Goostly Psalmes and Spirituall Songes

Metrical psalmody - The Word of God in Song - has played an important role in the worship of both the Church of England and the Dutch Reformed Church for many centuries. Both English and Dutch metrical psalmody began in London during the reign of Edward VI, was continued in exile in various European cities during Mary's reign, and was brought to completion early in the reign of Elizabeth I, when complete metrical psalters in both English and Dutch were issued from the press of the same London publisher, John Day. This is a study of the common origins and parallel development of English and Dutch metrical psalmody, from Coverdale's "Goostly psalmes and spirituall songes" (London, c.1535) to Utenhove's "De Psalmen Dauidis", in Nederlandischer sangs-ryme (London, 1566). The principal concern is with hymnological and liturgical matters, though Dr Leaver also considers questions of theology and church government. In so doing he presents both a compendium of information about the early history of the metrical psalm texts and tunes, and also a clear picture of the Reformation in its musical and hymnological aspects. The work should appeal to students of the theology and sacred music of the 16th century, and church musicians.Table of ContentThe Reformation, liturgical change, and hymnody; early beginnings of hymnody in English; early beginnings of hymnody in Dutch; liturgical necessity in the English Church; liturgical necessity in the Dutch Stranger Church; strangers and exiles abroad; return to England.