Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-09-01


life at once, and that these unforlunates
persisted, net because they were left be-
hind in the general flight, but because
they bad persisted.
ORIGIN OF PSALM SINGING.
There is in D'Israeli's Curiosities of
Literature" an amusing account Of the
origin of Psalm Singing. 1t appears
that the first book of Psalms in verse
was written by Marot Frenchman, the
favored bard of Francis the First-that
Prince of Poets, and that Poet of
Princes" as he was quantity but expires
sively designated by his contemporaries 1t
was published at Paris, and contained SO
psalms, written in a variety of measures,
with the g same style he had done his
ballads and rondeaus.'' This "holy
song-book'. was dedicated to the king Of
france; and being gay novelty, no
book was ever more eagerly received
by all classes than s'Marot's Psalms -
they sold faster than the Printers could
take them off their presses, bIt as they
were understood to lie songs, and were
accompanied by music, every one set
thom 10 tavorite-tunes, commonly those
Unpopular ballads. The following lines
which conclude the dedication, well de-
scribe the feelings and enthusiasm of
their author -
Thrice happy they, who may behold,
And listen, in that age of gold
tshv the plough thc laborer strays,
And carmin mid the public ways,
And tradesmanin his shop shall swell
Their voice in Psalm or Caniicle,
Singing to solacc toll again
From woods shall come sweeter strain
Shepherd and shepherdes shall vie
In many tender psalmody
And the Creators name prolong, =
As rock and stream return their song.
Begin then, ladies fair begin
The aye renewed that knows no sin
and with light heart, that wants no wing,
Sing from this holy song-book sing
The universal reception of " Marot's
Palms." induced Theodore Bcza to
conclude the collection, and ten thons-
aid copies were Immediately dispersed
These, however, had the advantage OF
Being set TO music, for we are told they
were admirably fitted to the violin, and
other musical Instruments and we
learn with surprise that it was to Calvin
the gloomy and ascetic Calvin," they
were indebted for the simple and beau
tiful air with which they were accom-.
panied. Taking advantage Oft the pub.
lie feeling, he had engaged the first ma-
steal composers to aid, by the power Of
melody, the spread Of his opinion. Al
first, this was not discovered, and Cath
olics as we'll as Auguenots were solac-
ing themselves on all occasions with
this new music. Rut when Calvin ap.
pointed these Psalms to be sung at hi:
meetings, and Marot's formed an appen.
dix 10 the Catechism ofGeneva, this put
an end to all Psalm-singing for the poor
Catholics. Marot himself WAS forced
10 fly 10 Geneva from the Illumination,
ofthe Sorbonne, and Psalm-singing be
came an open declaration of what the
French termed Lutheranism.
In our Island its history is soon told
Stcrnhold, an enthusiast for the refor
nation, undertook 10 be our Marot-
without his genius. His Psalms were
practised by the puritans in the reign O.
Elizabeth, and more particularly during
the protectorate of Cromwell, on the
same plan Of accommodating them &c
popular tunes and jigs, which one o
them said, were too good for the dev.
III Psalms we're now sung at Lore
Mayors Dinners and City Feasts; sol
diers sang them on their march, and a
parade /; and few houses, which. hat
windows fronting the street but I'D theiI
evening Psalm.