How are hymn tune names defined?

[quantum]

Not the common title, or first line but the name of the tune.  How does such a name get standardized throughout hymn books? 

Eg: The tune name for Amazing Grace is "New Britain"

[ramseytheii]

There's no method to this madness.   The names of hymn tunes come from all kinds of circumstances.  The tune "Mendelssohn," for instance (Hark the Herald Angels Sing) could just as well be called, "Gott ist Licht," since that's where the music came from.  But someone, somewhere, decided to call it "Mendelssohn."

Lots of tunes do reflect their musical origins; for instance "Greensleeves," comes from an English folk song called "Greensleeves."  Most of the German hymn tune names, such as "Christ lag in Todesbanden," "Es flog ein kleines Waldvoegel," "Von Himmel hoch," come from the original first verse of those hymns, so they are easier to remember (if you speak German).

I believe that the Welsh tunes ("Aberystwyth," "Hyrfrydol," "Rhosymedre") are often place names.  Perhaps where the tunes were composed?

I hope this helps.  If you have any specific tunes, please mention them!

Walter Ramsey