The Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther
Lucas Cranach (1529)
 Martin Luther (1483-1546)

• 1507 becomes a priest

• 1517 Nailed 95 theses to Wittemberg
church door
• 1520 excommunicated from Catholic
Church
• 1526 Publishes German Mass
• 1524-40 publishes chorale melodies
Confessional Map: Europe c1560
These [spiritual songs] are set for four voices
for no other reason than that I wished the
young … might have something to rid them
of their love ditties and wanton songs and
might, instead of these, learn wholesome
things and thus yield willingly to the good…
I also wish that we had as many songs as
possible in the vernacular which the people
could sing during Mass, immediately after the
Gradual and also after the Sanctus and Agnus
Dei. For who doubts that originally all the
people sang these which now only the choir
sings or responds to while the bishop is
consecrating the Host? The bishops may have
these congregational hymns sung either after
the Latin chants, or use the Latin on one
Sunday and the vernacular on the next, until
the time comes that the whole Mass is sung in
the vernacular.
Martin Luther (1523)
From Roman Catholic Hymn to
Lutheran Chorale
Newly-composed chorale
(by Luther)

A sure, safe refuge is our God,

a good defense and weapon:
He helps us from the mortal need
that now on us has fallen.
The old and evil foe,
he's dead earnest now.
Brute force and deceipt
strew victims at his feet.
On earth is not his equal.
Luther’s monophonic chorale set for 4-part choir
(Johann Walter, Little Book of Spiritual Songs)

Luther’s chorale
tune in tenor (like
a Tenor Lied);
decorated
homophony in
other voices

Johann Walter, 4-part setting

of “Ein feste Burg” from
Geystliches Gesangk
Buchleyn (Little Book of
Spiritual Songs), after 1524
 Jean Calvin
(1509-1564)
Confessional Map: Europe c1560
English Metrical Psalter
(1628)
 Louis Bourgeois, Or sus
• Most famous melody from 1551 Geneva Psalter.
• Psalm 134
English version of “Or sus” =
100th Psalm
 • 1491-1547
• Ascended throne 1509
• Firm Catholic
• Energetically opposed the
Protestant reformation
• Worldly court with rich
artistic production
• Renaissance man and
accomplished musician
• Produced no viable male
heir

Henry VIII
Hans Holbein (1549)
 Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536)
• First wife of Henry VIII

• Youngest child of Spanish

“Catholic” monarchs (Fernando
and Isabela)

• Married for 24 years to Henry

• Only one child survived MARY
TUDOR

• To end unproductive marriage,

Henry made himself supreme
church authority

• She never recognized marriage’s

annulment
Anne Boleyn (1501-1536)
• Second wife of Henry VIII
• Lady in waiting to
Catherine
• A Protestant sympathizer
• Bore one daughter,
Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603)
• Executed 3 years later
 Jane Seymour (1508-1537)
• Third wife of Henry
• Catholic tendencies
• Bore one child,
Edward VI, died in
childbirth
• Married one day after
execution of Anne
Boleyn
 The Reformation in England
• 1534 Henry made Supreme Head of the
Church by act of Parlaiment.
• Monasteries were wealthy, loyal to Rome
– All monasteries “Dissolved” by 1540
– Monasteries important patrons of music in
England.
 What the Reformation meant
(before Ellizabeth I)
• King of England was supreme authority
(no Pope)
• Services, Prayers still in Latin except the
Lord’s Prayer
• Bible translated into English
• English translation happened gradually
– 1549 Book of Common Prayer provides
uniform rite for Church of England
 Tudor Dynasty in the 16th Century
• Henry VIII 1509-1547
• Edward VI 1547-1553 (child)
• Jane Gray 1553 (9 days)
• Mary I 1553-1558
• Elizabeth I 1558-1603

“Protestant” +
Catholic +
 Coronation of
Elizabeth I (1558)
William Byrd
(c1540-1623)
 Anthem: Thomas Tallis, If ye
love me (c1548)
If ye love me, keep my commandments,
and I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may 'bide with you forever,
e'en the spirit of truth. (John 14:15-17)
 William Byrd, Sing Joyfully unto God
(Full Anthem)
Sing joyfully unto God our strength. Imitation in all 6 voices, “joyful” motive
Sing loud, sing loud unto the God of Jacob. All voices together
Take the song and bring forth the timbrel, More imitation
The pleasant harp and the viol.
Blow the trumpet in the new moon! Homorhythm, then “echo”
Even in the time appointed and at our feast
day. Homophonic / imitative
For this is a statute for Israel,
and a law of the God of Jacob.