The popularity of Psalm setting in the time of the Protestant Reformation is a topic that has seldom been explored in depth. By analyzing the Genevan Psalter, this thesis exposes the investigation of the inspiration veiled behind the masterpieces of Psalm 128 as set by three composers; Claude Goudimel, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, and Heinrich Schütz. This music of the late Renaissance or early Baroque has been affected by outside incentives such as religion, culture, nationality, and the nature of the Reformation itself. By exploring the history of Psalmody during the Reformation, the experiences that each of these composers faced during their lifetimes, and by comparing their 128th Psalm settings, it can be determined why the fashion of Psalm setting evolved during this era and whether or not the music has withstood the test of time
