary User Room
Sun, 02/01/2015 - 11:48 — nevilley

I'm sure there's an obvious mechanism, but how do hymn tunes get names?

I'm just looking at Canonbury by, er, Schumann. But is it? I somehow doubt that Schumann knew about Canonbury ... Clara did visit London at least once but did she rush around naming hymn tunes after nice spots? And yes, it is the tune from Nachtstuecke Nr 4 as advertised, but how would it have acquired this name?

Again, I am sorry if this is a Stoopid Newbie question or somehow inappropriate for here, but I'd be most grateful for any light that can be shone on this.

Trivia: I teach at a school in Canonbury, which is why this caught my interest!

Thanks

Nevilley


Comments

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 21:04 — Haruo

No,there is no single obvious mechanism, and no, it's entirely appropriate here. Some tune names were given by their composers, others by generations of hymnal and tunebook editors, and still others bear the first few words of a customary text.

Thu, 02/05/2015 - 05:37 — nevilley

Thanks for that. I'll assume "enthusiastic local editor"! :)

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 15:28 — CalebAndCo

There's a wonderful story about how Ithamar Conkey named his tune "Rathbun." Find it in the Notes section here http://www.hymnary.org/tune/rathbun_conkey

Forums: 
Hymnary User Room