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The Genevan Psalter is a collection of hymns and psalms that were composed in the 16th century by the French theologian and composer, Clément Marot. The psalter was later revised and expanded by the Swiss theologian and musician, Théodore de Bèze, and became an important part of the Reformed Church's liturgy. Clément Marot was born in Cahors, France in 1496. He was the son of a royal court poet and grew up in a literary and artistic environment. Marot began writing poetry at a young age and became a court poet himself, serving under King Francis I. However, Marot's life took a dramatic turn when he converted to Protestantism in 1523. He was forced to flee France and spent several years in exile in Italy and Switzerland. During his time in Switzerland, Marot became acquainted with the Reformed Church and its liturgy. He was particularly impressed by the singing of psalms in the vernacular, which was a new development in the Reformed Church. Marot began to write his own psalm texts in French, which were set to simple melodies and sung by the congregation. Marot's psalms were an instant success and were soon adopted by the Reformed Church in France. However, the psalms were not without controversy. The Catholic Church saw them as a threat to their authority and banned them. The French government also saw them as a threat to social order and banned them as well. Despite the opposition, Marot's psalms continued to be sung by the Reformed Church. They were particularly popular in Geneva, where John Calvin had established a Reformed Church in 1536. Calvin saw the value of congregational singing and encouraged the use of Marot's psalms in the Genevan Church. In 1542, Théodore de Bèze arrived in Geneva to study under Calvin. De Bèze was a talented musician and poet and was soon put in charge of revising and expanding Marot's psalter. De Bèze added new psalm texts and melodies, and also revised some of Marot's original texts. The result was the Genevan Psalter, which was first published in 1562. The Genevan Psalter was an instant success and became an important part of the Reformed Church's liturgy. The psalter was used not only in Geneva but also in other Reformed Churches throughout Europe. The psalter was particularly popular in the Netherlands, where it was used by the Dutch Reformed Church. The Genevan Psalter was also an important influence on the development of Protestant hymnody. The psalter's simple melodies and singable texts were a departure from the complex and ornate music of the Catholic Church. The psalter's emphasis on congregational singing also helped to democratize worship and make it more accessible to the common people. The Genevan Psalter contains 150 psalms, each with its own melody. The melodies are simple and easy to sing, and are based on the rhythms of the French language. The psalms are sung in unison by the congregation, with occasional harmonies provided by the choir or organ. The psalms cover a wide range of themes, from praise and thanksgiving to lament and confession. They are based on the biblical psalms but are translated into the vernacular and adapted for congregational singing. The psalms are still used today in Reformed Churches around the world, and have been translated into many different languages. In addition to the psalms, the Genevan Psalter also contains a number of hymns and canticles. These include the Magnificat, the Nunc Dimittis, and the Ten Commandments.

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