Sing to the Lord a New Song: John Calvin and the Spiritual Discipline of Metrical Psalmody

Authors

Brandon J. Bellanti, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Publication Date

11-4-2014

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Psalmody, Metrical Psalmody, Metered Psalms, Psalms, Singing, Spiritual Disciplines, Classical Disciplines, Reformation, John Calvin, Athanasius, Basil, Augustine, Plato, Aristotle, Psalter

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the way that psalmody - specifically metrical psalmody - serves as a sort of spiritual discipline. In other words, this essay seeks to demonstrate how the singing of psalms can be a tool to aid in spiritual growth. Much of the research for this essay focuses on the theological writings of the Protestant reformer John Calvin, as well as the way in which he incorporated metrical psalmody into his liturgical framework. The research also comprises primary writings from Aristotle, Plato, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil, and Saint Augustine - all of whom influenced Calvin’s own philosophy regarding the use of art, music, and psalmody in worship.

Additional areas examined in this research include the historical musical development of psalmody and the collection and arrangement of metrical psalms into psalters. For reference, specific examples of metrical psalms and psalters have been added. These additional areas and examples help to give a more holistic understanding of the nature of metrical psalmody, and they help to show how it may accurately be considered a spiritual discipline.

Volume

5

Issue

2

DOI

10.15385/jmo.2014.5.2.1

Recommended Citation

Bellanti, Brandon J. (2014) "Sing to the Lord a New Song: John Calvin and the Spiritual Discipline of Metrical Psalmody," Musical Offerings: Vol. 5: No. 2, Article 1.
DOI: 10.15385/jmo.2014.5.2.1
Available at: https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/musicalofferings/vol5/iss2/1

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Disclaimer

DigitalCommons@Cedarville provides a publication platform for fully open access journals, which means that all articles are available on the Internet to all users immediately upon publication. However, the opinions and sentiments expressed by the authors of articles published in our journals do not necessarily indicate the endorsement or reflect the views of DigitalCommons@Cedarville, the Centennial Library, or Cedarville University and its employees. The authors are solely responsible for the content of their work. Please address questions to dc@cedarville.edu.

Erratum

Page 76, Paragraph 2, Line 4: Feasy should read easy