This Sunday marks the annual observance of Reformation Sunday, when we remember with thanksgiving God’s hand of providence in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, the German monk who launched the Reformation by posting 95 theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, had a prolific engagement with music and poetry. Hymnals which included either tunes or texts by Luther appeared as early as 1524, and he worked closely with Johann Walter (the composer of Christ Lag In Todesbanden) to prepare music for a German language worship service. Luther famously wrote both the music and text of A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (a paraphrase of Psalm 46), but he also provided the poetry for Christ Jesus Lay In Death’s Strong Bands and adapted a previously existing folk song for use with his Christmas hymn, From Heaven On High (all of which we’ll sing this morning). He also believed that music and singing were such vital practices for the Christian that he greatly encouraged the development of musical education in the emerging German states—an effort that certainly encouraged the flowering of German musical culture in the following centuries, an example of theology working its way out in the life of a people.
—Henry C. Haffner
