55 4 “With Psalms and Hymns” The Reformation, Music, and Liturgy Walter Hilbrands THE ROLE OF HYMNS IN THE REFORMATION W ithout the Protestant hymns, the Reformation would have likely taken an altogether diferent course. Some have argued that these new songs played an important role in the spreading of the ideas of the Reformation, possibly even a larger role than the sermons and the many writ- ings of the Reformers. Eugen Eckert expressed this aptly, “he Reformation was ultimately spread through song, not through preaching or writing.” 1 According to historical tradition, the church in Schweinfurt sang Ref- ormation hymns before and ater the sermon: At the very least they sang in the chapel of the Carmelite mon- astery (for this was not allowed in the main church) German Psalms, always before the sermon, if one was held, and ater- ward, every time a song: “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” his could not be forbidden by the Provincial of the Carmelite order, 1 Eckert, “Reformatorische Risiken,” 9. Translations from the German are mine, unless otherwise indicated.