Iambic glory, tetrametric delight

Arius (250-336 A.D.) was a church leader at Alexandria who proclaimed that Jesus was a derived creature, less than divine. He created much trouble in the church, as did followers in subsequent generations.
Several early hymn writers rose to the challenge and battled against Arian doctrine by writing doctrinally sound hymns, among them "The Hammer of the Arians," Hilary of Poitiers. Hilary set hymns to the rhythm of marching songs of the Roman army.

Hilary's work had a powerful influence on a leader of the next generation -- Ambrose of Milan (340-397), who is regarded as one of the fathers and popularizers of Western hymnody. Ambrose's hymns were shorter and more succinct than Hilary's, but he too adopted the meter of marching soldiers (which corresponds to eight syllables in an unstressed/ stressed pattern, although there are many acceptable subsitutions for the stresses that sometimes make 7 or 9 syllables appropriate, though 8 remains the standard) and popularized this form. We call it "iambic tetrameter," and it is the chief unit of line in most hymns:

He leadeth me, oh blessed thought ...
How deep the Father's love for us ...
Oh happy day that fixed my choice ...
A debtor to mercy alone ...
Come ye sinners, poor and wretched ...
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound ...
In Christ alone I place my trust ...

Here's a little something I wrote a couple nights ago. I had a killer melody for it until I realized I had subconsciouly stolen it from Derek Webb. I might give it to a melody writer/ musician at the next Sojourn Worship Writers' Workshop (which is next Saturday, the 18th, 6 pm, in Louisville). I'll probably revise it forty-eleven times before then. I will possibly add an unmetered, short chorus:

Unchanging Word that has no end;

It sets me free yet holds me in.

Delivers from the power of sin.

Unchanging Word that has no end.



Unchanging Word that draws us near;

Its message pure; its meaning clear.

Lights darkened corners -- casts out fear.

Unchanging Word that draws us near



(INSERT CHORUS WHEN WRITTEN)



Unchanging Word by which we're blessed,

It trains us in all righteousness.

Objective truth; sure promises.

Unchanging Word by which we're blessed.



Unchanging Word, our Northern Star --

A guide no matter where we are.

Shines even in the midnight hour;

Unchanging Word, our Northern Star.



(INSERT CHORUS)



Unchanging Word, eternal truth.

When we fall short it brings reproof.

Dear Lord, it pulls us back to You;

Unchanging Word, eternal truth.



Unchanging Word, a mighty sword

Wielded by the risen Lord.

Victorious forevermore --

Unchanging Word, a mighty sword.



(INSERT CHORUS)

You'll notice the second line of the last stanza (verse) only contains seven syllables. That's because I've made it trochaic instead of iambic (an acceptable substitution) due to my decision to start the line with "wielded". You naturally would read/ sing it like this: "WIELded BY the RISen LORD." So basically, it "feels" as long as the other lines if you read it as you naturally would, rather than trying to make it fit the stress of the other lines ("wielDED by THE risEN Lord"). See, if you tried to read it that way, it feels like you need another syllable at the end. Not good.

If this were not a cyber world, I would be explaining this with a chalkboard and you all would be sitting in tiny, uncomfortable chair-desks, like in the 6th grade. Your legs would be cramping. That's a funny thought.