Music moves the heart and brings comfort, serenity and can also call or drive a person to extremes.

Through the wisdom of others, including Helen Taliai and Rev. Penisimani Fonua and the SUTT Kōmiti Mūsiká, we’re able to bring together some of the hymns and their inspirations (aka Tune and reference hymn.)

The study of Methodist Hymns in Tonga is a topic of its own and we invite you whom may interested to consider some of the published works referenced in these notes.

One of the common aspects of methodist hymns is the “Metrical Index”, where the ‘metre’ for the hymn is denoted, such that the congregation can choose a tune with the same ‘metre signature’ and apply the tune to the hymn.

In the Methodist Church in Tonga (Siasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga) Hymn Book, the metre is denoted:

  • ML - Mita Loloa (LM - Long Metre)
  • MNG - Mita Ngofua? (CM - Common Metre)
  • MNN - Mita Nounou (SM - Short Metre)

Through this, various hymns are known and sung using different tunes. For the non Language speakers we can sing the same song over and over, whilst sounding like they’re completely different.

Refer the below video, for more information on the Metrical System or WordWiseHymns - Metrical Index

Of course, just because the ‘metre’ of a tune “meets” the requirements of a hymn, does not necessarily mean it is appropriate for the text of the hymn. An upbeat, resounding tune is not likely appropriate for a hymn of contemplation or reflection.

