Abstract

This month marks the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. Whilst Luther’s theological and social radicalism has been much discussed, less has been said about his approach to music, the subject that he considered only second in importance to theology. When we think of Lutheran music today our minds turn principally to the music of J. S. Bach, and to what we call ‘Lutheran chorales’. But did Luther actually compose these melodies? And how would Luther have heard them sung, 200 years before Bach fashioned his elaborate harmonisations? My talk will consider these questions, and also give an overview of Luther’s theological understanding of the place of music in public worship.