Die Straßburger Gesangbücher aus der ersten Hälfte des 16. Jahrhunderts

In the first three decades of the Reformation, between 1524 and the middle of the century, around 70 different hymnbooks were published in Strasbourg, most of them for local and regional churches. These could be anything from humble pamphlets to complete rhyming Psalters in German. In addition, there were also independent repertoires, such as the songs of the Bohemian brothers or the first Psalms for the French-speaking exile community. This paper provides an overview of the historical, theological and hymnological developments reflected in these hymnbooks. Various aspects that are discussed include : repertoire formation, notation, prefaces, features, pictorial decoration, printers and printing techniques, publisher and audience. By examining the hymnbooks, the unique theological and liturgical profile of the Strasbourg Reformation before the middle of the century emerges, which largely disappears after 1555 under the influence of Lutheran orthodoxy. It differs in several respects from the Wittenberg Reformation. Among other things, it placed greater importance on the Psalms and on strict scriptural hermeneutics. These characteristics also have a clear influence on the Geneva Psalter, which was begun in 1539 in Strasbourg.