Kenny - If memory serves (as I don't have a hymnal with it handy), 'Lord of the Dance' was written to the tune of 'Simple Gifts', a Shaker hymn which has been around a good deal longer.

Aha! Found it in the current Presbyterian Hymnal, no. 302. The text was written in 1963 (titled here as 'I danced in the Morning') by Sydney Carter. The Shaker tune was harmonized by Carter. The tune, you may recall, was also used by Aaron Copland in his ballet "Appalachian Spring", which was written (I believe) in 1940.

"The Lone Wild Bird" uses the tune 'Prospect', which I believe to be American in origin.

"O God of Earth and Altar" uses a Welsh tune, 'Llangloffan'.

You can have lots of fun mixing and matching hymns with various tunes that have the same metric make-up (the number/letter designations after the tune name). Forest Green works with 'Mary Had a Little Lamb', if you ignore the pickup note.

Great thread!

Lynn