Hymns Were Bar Tunes?

[GraceLikeRain]

Over the weekend, I was told that the hymns we know were actually old bar tunes that had the words changed to be Christian. I've found articles online that agree with this, as well as articles that disagree with this.

Any of you who are musically inclined, do you know the truth?

This is what I found saying that it is true. There are many that say it is not.


Actually, the Wesley's used bar tunes, because the people knew them. Only they put pure words to the tunes, words which taught the people about God and God's ways. The words taught about how Jesus was born, lived and then died among us humans. They taught about how people were miraculously saved from their sinful lives by turning to God. They taught about the history of the ancestors. The hymns vary from denomination to denomination depending upon the particular doctrines or beliefs that denomination holds true.

[BHiles]

This is false by those who are ignorant of what the term Bar Tune means.

These terms refer to a medieval pattern of poetry consisting of three or more stanzas. This pattern and terminology were later applied to song writing. Along the way, "bar tune" was misinterpreted as "tavern music."

[cenimo]

A Methodist pastor told me exactly what was stated in the OP - Wesley, trying to get people to come to church, offered them the music that they already knew from the pubs, and changed the words.

And I've had a Reformed pastor tell me the exact opposite, that the hymns had always been hymns.

At least as far as anything about Wesley goes, I'd be more inclined to listen to the Methodist.

[Waiting4theKing]

Sounds plausible to me... what better way to get people to remember the new words than setting them to music they were familiar with. The Star-spangled Banner tune was originally a tavern song. Where the tune originates doesn't take away from the message the hymn delivers. :):

[PanTerra]

Ah yes, the hymm "He Lives" was originally one of these drinking songs. :lol

[Diane 1611]

I have a great devotional book entitled "Then Sings My Soul - 250 of the World's Greatest Hymn Stories" by Robert J. Morgan. I will have to reread this & see if the OP is true. I have heard of this, however.

[Waiting4theKing]

I have a great devotional book entitled "Then Sings My Soul - 250 of the World's Greatest Hymn Stories" by Robert J. Morgan. I will have to reread this & see if the OP is true. I have heard of this, however.


I have that book... some of those stories are very touching :):