Lutheran Kantor » Walter

Johann Walter – Composer and Poet

Chris — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:55:17 +0000

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.”

That such unmerited free grace
(Which God from love for all our race
Had promised in His Word) might be
Kept fresh in human memory
And move the heart to high delight
In praising God both day and night—

This is the weightiest reason why
God music did at once supply.
Then too, since sin acquired at birth
Would bring to Adam’s seed on earth
Much woe and—earth itself now spoiled—
Small joy in all for which they toiled,
As antidote against that blight,
To keep man’s life from wilting quite,
And also to rejoice the heart,
God soon supplied sweet music’s art.
——
I have just named two reasons why
God gave us music from on high.
These reasons teach us we must use
The gift from heaven as God would choose:
By it let God be glorified;
Then let it be our help and guide.

Thanks for reading Johann Walter – Composer and Poet.

Johann Walter – First Lutheran Kantor

Chris — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:10:58 +0000

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.

Johann Walter, Kantor
Johann Walter (1496-1570) began service at the age of 21 as a composer and bass singer in the court chapel of Frederick the Wise. In 1524, he published a collection of hymns arranged according to the church year. It was well received and served as the model for numerous subsequent hymnals. In addition to serving for 30 years as kantor (church musician) in the cities of Torgau and Dresden, he also assisted Martin Luther in the preparation of the Deutsche Messe (1526). Walter is remembered as the first Lutheran kantor and composer of church music.

Thanks for reading Johann Walter – First Lutheran Kantor.

So What Does a Kantor Do?

Chris — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:30:00 +0000

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. Johann Walter was the first Lutheran Kantor. J.S. Bach is a familiar name.

One resource that was enlightening was from the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians in their Employment Guide on the Placement portion of their website. This Guide offers job descriptions of various church musician positions, but it also begins with a page in calligraphy entitled “Role of the Cantor.” This is what the ALCM has to say:

The Role of the Cantor

The Cantor – the historical term among Lutherans – is the leader of the people’s song.
The Cantor is responsible for leading the musical expression of the people — the assembly, choral groups, solo singers, and instrumentalists. Among whom organists have been especially important for Lutherans.
The Cantor uses whatever musical resources are available, using them in a manner appropriate to the talents of those serving and the needs of the people who are served.
The Cantor leads the earthly assembly in a foretaste of John’s vision of the heavenly in which all creatures give praise, honor, glory, and power to the Lamb.
The Cantor’s work is a worthy service to God, God’s people, and the world.
It is a high and holy calling.

This gives a bit of insight into the vocation of a Kantor.

Thanks for reading So What Does a Kantor Do?.