GENEVAN 93

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 >

First published in the 1562 edition of the Genevan Psalter, GENEVAN 93 is in Hypo-Mixolydian mode and consists of four lines, each of which has a unique rhythmic pattern. This joyful music is well suited to part singing and festive occasions with brass accompaniment. The 1564 harmonization (altered) is by Claude Goudimel (PHH 6), who originally placed the melody in the tenor.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook