Calvin, Cauvin, John, Jean, *10 July 1509 Noyon (Picardy), †27 May 1564, Genua, French theologian and religious reformer. Co-founder of the Evangelical Reformed Church (in France: Huguenots), whose doctrine he formulated in Institutio christianae religionis (Basel, 1536). During his stay in Ferrara in 1536, he met C. Marot, whose translations of the psalms into French he later incorporated into the Reformed liturgy. In 1541, he settled permanently in Geneva. In 1542, he published a form for the liturgy of worship and the four sacraments (La forme des prieres et chantz ecclesiastiques…, facsimile edition by P. Pidoux, Kassel 1959). It remained in use in the Reformed Church until the end of the 16th century, and some of its elements have survived to this day. Before the form, Calvin included 35 psalms with melodies and 4 other prayers (32 translations by C. Marot and 7 of his own). He preceded the whole work with a preface in which, among other things, he commented on the role of music in the life of the church. Compared to Institutio…, a clear evolution of views can be observed here (probably under the influence of M. Butzer) from moderate tolerance to decisive approval and even the requirement of singing.
In accordance with the views of ancient philosophers and referring to the words of St. Paul and St. Augustine, Calvin expressed his conviction about the major influence that music has on human feelings and behaviour. He excluded instrumental music from his church because of its secular connotations, recommending instead unison congregational singing. From 1539, he patronised the publication of psalms in the national language. In subsequent editions, the number of psalms increased, and in 1562 Calvin approved the publication of a complete psalter with melodies, with the addition of the Canticle of Simeon, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Credo. This model of the psalter spread among Calvinist congregations in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and other countries.
Literature: L. Wencelius L’esthétique de Calvin, Paris 1937; E. Schild Calvins Vermächtnis an die evangelische Kirchenmusik, “Musik und Kirche” XV, 1942; F. Büsser Calvin und die Kirchenmusik, “Musik und Gottesdienst” III, 1949; C. Garside Calvin’s Preface to the Psalter, “The Musical Quarterly” XXXVII, 1951; H. Hasper Calvijns beginsel voor den zang in den eredienst verklaard uit de Heilige Schrift en uit de geschiedenis der kerk. Een kerkhistorisch en hymnologisch onderzoek, 2 vols., The Hague 1955, 1976; H.P. Clive The Calvinist Attitude to Music, “Bibliothèque d’Humanisme et Renaissance” XIX, XX, 1957, 1958; Ch. Garside The Origins of Calvin’s Theology of Music. 1536–1543, “Transactions of the American Philosophical Society” LXIX, 1979; P. Pidoux Luther, Zwingli, Calvin et le chant d’église, “Les Cahiers protestants” I, 1986; P. Pidoux Le Genève de Calvin et le chant des psaumes, “Revue musicale de la Suisse Romande” XLIV, 1991; R. Weeda Le Psautier de Calvin. L’histoire d’un livre populaire au XVIe siècle (1551–1598), Turnhout 2002; B.A. Föllmi Le Psautier de Calvin: Théologie, pratique, usage, “Revue d’histoire et de philosophie religieuses” LXXXIX, 2009.