@WikiPedia

  • 114 ‘Eiki ko e ‘Ofa ‘a‘au
    • Himi 114. There are at least 9 tunes used with this hymn. Tune: Good Night Hymnbook: Christ in Scripture #586 (also Tune: Look and Live. I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah A. Ogden) 'Eiki ko e 'ofa 'a'au, ko e moana loloto; Pea ngalo hifo ki ai, 'Eku ngaahi angahia; Pea kuo 'ufi'ufi ,'Eku kovi kotoa pē Ko e ta’ata’a ‘o Sisu, Ko ‘emau fufulu’anga; ‘Oku kalangaekina, Ko e ma’a’anga ia: Pea ‘ata’ataina, Ki mamani kotoa pe Pea u hopo ‘ihe tui,Ki he moana ko ‘eni; Ko ‘eku mālōlō’anga, Mo e ‘amanaki lelei: Mo e fiefia’anga ‘Oku ou ‘ilo ‘i heni.
  • 272 ‘I he kei tāu pe ‘a Sīsū
    • Himi 272 ‘I he kei tāu pe ‘a Sīsū Tune: Seeking Me (M. Ng.) 1. ‘I he kei tāu pe ‘a Sīsū, ‘I hono kolosi; ‘O feinga pani efua; Mo e ta‘ata‘a Refrain: Na‘a ne kumi au ‘E Sīsū ‘i he ‘akau Pea kuo ne hanga ‘o ‘ilo ‘I he mata ‘o e tao. 2. Pea hangē na‘a ku tu‘u, Ofi ki he ‘akau; Na‘e tatau ai ‘a Sīsū ‘I he‘eku hia.
  • 375 Kau ka manatu he ‘Akau
    • Himi 375 Kau ka manatu he ‘Akau Tune: “Blockley” MHB 360 or “Rockingham” MHB 182 Kau ka manatu he ‘Akau Mo Ia ne tukifa‘o ai; ‘Oku mo‘utāfu‘ua pē ‘A e loto mo e ‘atamai ‘Oku ‘ikai te u kei toka‘i Ha ongoongo, ha koloa; Ko Sisū ne kalusefai, Ko Sisū pē te u manakoa ‘Oi au! He tafe hifo ē ‘A e toto mahu‘inga fau! He ta‘ata‘a he ‘Otua, Lilingi ke huhu‘i au!
  • 388 Te ta lava he fonua
    • Himi 388 - Tune: HANSON PLACE 1. Te ta lava he fonua. He fonua ‘i he kauvai? Nofo‘anga he ‘Otua, Mo e kau ‘āngelo tokolahí? Refrain. ‘Io, te ta ‘eve‘eva He potu monū‘ia ‘i he kauvai ‘Io te ta inu he Vaiola Tafe mei he taloni ‘o Langí. 2. Vai ‘asini ‘a Vaiola, Vai melia ange fau. Inu ai ‘o ‘ikai kona, Inu ai ‘o ‘ikai fiu. 3. Vai Malumalu ‘a Vaiola, Tu‘u hook hook ‘a e ‘akau; Fua he māhina kotoa, Ko e me‘a faito‘o hono lau 4.
  • 447 ‘E Laumālie Māfimafí
    • Himi 447 Ko e Tautapa ki he Laumālié Tune: Euphony. M. ’e 8 laui 6 1. ‘E Laumālie Māfimafí, Ha‘u ‘o ‘a‘ahi ho kakai. Ko koe pē na‘e tupu ai ‘A homau ngaahi ‘atamai; Ha‘u mo ha ivi mei he Langí, ‘O tufa ke mau fonu ai. 2. Ko koe ‘a e Taukapo ia, Taupotu ‘i he mahu‘ingá; Ko e foaki ‘a e Tamai, Me‘a‘ofa ia ne funganí; Si‘í Fauniteni he mo‘uí, He maama ta‘emafu‘ifu‘í 3.
  • 448 ‘E Laumālie, hifo mai
    • Himi 448 – Ko e Laumālie ‘o Penitekosi Tune: Sawley ‘E Laumālie, hifo mai Ki homau fale ni: Hā‘ele mo ho māfimafí, ‘A e ivi ho‘o kelesi. Ha‘u ko e afi! Fakama‘a ‘A homau loto ni; Keina kotoá ‘a e ngaoha‘á ‘O ‘emau ngāhi kovi Ha‘u ko e lupe! ‘ō‘ōfakí Hó Siá si ‘i lalo ni; Poupou mo fakana‘a ki ai, Tauhi mo taukapo‘í. Tō hifo hangē ha hahau Ki homau ‘atamai!
  • 506 Monū e ka ko ha monū
