Public domain tunes with refrains?
  • lmassery
    Posts: 404
    All,
    I’m looking for public domain tunes that are somewhat familiar that have refrains for a project. I can only think of LIVING GOD and ATTENDE DOMINE.

    Can anyone suggest any others?
  • Liam
    Posts: 4,940
    REGENT SQUARE (8.7.8.7.8.7)

    One resource is the metrical index of tunes in a hymnal. For example, for the 1982 Hymnal of the ECUSA, here's a list organized by meter - look for "with Refrain" / "with Alleluias" and "+ Refrain"/ "+ Alleluias" to start:

    http://www.drshirley.org/churches/hymns-metric02.html

    http://www.drshirley.org/churches/hymns-metric01.html

    http://www.drshirley.org/churches/hymns-irregular.html

    Of course, not all of these are PD, but you can cross reference with Hymnary online to check to start.

    That said, many tunes can be adapted to being used with appropriate texts with refrains, especially if they are longer than 4 lines.
  • lmassery
    Posts: 404
    I never thought of regent square as a refrain but I guess you’re right. In my mind I was thinking of tunes that start with a refrain, which I would prefer. Thank you for the lists!
  • Don9of11Don9of11
    Posts: 684
    You can take a look at this, A Catholic Book of Hymns All the hymns are in the public domain

    Also, look around on eBay for a copy of the ICEL Resource Collection. There are over 250 hymns in the public domain.
  • Bobby Bolin
    Posts: 417
    All Glory Laud and Honor. Sometimes.
    Thanked by 2Liam CHGiffen
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Crucifer should be in the public domain.
  • lmassery
    Posts: 404
    Actually crucifer is copyrighted
  • lmassery
    Posts: 404
    Clarification- really looking for tunes that start with a refrain. I guess there aren’t many
  • Liam
    Posts: 4,940
    No, that's not typical for refrains in older hymn tunes. It's generally a more recent development meant to ape the responsory structure of liturgical psalmody.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,148
    "The strife is o'er" (begins with three-fold alleluia refrain), music by G. P. da Palestrina.
    Thanked by 1Liam
  • lmassery
    Posts: 404
    Liam - that’s exactly what I wanted to use it for lol
  • Liam
    Posts: 4,940
    In case anyone is interested in the source material for the tune of VICTORY, go to the Gloria Patri at measure 119 in the attached score of Palestrina's Magnificat tertii toni (third tone/mode 3):

    https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/images/a/aa/Pal-magiii-impares.pdf
    Thanked by 4sdtalley3 M. Jackson Osborn JonathanKK CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,148
    As for the Palestrina Gloria Patri, see also the Pius X Hymnal, no. 254.
    Thanked by 1Liam
  • Felicia
    Posts: 110
    "O filii et filiae" (another "Alleluia" refrain"
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Is "Hail, thee festival day" in the public domain?
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,148
    Vaughan Williams's tune SALVA FESTA DIES was composed for "Hall, thee festival day" in the English Hymnal 1906, and Vaughan Williams passed away in 1958. The tune is public domain.
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,499
    ST CATHERINE (not always used that way).
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,499
    RESONET IN LAUDIBUS
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Charles,
    I know copyright law is different on the sides of the Atlantic, so is it possible that it's still under copyright in England?
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,369
    Possibly still under copyright in the UK. The term was 50 years from death, but this was retrospectively extended to 70 years in 1996 "to harmonise with EEC (now EU) rules", so it probably is in copyright until 2028. As the UK has left the EU, this may have lapsed (though I doubt it).
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    [excised]
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