Figure 1.--We see many of Luther making music with children, often his own children. Luther as a boy was a choristr and had a deep appreciation of music, including church music. The use of music in the Church was continued by Luther, but there were very sinificnt change. This painting was done by Ernst Hildebrandt (1833-1924).

The Church that Luther founded is known as the Reformed Church in Germany. Perhaps because there are so many more Protestant (meaning reformed) denominations in America, the church in America is known as the Lutheran Church and there are several Luthern denominations. It is an important American denomination because of the large number of German immigrants. Germany has perhaps the stronget music tradition in Europe. Thus it is not surprising that Martin Luther appreciated music both within and outside the church. Luther was a choir boy St George's (Georgenkirche) in Eisenach so he was very knowledgeable about church music and appreciated it. He learned to play the flute. He would later return to Eisenach to hide from the Emperor. Luther not only loved music, but strongly believed it should continue to have an important role in the Reformed Church. He wrote, "Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our hearts, minds and spirits. A person who does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs!" He did, however, redirect the use of music which had the impact of enriching ecclesiastical music. Luther wanted Christin worship to be conducted in the languages that common people spoke and understood rather than in Latin so they could understand what was being said. He thus appreciated the need for chorales (the melodies to which hymns are sung). Luther actually composed some chorales himself, such as 'A Mighty Fortress'. He also used the plainsong (Gregorian chant) melodies used for centuries in Catholic worship and inserted a new German text. A good example is 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' based on the melody of the Catholic Easter Sequence 'Victimae Paschali Laudes'. Despite the major doctrinal and liturgical reforms, the Reformed Church in Germany was still the most Catholic of all the mainline Protestahnt churches. Luther retained much of the traditional Catholic liturgy in his new orders of worship. These liturgical texts played a small part in the Lutheran Church music. One of the primary reforms Luther ininiated was a return to the Gospels. This led to settings of many Biblical texts that drew from the drama of these scripture verses. We can see this in the new music created by Protestantg composers. A good example is the soaring with multi-choral settings of psalms by Heinrich Schütz. And we see more modest, small-scale works by Geistliche Konzerte for small ensembles of solo voices. While small, the musical impact could be stunning. Schütz was forced to use small vocal formats because of the Thirty Years War (1618-48) which devestated Europe, especially Germany. Society in general was disruoted and not only church choirs. Dramatic choral settings of the Passion story became popular, culminating in Johann Sebastian Bach monumental work, the St. Matthew Passion. Luther’s central belief that faith in Christ overcame personal bondage to sin was dramatized in music by Bach's cantatas. This became the central focus of of worship in Leipzig. Luther was a reformer, but not in areas involving women. He had no interest in allowing women to sing in church. Men and boys continued to provide the musical portion of worship services. This included the Dresdner Kreuzkirche and St. Thomas Church in Leipzig in addition to the court chapels of the Lutheran nobility throughout northern Germany.

Luthern Churches

The Church that Luther founded is known as the Reformed Church in Germany. Perhaps because there are so many more Protestant (meaning reformed) denominations in America, the church in America is known as the Lutheran Church and there are several Luthern denominations. It is an important American denomination because of the large number of German immigrants.

Luther and Music

Germany has perhaps the stronget music tradition in Europe. Thus it is not surprising that Martin Luther appreciated music both within and outside the church. Luther was a choir boy St George's (Georgenkirche) in Eisenach so he was very knowledgeable about church music and appreciated it. He learned to play the flute. He would later return to Eisenach to hide from the Emperor. He wrote extensively about music. Some quotes include, "My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary." And also, "Music is a discipline, and a mistress of order and good manners, she makes the people milder and gentler, more moral and more reasonable." He wrote, "Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our hearts, minds and spirits. A person who does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs!"

Music in the Church

Luther not only loved music, but strongly believed it should continue to have an important role in the Reformed Church. He did, however, redirect the use of music which had the impact of enriching ecclesiastical music. Luther wanted Christin worship to be conducted in the languages that common people spoke and understood rather than in Latin so they could understand what was being said. He thus appreciated the need for chorales (the melodies to which hymns are sung). Luther actually composed some chorales himself, such as 'A Mighty Fortress'. He also used the plainsong (Gregorian chant) melodies used for centuries in Catholic worship and inserted a new German text. A good example is 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' based on the melody of the Catholic Easter Sequence 'Victimae Paschali Laudes'.

Doctrine and Liturgy

Despite the major doctrinal and liturgical reforms, the Reformed Church in Germany was still the most Catholic of all the mainline Protestahnt churches. Luther retained much of the traditional Catholic liturgy in his new orders of worship. These liturgical texts played a small part in the Lutheran Church music. One of the primary reforms Luther ininiated was a return to the Gospels. This led to settings of many Biblical texts that drew from the drama of these scripture verses. We can see this in the new music created by Protestantg composers. A good example is the soaring with multi-choral settings of psalms by Heinrich Schütz. And we see more modest, small-scale works by Geistliche Konzerte for small ensembles of solo voices. While small, the musical impact could be stunning. Schütz was forced to use small vocal formats because of the Thirty Years War (1618-48) which devestated Europe, especially Germany.

Dramatic Coral Settings

ociety in general was disrupted and not only church choirs. Dramatic choral settings of the Passion story became popular, culminating in Johann Sebastian Bach monumental work, the St. Matthew Passion. Luther’s central belief that faith in Christ overcame personal bondage to sin was dramatized in music by Bach's cantatas. This became the central focus of of worship in Leipzig.

Gender

Luther was a reformer, but not in areas involving women. He had no interest in allowing women to sing in church. Men and boys continued to provide the musical portion of worship services. This included the Dresdner Kreuzkirche and St. Thomas Church in Leipzig in addition to the court chapels of the Lutheran nobility throughout northern Germany.

Created: 9:00 PM 12/9/2012
Last updated: 9:00 PM 12/9/2012