Meter

Meter is a term for the patterns of syllables used in much (English) poetry and song (including metrical Psalms). Six different metrical patterns are used in the Psalms of David in Metre:

• Common Meter (CM: 8.6.8.6) - a pattern of:
  • 8 syllables for the 1st stanza
  • 6 syllables for the 2nd stanza
  • 8 syllables for the 3rd stanza
  • 6 syllables for the 4th stanza
• Short Meter (SM: 6.6.8.6)
• Long Meter (LM: 8.8.8.8)
• Hallelujah Meter (HM: 6.6.6.6.8.8)
• 6s (6.6.6.6)
• 10s (10.10.10.10.10)
• Psalm Meter (PM: 8.7.8.7)

Common Meter is used in many well-known hymns such as Amazing Grace and O For a Thousand Tongues. And it's used in one of the best known metrical Psalms -- The Lord's My Shepherd (Psalm 23):

• Amazing Grace
  • Amazing grace, How sweet the sound [8 syllables]
  • That saved a wretch like me. [6 syllables]
  • I once was lost, but now I am found, [8 syllables]
  • Was blind, but now I see. [6 syllables]
• O For a Thousand Tongues
  • O for a thousand tongues to sing [8 syllables]
  • my great Redeemer's praise, [6 syllables]
  • the glories of my God and King, [8 syllables]
  • the triumphs of his grace! [6 syllables]
• The Lord's My Shepherd (Psalm 23) :
  • ¹ The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want
  • ² He makes me down to lie
  • In pastures green: he leadeth me
  • the quiet waters by.

That means that you can sing Psalm 23 to the tune for Amazing Grace (New Britain), to the tune for O for a Thousand Tongues, or to countless other Common Meter (CM) tunes.

The Psalms of David in Metre has a CM version of every Psalm except for one -- Psalm 136. It has two versions of Psalm 136:

• 136A (or 136: 1st version) is in Psalm Meter (PM). One of the best known PM tunes is Galilee, the tune to both Jesus Calls Us and Blest the Man That Fears Jehovah.
• 136B (or 136: 2nd version) in in Hallelujah Meter (HM)
  • HM is used by Darwall's 148th, the traditional tune for singing Psalm 148B (whose first word in Hebrew is "Hallelujah"). Darwall's 148th is likely best known as the tune to Rejoice the Lord is King!

It has a Short Meter (SM) version of four Psalms: Psalms 25A, 45B, 50A, 67A. A well-known SM tune is Diademata, the tune to Crown Him with Many Crowns. Diademata is often used to sing Psalm 50A.

It has a Long Meter (LM) version if three Psalms: Psalms 100A, 102B, and 145 B. One of the best-known LM tunes is The Old 100th, the tune to The Doxology and the traditional tune for Psalm 100A.

The Psalms of David in Metre has a 6.6.6.6 (6s) version of only one Psalm: Psalm 143B. St. Cecilia (Hayne) is the 6s tune to Thy way, not mine, O Lord.

And it has a 10.10.10.10.10 (10s) version of only one Psalm: Psalm 124B. The traditional tune for singing it (Now Israel May Say, and That Truly) is the Old 124th.