    • Himi 506 Tekaki kia Sihova ho‘ ‘alunga Tune: what a friend we have in Jesus D G Mo-nū e ka ko ha mo-nū D A A7 ‘E-tau ma‘u ha ‘Eiki ‘ofa D D7 G ‘O-ku tali ‘etau lo-tu, D A A7 D Kau he‘e-tau me-‘a ko-toa. A D D7 ‘O-ku ai hatau ma-ma-hi? G D A Fa-ka-hā ki he ‘O-tua. D D7 G ‘A-lu atu ‘o te-ka-ki, D A A7 D Te ne kau ‘i hono fua.
  • 507 Ka ‘i ai ha taha ‘oku fie ha‘u
    • Himi 507 Ka ‘i ai ha taha ‘oku fie ha‘u D M. ‘e 10 11 11.7. mo e tau [Tune: Whosoever Will] 1. Ka ‘i ai ha taha ‘oku fie ha‘u, Te ne ‘ilo leva ko e Tamai au; ‘Oku ava ai pē hoku matapā, ‘E ‘ikai teke‘i ha tahá. Refrain Ha‘u, ‘a e fie ha‘u, ha‘u ‘a e fie ha‘u; Tala ki he tonga mo e Tokelau, Ko e pōpōaki ‘ofa ‘a e Tamai, “Fānau, ke mou foki mai.
  • 508 Ka ‘alu hifo hoku ‘Eiki he tele‘a
    • Himi 508 Ko muimui Key: Ab Meter: M.Kh Ka ‘alu hifo hoku ‘Eiki he tele‘a Potu ‘o e vaivai mo e ta‘e ma‘u ha me‘a; Te te muimui, ‘o kataki fiefia; Ko e hala ia ki he kololia Refrain Muimui! Te te muimui: Faingofua, faingata‘a, te te ‘ahi‘ahi Hala tau he mate pe mo‘ui, Ka ‘i ai ‘a Sisu, te te ‘alu ai Ka ‘alu hake hoku ‘Eiki he mo‘ungá Potu ngaongao, ‘o ‘i ai pe ‘a e ‘Otua; Tet e muimui, ‘o kataki ke mavae Tamai, fa‘e, kainga kotoa pe.
  • 510 Sīsū, keke ma‘u ma‘au
    • Himi 510 Sīsū, keke ma‘u ma‘au Key: G 3/2 M. ‘e 7 laui 4 1. Sīsū, keke ma‘u ma‘au ‘Eku ngaahi me‘a kotoa; Talēniti, ngāhi ta‘u, Fānau, fale, mo e koloa. 2. Hoku ongo nima ē, Ten a ngāue pē ma‘au; Tapu foki hoku va‘e Ken a fai pē ho‘ fekau. 3. Ngutu mo e le‘o ē Sila pē ko ho‘o me‘a, Hiva ‘aki pē ‘akoé, Fakahoko pē ho‘ lea. 4.
  • 518 ‘Ilonga ha taha ‘e fie mo‘ui
    • Tune: Whoever receiveth the Crucified One, Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876) ‘Ilonga ha taha ‘e fie mo‘ui, ‘Ilonga ‘a ia te ne loto ke tui; ‘E tali ‘e Sisū ha taha pehē, He ‘oku ne kumi ‘a e sipi na‘e hē S: ‘E tama ko fu tu ho ui he tauhi. B: Tama ko futu ho ui he tauhi lelei. S: Ne fai ‘e he tau hi na‘a ma‘u ‘e he manu B: ‘Ikai ma-no-fo na‘a ma‘u ‘e he manu ‘o heli S: ‘O ‘osi mo‘u- nga he vao ho ui B: ‘Osi mo‘unga he vao ho ui mo kumi S: Kae kehe ke la- va ho fakamo‘ui B: Kae ke he ke lava ho fakamo‘ui ‘Ilonga ha taha manatu ki ‘api Ha nofo mama‘o kae fie foki mai; ‘E tali ‘e Sisū ha taha pehē He ‘oku ne kumi ‘a e sipi na‘e hē ‘Ilonga ha taha ongo‘i masiva, Maumau ‘a e koloa nene tupu mo ia; ‘E tali ‘e Sisū ha taha pehē He ‘oku ne kumi ‘a e sipi na‘e hē ‘Ilonga ‘a ia ‘oku fiu hono kai ‘A e koto nge‘esi nene ma‘u ‘i māmani; ‘E tali ‘e Sisū ha taha pehē He ‘oku ne kumi ‘a e sipi na‘e hē ‘Ilonga ‘a ia ‘oku fakatomala ‘A e ngāue ta‘ehounga mo talangata‘a; ‘E tali ‘e Sisū ha taha pehē He ‘oku ne kumi ‘a e sipi na‘e hē Bible reference: Isaiah 55:7 (NIV) Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
  • 522 ‘Oku kei ui ‘a e ‘Otua
