How Can I Keep from Singing: Episode 3

Episode 3: Reformation Hymns

The Reformation arrives and congregational hymn singing bursts forth from a long hibernation. Not only did Martin Luther’s 95 thesis send shockwaves through the Catholic Church on doctrinal and theological matters, but eventually he and his followers ushered in some of the great hymns of the Church. Drawn from many musical sources, the Lutherans over time contributed such memorable hymns (or chorales as they called them) as: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” “Out of the Depths I Cry to You,” “Now Thank We All Our God,” “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” and many more.

On the heels of Martin Luther came John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland, who took a more Augustinian approach and approved of singing in a more limited fashion, specifically the Psalms. Creating metrical paraphrases of the Psalms combined with newly written tunes, Calvin both renewed and revolutionized Psalm singing in the era of the Reformation. So influential were these new “psalters” that nearly every reformation movement translated and adapted Calvin’s and musical psalter. 

The most iconic tune that originated with Calvin’s musicians and later manifested in England as “The Old Hundredth.” 

Over time, many more break-away movements contributed to a growing and robust Protestant hymnody.