GENEVAN 138

Composer: Louis Bourgeois

Louis Bourgeois (b. Paris, France, c. 1510; d. Paris, 1561). In both his early and later years Bourgeois wrote French songs to entertain the rich, but in the history of church music he is known especially for his contribution to the Genevan Psalter. Apparently moving to Geneva in 1541, the same year John Calvin returned to Geneva from Strasbourg, Bourgeois served as cantor and master of the choristers at both St. Pierre and St. Gervais, which is to say he was music director there under the pastoral leadership of Calvin. Bourgeois used the choristers to teach the new psalm tunes to the congregation. The extent of Bourgeois's involvement in the Genevan Psalter is a matter of scholar­ly debate. Calvin had published several partial psalter… Go to person page >

GENEVAN 138 was first published in the 1551 edition of the Genevan Psalter. Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4) harmonized the tune in 1985. See also the 1564 alternative harmonization by Claude Goudimel (PHH 6) with the melody in the tenor (facing page). This second setting can be useful for a choral stanza (for example, st. 2) or for an alternate organ accompaniment. A sturdy Ionian (major) tune, GENEVAN 138 is a bar form (AABC) that repeats lines 1-2 and 3-4. This joyful music should be supported by bright and full organ registration and sung majestically.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988