The first four musical settings of Marot's Psalm poems

On this page you can download PDF scores of the first polyphonic settings of Psalmtexts by Marot [(scroll down)] and listen to recordings (streaming audio) of these compositions. If available, also an image of the original print is added.

Background about the First polyphonic settings of Psalms [et ici en français].

There are many (a plethora) of other (later) Psalm settings, mostly based on the Geneva melodies (Goudimel etc..). On a separate page I provide one example of how this music might sound, psalm 137 performed by the Ensemble Walsingham.

An overview of compositions and composers:see website: Psalms set to Music

1. Abel, Estans assis aux rives acquactiques, (Ps. 137) - 1540 (4vv)

Members of the Antwerp Collegium Musicum (own recording)

2. Appenzeller, Du fons de ma pensee, (Ps. 130) - 1542 (4/5vv)

Ensemble Clément Janequin, dir. Dominique Visse (CD Psaumes et chansons de la Réforme - HMF)

3. Gentian, Du fons de ma pensee, (Ps. 130) - 1544 (4vv)

Members of the Antwerp Collegium Musicum (own recording)

4. Manchicourt, Du fons de ma pensee, (Ps. 130) - 1544 (4vv)

Currende Consort [Katelijne van Laethem (soprano) & Jan van Elsacker (tenor)], dir. Erik van Nevel (CD Philippe Rogier en Spanje - Eufoda 1161)

NOTE concerning the recordings

Abel and Gentian: On the occasion of the 14th C.A. Mayer Memorial lecture (11/11/11) in London, I organised a recording of the first polyphonic musical setting of a Psalmtext by Clément Marot: Psalm 137. The British Library owns a unique copy of this music (opening contribution to Jacques Moderne's Parangon des chansons, livre VI). Based on the partbooks (i.c. one book, with all four voices on two adjacent pages, two upside down...) a transcription was made by Willem Ceuleers and the music recorded by 6 members of the Antwerps Collegium Musicum (in Dutch). We did not make a professional recording but a home-made, no sound manipulation, no reverbation, since this really is 'chamber music'. to be sund 'ès maisons').

Sung by a soprano, a baryton and a consort of viols (viole da gamba)

At the same session we also recorded Gentian's polyphonic setting of Ps. 130.

The Manchicourt and Appenzeller are existing recordings, made by professionals.

Abel, Estans assis aux rives acquactiques (Ps. 137) - 1540 (4vv) Le Parangon des Chansons, Sixiesme livre (Jacques Moderne: Lyon, 1540)

download the PDF of the transcription of this piece of music by clicking on the image below

extra: download the recording Ps. 137 (three tracks, MP3 zipped around 8MB) - rightclick and 'save as'.

Appenzeller, Du fons de ma pensee (Ps. 130) - 1542 (4/5vv) Chansons a quatre parties (Loys/Buus: Antwerpen, 1542)
Download the PDF of the transcription of this piece of music by clicking on the image below: Transcription Howard J. Slenk, The Huguenot Psalter in the Low Countries, vol. II (1969). Scanned with permission.

Gentian, Du fons de ma pensee (Ps. 130) - 1544 (4vv) Le difficile des chansons. Second livre (Jacques Moderne: Lyon, 1544) )

Download the PDF of the transcription of this piece of music by clicking on the image below:

Extra Download the recording Ps. 130 (three tracks, MP3 around 8MB) rightclick and 'save as'.

Manchicourt, Du fons de ma pensee (Ps. 130) - 1545 (4vv) Le Neufiesme Livre des Chansons a quatre parties... (Tylman Susato: Antwerpen, 1545)
Download the PDF of the transcription of this piece of music by clicking on the image below: Transcription Howard J. Slenk, The Huguenot Psalter in the Low Countries, vol. II (1969). Scanned with permission.