![]() What were Luther’s beliefs about music? What role did it play in worship? And what did Luther himself contribute musically to the church? In Praise of Musicīy the sixteenth century, musical composition had developed into a high art, and Luther himself was a well-trained musician. Modern Lutheran hymnals may contain twenty or more of his hymns, and many non-Lutheran hymnals include several. In fact, Luther’s hymns-especially “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”-are the only direct contact many people have with Luther. “Who doubts,” he said, “that originally all the people sang these which now only the choir sings or responds to while the bishop is consecrating?” Music in congregational worship remains one of Luther’s most enduring legacies. “I am not of the opinion,” he wrote, “that all arts are to be cast down and destroyed on account of the gospel, as some fanatics protest on the other hand, I would gladly see all arts, especially music, in the service of him who has given and created them.” Only unison singing of the Psalms was permitted. He considered instrumental music “senseless and absurd” and disallowed harmonies. Thus, its role in the church was severely limited. John Calvin, though he considered music a gift of God, saw it as a gift only in the worldly domain. Though Zwingli later permitted some vocal music, he rejected instrumental music. ![]() Yet under his influence, Zurich’s magistrates banned all playing of organs, and some of Zwingli’s followers went about smashing organs in their churches. Ulrich Zwingli, leader of the new church in Zurich, was a trained musician. He thus stood in sharp contrast to other reformers of his era. ![]() “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise,” Luther declared.
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