Hymn Desk
Hymn Tunes /

AZMON

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) adapted AZMON from a melody composed by Carl G. Glaser in 1828. Mason published a duple-meter version in his Modern Psalmist (1839) but changed it to triple meter in his later publications. Mason used (often obscure) biblical names for his tune titles; Azmon, a city south of Canaan, appears in Numbers 34:4-5. AZMON is the preferred tune for this text in the United States. The British often use RICHMOND (335), which offers a descant, or LANGHAM (404), a fuguing tune. Either of these would make fine alternate tunes. This great hymn of praise and rejoicing calls for exuberant singing and strong, full accompaniment. Assign some stanzas to antiphonal groups singing in harmony; reserve the final stanza for unison with descant. [Liturgical Use] Many types of services; profession of faith; baptism; other times of renewal; Pentecost. Lowell Mason adapted AZMON from a melody composed by Carl G. Glaser in 1828. Mason published a duple-meter version in his Modern Psalmist (1839) but changed it to triple meter in his later publications. Mason used (often obscure) biblical names for his tune titles; Azmon, a city south of Canaan, appears in Numbers 34:4-5. AZMON is the preferred tune for this text in the United States. The British often use RICHMOND (335), which offers a descant, or LANGHAM (404), a fuguing tune. Either of these would make fine alternate tunes. This great hymn of praise and rejoicing calls for exuberant singing and strong, full accompaniment. Assign some stanzas to antiphonal groups singing in harmony; reserve the final stanza for unison with descant.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: human inability to praise adequately (stanzas 1-2) → Christ's redemptive power transforming sinners (stanzas 3-5) → Trinitarian doxology (stanza 6)

Associated Hymn Texts (15)