CONSTANCE SONGBOOK

(Constance, 1540)

   The most influential of Swiss Reform songbooks, actually the third edition of precedents published in Zurich (1st ed. 1533–34; 2nd ed. not later than 1537), compiled by poets Ambrosius Blaurer and Johannes Zwick, containing 67 metrical psalms, and 83 other songs, some for domestic use only. There are only 71 different melodies. Zwick’s preface contradicts the reform ideals of Huldrych Zwingli, who incorporated no singing in his liturgy.