    • Himi 522 Ko e ngaahi ui ‘a e ‘Otua Tune: Adaptation of Federal Street (Metre: ML) ‘Oku kei ui ‘a e ‘Otua ‘A e angahala tokanga mu‘a; Ko futu ta‘u mo ‘ene fai, Na‘a tukuā ‘o ke fēfē ai! ‘Oku ne kei ui; ‘Oku ne kei ui; ‘Oku ne kei ui; Tokanga na‘a ne tuku ‘Oku kei ui, “‘Alu atu Ho fakamolemole ke ma‘u. Na‘a ‘osi taimi tali hū ‘O pau ho mala ‘ikai liliu” ‘Oku kei ui, “Tama, ‘ā; He teke mohe ke tō ‘a e la‘ā?
  • 529 Ka Matangi ‘o peaua
    • Tune: When the storms of life are raging (McGranahan) C Ka Matangi ‘o peaua G C Tahi he mo‘ui ia C G C Te u hūfanga he ‘Otua G C ‘I he malu hono nima. Refrain F Te ne fufū (Te ne fufū ) au C Te ne fufū (Te ne fufū ) au G Te ne fufū (Te ne fufū ) C G C hono ‘aofinima 2. Tene tuku ke u mamahi Te ne ki‘i kinisi nai; Ko e ‘ofa kuo lahi, ‘Ofa fakaetamai.
  • 531 ‘Oi, na‘i Toto ne mahua
    • Himi 531. Ko hinehinaange – Saame 51:7 Tune: Henry S. Perkins ‘Oi, na‘i Toto ne mahua Ke pālutu ai ha māma angahala! ‘Oi, na‘i ‘Alo he ‘Otua! Hota faito‘o hono ngāhi tā. ‘Eiki, ko au eni angahala ‘Oku ou hū atu mo punou; ‘E, fufulu au ho ta‘ata‘a, Pea u hinehina he sinou Refrain Hinehinaange! Hinehinaange! ‘E, fufulu au ho ta‘ata‘a, Pea u hinehina he sinou Talatala‘ia ho kalauni, Pea vaivai ho sino he ‘akau; Lahi ‘a e mamahi ho‘o mo‘ui, Ka ke kīkītaki pē ma‘aku.
  • 610 ‘Oi! Ke u tala hoku monū!
    • Himi 610 Ko e Fakamo‘oni loto Tune: “Blessed Assurance” Phoebe P. Knapp ‘Oi! Ke u tala hoku monū! Kuo te ma‘u ‘a e fanau‘ifo‘ou. Hoko ‘a e maama ki he po‘ulí, Hiki ‘a e mate ki he mo‘uí. Refrain Hoku monū ē, ‘eku koloa ‘Ete ongo‘i he taimi kotoa Fakamo‘oni fakapapau Fale ‘a e ‘Eiki ‘iate au. Taha ‘a e ‘ofa, taha ‘a e me‘a! Kuo te hook ko Hono ‘ea: ‘Ea mo e ‘Alo ne ne pekia, Si‘ono foha kuo ohia.
  • 663 Tama, ‘e ngalo ‘afē nai
    • Himi 663 Ko “Sila ki Vai.” Tune: Whispering Hope Tama, ‘e ngalo ‘afē nai, ‘Aho ne tō ‘a e afā; Angi mei mu‘a he Matangi, Vaka ne ‘ikai tauala? Ka ne fafana ‘a Langi, Mou vili atu ki mu‘a; He ko e kau matatali, Te nau a‘usia fonua. Refrain Sila ki vai pea ‘uli ngaholo He kuo tō mai ‘a e mui hakau ‘Oi! He fai fuoloa; Tā ko e mate ne pau Puli kaveinga kotoa; ‘Ikai taumu‘a ‘e lau Ka ne fafana ‘a Langi, ‘Oua ‘fiungofua; He ko e kau matatali, Te nau a‘usi fonua.
  • Ho finangalo Sīsū ke u fai
    • Himi. Tune: Adelaide Chords: E,B,E,E7,A,E,C#m,B,E Ho finangalo Sīsū ke u fai Kehe ke 'aonga 'eku mo'ui Ke u fiefia 'aho mo e pō Ke u fakahoko ho'o lao Kehe ke hoko ko loto pē Ko e 'akau au tufunga koe O'i au Sīsū ke u hanga atu Ki he sīpinga kuo ke tā Kuo u lavea, kuo u vaivai Sīsū tokoni, faito'o au Ka ko e founga 'eku mo'ui Fa'iteliha Sīsū 'a koe Hoku kotoa 'oku 'a'au 'Ofa ke u fai pē ho'o fekau Ko ho'oku vaha'angatae Ke u taliangi ma'u ai pē “Tongan Kids for God” tdanfonua@gmail.