Effects of Tying

If you hope to make musically effective decisions regarding the treatment of repeated notes in hymn playing, you must understand these effects. In summary, they are as follows:

TO REPEAT

• leans towards RHYTHM and away from flow.
• helps DEFINE THE PULSE.
• contributes towards ACCENT on the second note of the pair.

TO TIE

• leans towards FLOW and away from rhythm.
• DE-EMPHASIZES THE PULSE.
• ELIMINATES ANY ACCENT on the second note of the pair.

Neither of the examples to the right, where all repeated notes are first repeated and then tied, presents a very satisfactory solution.