Tuesday, October 25, 2005
“The glory of God and the recreation of the human spirit”
The Summer 2005 issue of Christian History includes a brief appreciation of J.S. Bach by Patrick Cavanaugh. It quotes Bach as saying, “Music’s only purpose should be the glory of God and the recreation of the human spirit.”
Calvin Stapert probed the theology of Bach in his book for CICW’s Liturgical Studies Series with Eerdmans, entitled My Only Comfort: Death, Deliverance, and Discipleship in the Music of Bach. Stapert writes:
In the history of Western music, J. S. Bach is unsurpassed, perhaps unequaled, in mastery of technique and profundity of thought. He was a devout Lutheran whose knowledge of Scripture and theology was so broad and deep that the eminent historian of theology Jaroslav Pelikan wrote a book entitled Bach Among the Theologians. Given Bach’s combination of musical prowess, personal devotion, and theological understanding, it is not surprising that his music stands unexcelled among artistic expressions of the Christian faith. MORE…
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