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Calvin's original psalter, 1539.

A songbook of hymns based on the Psalms of David began in 1539 with the publication of a limited psalter conceived by John Calvin. It underwent several revisions and additions in the 16th and 17th centuries and grew into the complete Genevan Psalter that we have today.

This article attempts to illustrate the evolution of the French Genevan Psalter with particular reference to two editions that were sold at Charenton. One was published in 1656 [probably the one most commonly used by our ancestors], and the other in 1679 [sold only a few years before the exodus of Protestants from France following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685]. Even in this short time span there were some significant changes to the lyrics or 'versification' of the psalms.

Clement Marot and Theodore de Beze,
original authors of the 'versified' Psalms

Only 124 melodies accompanied the 150 Psalms of David, therefore in some cases two Psalms shared a melody while in a few instances the same tune was used for three different Psalms. The melody assigned to each tended to remain fixed so that Genevan psalms sung in Dutch, French, English, German, etc. all had the same tune.

Readers can refer to excellent resources on the internet to trace the evolution of the Genevan Psalter. Curiously, the only major church denomination that still makes regular use of the Genevan Psalter is the Canadian Reformed Church.

The 1656 and 1679 Editions sold at Charenton.

Although both these psalters were sold at Charenton by the same bookseller/printer, Antoine Cellier, the wording of the psalms as revised by Valentin Conrart, counsellor and secretary to the king, are noticeably different due to revisions that took place sometime between 1656 and 1679. The differences between the two editions are apparent in the few examples given below. A note regarding the revision is given in the preface to the 1679 edition which reads:

Notice

No explanation is necessary for this revision. The difficulties that were encountered, the late Mr. Conrart committed himself to undertake. Those who worked on it after him, in the end without the rules and guidelines that he prescribed, accomplished this by giving out the first part on a trial basis. The public appeared content with this work and several of our Synods themselves gave the public indications of their approval without waiting for the final result which they have hurried along by their exhortations.

We are satisfied, therefore, to present now the entire book in the best state that we have been able to accomplish. We hope that enlightened people will find in it all the same accuracy, the same fidelity in meaning, the same clarity, and the same simplicity in the expressions, and that the general character will be found acceptable for the use and effect for which it is intended, this being to excite in the heart the feeling of love, respect and fear for God, submission to our superiors, charity for our equals, moderation in prosperity, and consolation in afflictions. May God who is present in all things also grant that it succeeds to his glory and the building up of his Church.

Attestation

We, the undersigned, certify that we have read the book entitled 'The Psalms in French Verse' revised by Mr. Conrart, in which we have found nothing that does not conform to the doctrine which is taught amongst us.
- Claude, de L'Angle, Daille, Allix, and Menard.

Marriage entry at Charenton Temple of Valentin Conrart, the man who revised the Psalter
originally penned by Clement Marot and Theodore de Beze

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Also included are English words put to French Psalm
tunes that date from before 1787. Source: Google Books

Psalm: Index

001 003 011

(In Psalm 11 we can compare 3 editions
of Charenton Psalms: 1612, 1656, 1679.)

Internet Resources:

The Genevan Psalter Resource Centre

Psalter on Spindleworks