The Gift of Genevan psalmody for today
sprung from its historical context
Calvin Seerveld
speaking about Genevan Psalm 47
as sung by the Pax Christi Chorale
Excerpt from a CD recording (track 6) of a lecture-recital
by Calvin Seerveld, professor emeritus of Philosophical Aesthetics
at the Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto.
.... And to give a graphic example of how lively and versatile Genevan Psalms found homes, I could show you Psalm 47 printed in Lyon, 1557, with a border including frogs, apes, centaurs, pan pipes, vielle, bare-breasted nymphs lounging in sensuous water.
This was a luxe edition, not used in Genevan churches. But Genevan 47 has a rollicking dance beat what gives the lie to the false stereotype of grim severity often ascribed to Genevan psalms. Let's hear Genevan 47 sung before I make a critical remark....
(audio sample includes two verses of Psalm 47 sung by the Pax Christi Chorale, under the direction of Stephanie Martin)
No wonder her majesty Queen Elizabeth I found 'the Genevan jigs,' as she is said to have called them, to be irreverent! But Louis Bourgeois correctly caught the boisterous, Jewish rough-hewn exuberance of Psalm 47--`Clap your hands, people! Shout!! The ascended Lord rules the bully nations of the world!' And these seasoned artistic-composer, Genevan-based Reformers were serious....
Featured CD
"The Gift of Genevan psalmody for today, sprung from its historical context," is available postpaid in Canada for $18 and postpaid in the USA for $21.
For further details and other publications by Calvin Seerveld visit
This page is included with the encouragement and permission of Calvin Seerveld.
Henry was a student of Calvin Seerveld at the ICS from 1980 - 1982.
