Lyra Davidica

Lyra Davidica refers not to an individual but to an early eighteenth century English hymn and psalm collection first published in 1708. The book contained metrical psalms and hymns along with musical settings intended for congregational singing. Several well known hymn tunes appeared in this collection, including an early form of the melody later associated with the Christmas hymn O Come All Ye Faithful. Because the publication did not always identify individual composers or authors, attribution of specific tunes remains uncertain in some cases. Lyra Davidica played an important role in the development of English congregational hymn singing during the early eighteenth century and influenced later hymnals used in Anglican and Protestant worship.