With so many older hymns that utilize common meters, it’s an easy task to write new hymns with the saome rhythmic patterns, allowing composers to mix and match new and old songs together easily. We’ve discussed this in the past, so this post is more of an exercise in how to go about writing in this style.
Let’s use “He Hideth My Soul” as an example:
He Hideth My Soul
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me,
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
11.8.11.8
As you can see, the first line contains eleven syllables, followed by eight in the second line, then the pattern repeats. This is an “11.8.11.8” meter. I’m going to write a new hymn, with the goal of matching both the theme and meter of the original, then blend the two together to create a singable mashup of both.
I’ll start by creating a spreadsheet. Don’t laugh, this is actually a useful technique, as it lays out a visual framework of the meter. I’m not worried about the tune yet, although there are parts of it that are going to run through my head as a write, but at this point I’m focused primarily on the words.
As you can see, each gray box represents one syllable. The first line has room for 11 syllables, and the second line has room for eight. This is exactly the 11.8.11.8 meter we’re trying to match. I’ve also left room for a few pickup syllables (in orange) at the beginning of each line. This is a bit of a cheat, but I’ve found that’s it’s useful from time to time.
Now I can get started. Thinking about the meter, I notice that my musical measures start at syllables two and eight, so I place bold borders there to visually cue me in. Starting with the verse, I fill in one syllable per square, until I have a first verse and chorus.
Right away I can tell that the chorus needs a bit more space, and when I think about He Hideth My Soul, I realize that Fanny Crosby added an extra line to the chorus to close it off. I think I’ll do something similar. I add another two lines, both with 11 and 8 syllables each, to create an 11.8.11.8.11.8 chorus. It looks like this:
Keep in mind that while I have a bit of tune running around in my head, right now all I really have is a poem in a modified 11.8.11.8 meter. However, I already have a poem that flows very nicely, both in terms of theme and meter, with my original hymn.
Protector, defender, my Savior divine, How blessed to call Jesus my own, He'll never forsake me, nor leave me in fear, I'm never, no never alone He lifts me above on His almighty wings, Aloft above earth and its pain Renewed like the eagle, my heart starts to sing, As he quietly calls out my name. I'll rest by his side & I'll know I am safe, At peace in His presence again. When darkness o'erwhelms and my heart starts to fade, When nothing but trials I see I'll remember the day that the stone moved away, And He's still moving mountains for me. And He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dark, dreary land He hideth my soul in the depths of His love, And covers me there with his Hand, He hideth my soul in the depths of His love, And covers me there with his Hand, When weariness comes & my heart starts to fade, When I have no strength of my own, I'll watch for His coming, I'll quietly wait, In prayer at the foot of the throne. I'll watch for His coming, I'll quietly wait, In prayer at the foot of the throne. And then He that has tarried, will tarry no more, And let His dear presence be known.
You can find the completed song here, and I think it’s a great example of how leveraging old techniques from the early days of hymn writing can bring fresh new songs to life today. Give it a try in your own writing, and see how it works for you.