Tune: GENEVAN 33

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GENEVAN 33

Harmonizer: Claude Goudimel (1564, alt.)
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Harmonizer: Claude Goudimel

The music of Claude Goudimel (b. Besançon, France, c. 1505; d. Lyons, France, 1572) was first published in Paris, and by 1551 he was composing harmonizations for some Genevan psalm tunes-initially for use by both Roman Catholics and Protestants. He became a Calvinist in 1557 while living in the Huguenot community in Metz. When the complete Genevan Psalter with its unison melodies was published in 1562, Goudimel began to compose various polyphonic settings of all the Genevan tunes. He actually composed three complete harmonizations of the Genevan Psalter, usually with the tune in the tenor part: simple hymn-style settings (1564), slightly more complicated harmonizations (1565), and quite elaborate, motet-like settings (1565-1566). The vario… Go to person page >

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Tune Information

Title:	GENEVAN 33
Harmonizer:	Claude Goudimel (1564, alt.)
Meter:	Irregular
Key:	a minor

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Texts

Rejoice! Sing Praise to Your Creator

Rejoice! Sing praise to your Creator,
for it is good to praise the LORD.
Make music with guitar and trumpet;
blend skillfully each note and word.
All God's words are truthful.
All his works are faithful.
He loves righteousness.
To the earth and heavens
constant care is given
with unfailing love.

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Notes

Psalm 33 was first set to GENEVAN 33 in the 1551 edition of the Genevan Psalter. The tune is generally attributed to Louis Bourgeois (PHH 3), the composer who served as editor of that psalter. The Psalter Hymnal includes two versions of a harmonization by Claude Goudimel (PHH 6): an adapted one to place the melody in the soprano, and the original 1564 setting (opposite 32) with the melody in the tenor, which was custom¬ary for that time. GENEVAN 33 is in Dorian mode; the two long opening lines of this bar form (AABC) are contrasted by even longer lines of three phrases each. A majestic tempo is helpful in negotiating the rhythms and the bountiful text. Sing (and play) stanzas 1-4 antiphonally (with some use of the alternate harmonization), and have everyone join in unison on stanza 5.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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