 In 1542 , Calvin adapted a service book used in Strasbourg , publishing La Forme des Prières et Chants Ecclésiastiques ( The Form of Prayers and Church Hymns ) . Calvin recognised the power of music and he intended that it be used to support scripture readings . The original Strasbourg psalter contained twelve psalms by Clément Marot and Calvin added several more hymns of his own composition in the Geneva version . At the end of 1542 , Marot became a refugee in Geneva and contributed nineteen more psalms . Louis Bourgeois , also a refugee , lived and taught music in Geneva for sixteen years and Calvin took the opportunity to add his hymns , the most famous being the Old Hundredth . 
