Page "John Calvin" Paragraph 30

In 1542, Calvin adapted a service book used in Strasbourg, publishing La Forme des Prières et Chants Ecclésiastiques ( The Form of Prayers and Church Hymns ).

Calvin recognised the power of music and he intended that it be used to support scripture readings.

The original Strasbourg psalter contained twelve psalms by Clément Marot and Calvin added several more hymns of his own composition in the Geneva version.

At the end of 1542, Marot became a refugee in Geneva and contributed nineteen more psalms.

Louis Bourgeois, also a refugee, lived and taught music in Geneva for sixteen years and Calvin took the opportunity to add his hymns, the most famous being the Old Hundredth.