Collect of the Day
Almighty God, beautiful in majesty and majestic in holiness, You have taught us in Holy Scripture to sing Your praises and have given to Your servant Johann Sebastian Bach grace to show forth Your glory in his music. Continue to grant this gift of inspiration to all Your servants who write and make music for Your people, that with joy we on earth may glimpse Your beauty and at length know the inexhaustible richness of Your creation in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives,and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Bio: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is acknowledged as one of the most famous and gifted composers in the Western world. Orphaned at age ten, Bach was mostly self-taught in music. His professional life as conductor, performer, composer, teacher, and organ consultant began at age nineteen in the town of Arnstadt and ended in Leipzig, where for the last twenty-seven years of his life he was responsible for all the music in the city’s four Lutheran churches. In addition to being a superb keyboard artist, the genius and bulk of Bach’s vocal and instrumental compositions remain overwhelming. A devout and devoted Lutheran, he is especially honored in Christendom for his lifelong insistence that his music was written primarily for the liturgical life of the Church to glorify God and edify His people. (from The Treasury of Daily Prayer, Concordia Publishing House)
In an episode of M*A*S*H, Radar falls for a nurse who is quite cultured and loves classical music. He goes to Hawkeye and Trapper for lessons about classical music. Hawkeye gives Radar the names of some composers and then says, “…then if she mentions Bach, just say, ‘Ahhh, Bach’”. We also can say, Ahhh, Bach! And better: thank you Lord for music! Singing hymns, we pray twice: through the words and through the music. J.S. Bach brought together the Word of God and the music. By God’s grace, he knew both and used both for the Church’s praises of her Savior.
On classical radio stations, they will praise Bach’s prodigious musical talent but seldom the heart of the soul of his gifts: Jesus Christ. When I was at Concordia Junior College, Milwaukee (now Concordia University, Mequon Wisconsin), I took the one credit course on Lutheran Hymnody. Professor “Ollie” Ruprecht pointed out that Bach’s library had around 80 volumes in it. Prof. Rupprecht pointed out that books were quite expensive and about 60 of those volumes were books of orthodox Lutheran theology. Orthodox Lutheran theology is all about proclaiming, praying, teaching and singing Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God. And so did Bach through music in the beauty of holiness.
One of Bach’s most marked set of volumes was Abraham Calov’s 3 book set of Luther’s Bible, with Calov’s commentary. Bach, spending a large part of a year’s salary, purchased a 7 volume edition of Luther’s writings which Calov has based his commentary. Calov wrote regarding Luther:
“It hinders a preacher greatly if he wants to look around and concern himself with what people want to hear and not hear.”
Bach double-marked that sentence for emphasis. We need to double-mark that quote today.
That sentence also sums up Bach’s understanding of music. He would mark on his scores AMG, ad mairorem Dei, to the greater glory of God. He has been called, after Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the 5th evangelist. In his day, he was not known beyond Germany. After his death, his music was rediscovered. His output for 27 years in Leipzig for 4 churches was massive. Bach’s music still preaches,
teaches, inspires, lifts up. Bach’s texts usually were the Bible as he put the Scripture to music. This is true Christian music.
Only two of Bach’s works were ever published in his lifetime. In the age of the Enlightenment, Bach was considered a ‘has-been’ and not well-received. The Word of the Lord endures forever and the Lord gave Johann a gift that he did use to His greater glory and the joy of the Church, which is always, “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring”.
Thank-you Lord for Bach and all church organists, choir directors, choirs and musicians who also through music, especially Bach’s, proclaim the eternal Gospel. Open the ears and hearts of church councils, parish councils and sessions to pay their organists well as they lead Your holy people in the Divine Service. Amen.
The original song continues with these words:
Through the way where hope is guiding
Hark, what peaceful music rings
Where the flock, in Thee confiding
Drink of joy from deathless springs
Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure
Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown
Concordia and Koinonia 
Leave a Reply