Recipe for a church hit Martin Luther was far more significant as a musician than commonly assumed Image: DW/K. "On my instrumental CD, which I devoted Luther, I felt most comfortable at the piano with that particular song because it enabled me to put myself in his psychological state." The chorale clearly proved that Luther wasn't just a poet, but also a composer. "My favorite choral is 'Out of the depths I cry to Thee.' Here, Luther seems to be crying out from the depths of his soul, and these are the songs that give me goosebumps," musician Dieter Falk told DW. Over the next 12 months, he composed 24 new such songs.Īmong them is one song that has encouraged many Christians over the past centuries. He also wrote songs to the psalms of the Old Testament, and incorporated basic reformist principles in new songs. Highly motivated, Luther started to translate Latin hymns into German. Its composer came to understand just how powerful a song can be. It was sung all over the text was even printed on flyers. The song appealed to many people and contributed to the spreading of reformist principles. Still haunted by the terrible fate of the martyrs, Luther composed the song "Dear Christians, One And All, Rejoice." In 10 verses, Luther described how God has saved humanity. Read more: Will Catholics and Protestants Reunite?
When was dear christians one and all rejoice written full#
It was full of defiance, says Burkhard Weitz: "When the first martyrs who followed his teachings were burned in Brussels, the reformer was shocked and horrified. That changed in 1523, when he composed his first song. Besides developing his reformatory thoughts and putting them in writing, he had to deal with tough disputes with the pope and the clergy, as well as the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and a Church ban against him.
Things soon got busy - and stressful for Luther. After all, it was his expertise in theology that enabled Luther to take on the Catholic Church in 1517 and transform social and political thought at the threshold of the modern era.
Had he decided differently, the course of history could have been changed. Read more: The Luther effect: How Protestantism went global He played the lute and the German flute, wrote four-part compositions and joined a musical circle - a kind of band.Īs Burkhard Weitz told DW, "He even thought about becoming a musician, but then opted for theology." Later on, he studied theology, music, voice and composition at the Erfurt University. He sang in a church choir and a student choir. And pop means nothing but popular."Īt the young age of 14, Luther was trained in music theory while attending the Latin school in Eisenach. Music from a young age Reformer Martin Luther portrayed by Lucas Cranach the Elder Image: picture alliance/dpa/N.Neetzĭieter Falk, a successful musician and music producer, said, "In my view, Luther was the first pop musician of the church. But he is far less known as a songwriter and musician, although he not only played a key role as a reformer of the Christian faith, but also initiated a new chapter of spiritual music. In the following days, young people roam the town's streets belting out the song, recounts theologian and journalist Burkhard Weitz: "A short while later, the Reformation was introduced in Schweinfurth."įor the past 500 years, Martin Luther (1483-1546) has been known as an eloquent author of theological writings. The congregation wins and the priest flees. So, one Sunday, the churchgoers start singing a song written by church reformer Martin Luther, namely "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Schweinfurt, Germany in 1532: A Catholic congregation would like to join the Reformation, but the priest opposes the move.
0 kommentar(er)
