The Enchiridion

Notes on Source Books ( French & Genevan Psalters )

( First time readers: please read the introductory notes on a separate page)

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French & Genevan Psalters, 1533-62

(Julian pp.932-4)

See notes on the following -

Clement Marot: Miroir de ... Princesse Marguerite, 1533
Alcuns Pseaumes et Cantiques mys en chant, Strasbourg, 1539
Psalmes de David, ... principallement de Cle.Marot, Anvers. 1541
(Several other collections of Psalms, including or based on Marot's versions, appeared round about this time.)
La manyere de faire prieres . . . , 1542
La forme des prieres . . . , Geneva 1542
Trente Pseaumes de David . . . (Clement Marot, 1542)
Louis Bourgeois: French Psalter, 1542
Cinquante Pseaumes en francois par Clement Marot, Geneva 1543
La Forme des Prières et Chants Ecclésiastiques, 1545 &c.
Louis Bourgeois: Cinquante Pseaumes de David, 1547
Théodore de Beza: Trente quatre pseaumes de David, Geneva, 1551
Marot & Beze: Pseaulmes Octante trois, 1551
Les Pseaumes mis en rime francais par Clément Marot et Théodore de Beze, 1562
Le Livre des Psaumes ... Retouchez par fue M.Conrart . . . , 1677/9
(the French/Genevan "New Version")

 

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Clement Marot: Mirior . . . , 1533

Clement Marot: Miroir de tres chrestienne Princesse Marguerite de la France, Royne de Navarre, Duchesse d'Alençon, 1533

A collection of poems dedicated to Princess Marguerite, Marot's patroness at the French court. It included a version of Psalm 6, and other Psalm versions were made by Marot during the following period 1533-42.

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Alcuns Pseaumes, Strasbourg 1539

Alcuns Pseaumes et Cantiques mys en chant, Strasbourg, 1539

18 Psalm versions, including 13 by Marot, the remainder probably by Calvin for whom the collection was probably printed.

 

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C.Marot &c.: Psalmes, Anvers 1541

Psalmes de David, translatez de plusieurs autheurs, et principallement de Cle.Marot, veu, recogneu et corrigé par les theologiens, nommeement par M.F.Pierre Alexandre, concionateur ordinaire de la Royne de Hongrie. Anvers, 1541

[ Anvers = Antwerp ]

45 Psalm versions: 30 by Marot, including the 13 referred to above; the remainder by various authors.

[ Several other collections of Psalms, including or based on Marot's versions, appeared round about this time. ]

 

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The Pseudo-Roman Psalter, 1542 

La manyere de faire prieres aux eglises francoyes ... ensemble pseaulmes et canticques francoys quon chante aus dictés eglises . . . &c. . . . &c., 1542 

Contained the psalms &c. from the 1539 [ b FG1539 b ] and 1541 psalters, together with other liturgical material, and some new tunes in addition to those in the previous Psalters. It also included a Papal imprimatur, which has been described as "a pious fraud", so that the book is known as the Pseudo-Roman Psalter.

There is only one extant copy, acc. to Julian (p.932b).

 

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La forme des prières &c., Geneva 1542

La forme des prieres et chantz ecclésiastiques auec la manière d'adminstrer las Sacremens, et consacrer le mariage, selon la coustume de l'Eglise Ancienne, Geneva 1542

Most of the texts are a reprint of those in the Pseudo-Roman Psalter of the same year (1542); but the music was substantially altered and supplemented, probably by Louis Bourgeois. The only copy, at Stuttgart, is believed to be that of Calvin's first published Liturgy.

 

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C.Marot: Trents Pseaumes, Paris 1542 

Trente Pseaumes de David, mis en francoys par Clement Marot, valet de chambre su Roy, avec privilege. Imprimé a Paris.

