Tune Names
Traditionally, a hymn tune is somewhat independent of any particular text; texts and tunes of the same meter may be interchanged (see “Meters,” page 405). For this reason, each tune in the hymnbook has its own name, separate from the title of the text. The tune name—usually a single word or short phrase—may come from a family name, a place, or a word relating to the text for which it was created. Knowing the tune name, organists are able to locate arrangements of hymn tunes in published sources outside of the hymnbook for use as prelude music or special hymn accompaniments.