Sometimes apparently minor personal characteristics of someone can have a major influence on history. Martin Luther was musical. He sang, played the lute and flute, and composed music. This caused him to have a positive view of music in the church. He once said:  “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.”  So Lutherans sing hymns and anthems and use instruments. I’m glad of that, because I think it was music that kept me in church in my teens when others of my age vanished.

I believe Lutheran music reached its zenith in the Baroque era of the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in the music of the three composers commemorated today. I could write about these men and their music, but that seems pointless since the joy of music is in performing it or hearing it. So, here is a performance of Bach’s “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring), sung by the Thomanerchor, a choir Bach himself directed, but performed in a way Bach could never have imagined.

When churches had to resort to online worship during COVID, music was severely curtailed. Here’s an exception. The organist and director are in St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany. The choir boys are at home singing over the internet.

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Holy wisdom, love most bright
Drawn by Thee our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light
Word of God, our flesh that fashioned.
With the fire of life impassioned.
Striving still to truth unknown.
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Read Psalm 98:1 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne