Tag Archives: Schalk

Pre-Bach: Shaping the Tradition

It seems fitting that on the eve of the commemoration of J.S. Bach’s death that I have just finished reading “Music in Early Lutheranism: Shaping the Tradition (1524-1672)” by Carl Schalk. (As a side note: CPH is having a phenomenal sale on books. I picked up Schalk’s book for only $15.00 (normally $32.00) and both volumes of Sasse’s Lonely Way for only $10.00 each (normally $21.00)).

Schalk’s premise is that while Bach is often considered the culmination of Lutheran church music in the 18th century, there was a period of 150 years before Bach that paved the way for the climate that he encountered. In other words, Bach did not just arrive on the scene and say “I have arrived.”

Schalk reviews the life and musical works of seven influential Lutheran musicians in the 150 years after the Reformation.

  • Johann Walter: First Cantor of the Lutheran Church
  • Georg Rhau: Printer of Early Reformation Music
  • Hans Leo Hassler: Herald of the Transition to the “New Style”
  • Michael Praetorius: Conservator of the Chorale
  • Johann Hermann Schein” Cantor of St. Thomas, Leipzig
  • Samuel Scheidt: Musician of Halle
  • Heinrich Schuetz: Tone Poet of Saxony

While I knew a little bit about Walter, Rhau, and Schuetz, it was enlightening to understand their background and the roots of Lutheran music and see the kinds of music they composed. For example, during the Thirty Years War Schuetz’s compositions became simpler — just a couple vocal parts, several instruments, and basso continuo to account for more limited musical resources and financial support.

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Invitation to Sing

When I went back to an Organist Workshop last summer at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, Kantor Resch reminded us of the importance of how we introduce and lead hymns. Subconsciously I knew this, but it was good to be reminded and reinforced.

As I recall, Kantor Resch referred to the hymn introduction as an “Invitation to Sing.” If the introduction is “blah”, the singing will be “blah” as well. The “invitation” by the organist gives a foretaste of what is to come. One of the primary responsibilities of the organist is to engage God’s people in song.

Sometimes the introduction will be playing the entire hymn through once. Sometimes it will be the first and last music phrases. For me this can get a bit repetitive and rather uncreative. More often than not I will either improvise an introduction, use an introduction from one of the organ books in my library, or repurpose a portion of an organ piece from another composer.

The idea for this blog post came after a number of people from church over the last week complimented me on the introductions and accompaniments for a number of the hymns. I was told they were creative, engaging, and reflective of the texts. I can’t take credit for them all — some of them were my own improvisations, but a number of them came from the works of Carl Schalk, Jeffrey Blersch, and Kevin Hildebrand. If any of you organist’s out there do not have Hildebrand’s newest organ collection, Bethlehem’s Rose – 12 Easy Chorale Preludes, get it for the 2008 Christmas season.

P.S. I do not work for or get any commissions from Concordia Publishing House. ;-) I just happen to use a lot of the organ music that they publish.