Johann Walter – Composer and Poet
On April 24 the church commemorates Johann Walter, the first Lutheran kantor (brief bio). This year I’m sharing a selection of his poem “In Praise of the Noble Art of Music” that Carl Schalk included in Music in Early Lutheranism. Schalk notes that Walter’s musical “work was clearly related to the theology of the church and his understanding—which he derived from Luther—that the role of music in the church was to proclaim the Word rather than to interpret it.”
Shakespeare and Church Musicians
In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” we find Juliet in a conundrum. The problem? Romeo, the love of her life, is a Montague — the family that is warring with her family, the Capulets. Juliet determines (in a soliloquy no less) that the name Montague is the issue, not Romeo himself.
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
In other words, the name is not important as the underlying object.
So how does this relate to church musicians? Here’s your test: How many different names can you find for “church musician?” Think about it — I’ll wait.
Johann Walter – First Lutheran Kantor
On April 24 (based on the Calendar of Commemorations for Lutheran Service Book), the church remembers Johann Walter – the first Lutheran kantor. Here is a brief biography from the LCMS Commission on Worship page.
The Kantor "Attitude"
“. . . The Lutheran cantor viewed the use of his artistic gifts primarily as a summons from God to preach the Gospel. He did not consider himself an individual artist who was to receive honor and acclaim through his own doing. He regarded his work as existing only for the reason of purposeful union with God and the church.” (Key Words in Music [1978 ed], editor Carl Schalk, page 47)
So What Does a Kantor Do?
When I did a Google search to see how others defined a “Kantor” or “Cantor”, I didn’t find too much. I found the obvious — who were Kantors, but not what they did.
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