Psalm 137

Just to be able to appreciate how one can perform a simple Psalm — ès maisons, at home (not in the ecclesial liturgy according to Calvin, but of course nowadays one is free to decide otherwise) — using appropriate instruments: one Psalm, divided in five stanzas, all performed differently.

From the CD "Les Matines de Paris, musique de l'époque des guerres de religion" by Ensemble Walsingham (now Le Trésor d'Orphée).

1st stanza: melody only

2nd stanza: voice, harp and lutes — Goudimel (simple setting)

3rd stanza: viols, bass recorder, lute and harp — Goudimel, embellished counterpoint (fr: contrepoint fleuri)

4th stanza: voice and lute — Adrian Le Roy (lute tablature)

5th stanza: voice, viols, recorder, lute and harp — Goudimel (bis)

To be able to follow the text and the melody: psalm 137 from the Psaumes Octantetrois edition of 1554. [Interesting detail: there is a difference in the final lines. The soprano sings "…de ta mamelle impure / pour les froisser contre la pierre dure". This is the original text of Marot (all mss, eds. 1539, 1542, 1543-Roffet). In the 1543-Geneva edition this was changed into what is printed below. The original, however, was restored in 1562.]

Psalm 137 with melody, Octantetrois pseaumes, edition of 1554