Undated, but published by Clement Marot in 1542, with the royal imprimatur dated Nov.30th, 1541, and a dedication to Francis I. In spite of the royal support, and much popularity among Protestant (Hugenot) congregations, the book aroused such opposition from Roman Catholic authorities that Marot fled to Savoy, and thence to Geneva, where a further collection was published. [next page]

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L.Bourgeois: French Psalter, 1542
Louis Bourgeois: French Psalter, 1542

A version (? enlarged) of the Strasbourg Psalter of 1539, brought by Calvin to Geneva, where Bourgeois was Cantor of Calvin's church. From then onwards the Psalter (now known as The Genevan Psalter) was steadily enlarged, with music mainly provided by Bourgeois, until the publication of a complete set in 1562. (See below)

Xref:
RS-21, 119 & 712 [711] Old Hundredth

 

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C.Marot: Cinquante Pseaumes, Geneva 1543

Cinquante Pseaumes en francois par Clement Marot. Item une Epitre par luy nagueres enuoyée aux dames de France. Geneva, August 1543

Contained (with revisions) the 30 psalms already published, 20 further psalm versions, various other liturgical items, an Epistle to "The Ladies of France", and a short Epistle to the King (Francis I).

 

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La Forme des Prières &c, 1545 -
La Forme des Prières et Chants Ecclésiastiques, 1545 &c. 

Various editions of the Psalter were published at Paris, Lyons, Strasbourg and Geneva in the years following the death of Clement Marot (1544); these included a Strasbourg edition of 1545 with psalms &c. from various sources and a hymn attributed to Calvin. (The Strasbourg Town Library copy was lost when the library was destroyed in the bobardment of the town during the Franco-German war (Julian, p.579a). )

Xrefs:
RS-501 I greet thee, who my sure Redeemer art
RS-443 (and 444) Les commandemens de Dieu
RS-709 Rendez à Dieu

 

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L.Bourgeois: Cinquante Pseaumes, 1547
Louis Bourgeois: Cinquante Pseaumes de David, Lyon 1547

A harmonised edition of the 1543 Cinquante Pseaumes

Xrefs:
RS-215 Herzliebster Jesu
RS-443 (and 444) Les commandemens de Dieu
RS-709 Rendez à Dieu

 

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Beze: Trente quatre Pseaumes, Geneva 1551

Théodore de Beza: Trente quatre pseaumes de David nouuellement mis en rime francoise au plus pres de l'Hebrue, par Th. de Besze de Vezeley, en Bourgogne. Geneue. 1551

34 Psalm versions, to supplement those in the existing Genevan Psalter, and compiled at the request of Calvin, with music composed or edited by Bourgeois.

 

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Marot & Beze: Pseaulmes Octante Trois, 1551
Pseaulmes octante trois de David, Geneva 1551 

A combined edition of Psalm-versions by Marot and Beze, with music by Louis Bourgeois and others.

Xrefs:
RS-21, 119 & 712 [711] Old Hundredth
RS-709 Rendez à Dieu
RS-455 St Michael

An appendix containing six more psalms (but no additional tunes) was issued in 1554.

 

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Marot & Beze: Complete Psalter, 1562

Les Pseaumes mis en rime francais par Clément Marot et Théodore de Beze, 1562

The complete Psalter (editor unknown). About half the melodies were by Bourgeois, who had died in 1561; of the remainder, some 40 may be the work of the unknown editor. Most of the Psalm versions are those of either Clement Marot or Theodore Beze.

 

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Valentine Conrart: Livre des Psaumes, 1677 / 79

(Julian p.935b)

(a) Le Livre des Psaumes en vers françois. Par Cl. Marot et Th. de Beze. Retouchez par feu Monsieur Conrart, Conseiller Secretaire du Roy . . . Première partie, 1677.

Contained 51 psalms revised by Valentine Conrart.

(b) Les Psaumes en ver françois, retouchezsur l'ancienne version. Par feu M. V.Conrart, Conseiller . . . &c. , 1679

The complete psalter, possibly finished by "La Bastide, to whom Conrart had entrusted his MSS" (Julian, who describes the work as "in reality The French New Version").

 

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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 3/8/02)