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Archiver > Huguenot > 1998-09 > 0905549874
From: <>
Subject: [Huguenot-L] Re: Huguenot-D Digest V98 #88
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 17:37:54 EDT
In the Huguenot-D Digest V98 #88 wrote:
<< Does anyone have information about hymns that may have been written for,
by or
about Huguenots? >>
The biblical Psalter constituted and still constitutes the bedrock of Huguenot
hymnody. Some members of our Huguenot church here in Berlin still think
thats all we should sing in church.
Calvins co-worker Franc Guillaume, Cantor at St. Pierre in Geneva, wrote many
melodies for the Geneva Psalter published in 1542 and 43. His successor Loys
Bourgeois wrote a new edition in 1551. In 1562 Claude Goudimel published four-
part arrangements of the melodies which are still sung today in many different
churches in many languages, though they fit the French text best.
Over the years many hymns have been added to the original psalter, and some
pretty unbiblical ones have become popular, like La Cevenole" by
Roucaute/Saillens, but, fortunately, the rock-solid old biblical psalms have
remained central.
Unfortunately, I dont know any English language hymnography, but perhaps
someone else on the list does. Good luck. T Day
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