As I was browsing at the music store in Portland on Saturday, a quote from Luther came to mind:
Many books does not make one learned, nor much reading either; rather to read a good thing and to read it often, regardless of how little it is, that makes one learned in the Scriptures.
I think something similar could be said for church musicians in relation to their musical repertoire and libraries. Publishing companies continue to entice us with their latest offerings; yet we still have existing music waiting to be learned or looked at. To buy or not to buy? The related and potentially better question is: What is the Lutheran musician’s core repertoire (besides the hymnal)?
A few weeks back, Paul McCain at Cyberbrethren wrote about The Essential Lutheran Library — a core list of absolute essential reading for every Lutheran.
What about a core list of The Essential Lutheran Library – Musician Edition (aka., TELL ME)? With the abundance of music currently available, it is mind numbing to go through stacks of music or publisher catalogs looking where to allocate scarce financial resources. I acknowledge that each musician has unique gifts and interests, but there seems to be a core to build from.
My personal music library has developed as a result of recommendations (and gifts) of friends and mentors. I would be at a loss without the music of Paul Manz or the Church Organist’s Golden Treasury. But there are others that have become part of my musical personality — Bach, Buxtehude, Behnke, Blersch and Burkhardt — to name a few. I once contemplated this theoretical question – If my entire organ music library was destroyed by fire or flood, or lost by a moving company (which did happen to someone I know), and I only had X dollars to replace it, what would I get? It’s a question that I don’t have an answer for yet. What are the “good things”, as Luther put it?
There you have it. An unanswered question and food for thought. Your comments are welcome and encouraged.
P.S. My music shopping expedition resulted in two volumes of Christmas music by David Cherwien and a collection of hymn harmonizations.
Hmmm. How about hymnal accompaniment editions?
@Dan – The hymnal accompaniment editions (hymnal and liturgy) would be at the top of the list. I might even add the Guitar/Chord edition – I like to sit at the piano, play around with the chords, and improvise on the hymn tunes.
@Sam – Yep – the Achzig (80 Chorale Preludes) seems to be a staple of Lutheran organists. It’s such a staple that I’ve been given two copies from retiring organists. Once I wear out the one that gets transported back and forth to church in the music bag, I’ll have a backup.
@Nathan – It looks like our libraries are probably quite similar. I have a couple of Ore’s books (vol 1, 2, and 6) – though I don’t use them as often as the others.
I spent part of the day thinking about my “list” and this is what I’ve come up with (so far). The titles of the works are not exact – I’m going from memory.
I really like this book: http://www.amazon.com/Chroralvorspiele-deutscher-Jahrhunderts-gottesdienstlichen-Gebrauch/dp/B001DT7J42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249910484&sr=8-1
It is unfortunately out of stock at amazon right now, but it was recommended to me by my organ teacher, and I’ve found quite excellent.
Great idea!
I am a fan of all of the above: Manz, Blersch, Burkhardt, Behnke, Bach. I also like Ore’s Eleven Compositions for Organ series, especially vol. 3-7.
I inherited collections of Flor Peeters and Healey Willan chorale preludes and find them quite useful. I also do use the Concordia Hymn Prelude Series and the Hymnal Supplement 98 Prelude series.
I would also recommend Hildebrand and Hobby’s Three Evening Hymns, sets 1 and 2. And you can’t forget Achzig, which has been very helpful (and which I think was reference by Sam).
That’s what I have off the top of my head. Good thoughts!
Chris,
Yes, we do seem to have very similar libraries. I actually just inherited the Organist’s Golden Treasury but have not cataloged it yet, so it doesn’t come up when I search for voluntaries. You may want to get Ore volumes 3 and 5. 3 has a great setting of Lift High the Cross and 5 has several good ones, including his great setting of I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb. It certainly looks like we have similar tastes in chorale preludes.