1. from the music benefit and power.
2. from singing.
3. from David's music.
4. of secular and spiritual songs.
5. music should not be despised.
1. from the music benefit and power.
(The first paragraph in Cordatus No. 493.)
A very good and divine gift is music, by which many temptations are dispelled. Therefore, the devil hates it very much and does not persevere with it. 1)
1) Cf. Cap. 24, § 121, and § 2 and § 5 of this Cap.
(This paragraph in Cordatus No. 683.)
Music is a very good art, through which the notes can bring the text to life. It drives away all sadness of spirit, as it is written by Saul. The nobles believe they have saved my most gracious lord three thousand florins a year on music, but in the meantime they are wasting it on him.
useless thirty thousand guilders. Princes and kings must preserve music and the other arts.
H[erzog] Georg, the Landgrave of Hesse, and H[erzog] Friedrich, Elector of Saxony, kept singers and cantors; now the Duke of Bavaria, King Ferdinand and Emperor Carl keep them. Therefore, it is found in the Bible that the pious kings ordered, kept and paid singers.
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, Aug. 8, 1538, p. 111.)
Music is the best refreshment for a sorrowful person, if he sings even a little. As that [poet] said:Tu calamos inflare leves, Ego dicere versus. (Virg. Eclog. V, 2.) Sing thou the notes, and I will sing the words.
Musica is half a discipline and disciplinarian, which makes people softer and gentler, more decent and more sensible. The evil fiddlers and violinists serve to make us see and hear how musica is one of his good arts: for white things can be better recognized if black things are held up against them.
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, l7 Dec. 1538, p. 192.)
On December 17, there were some singers who sang wonderful motets. Since Luther admired them, he said: "If our Lord God has given such noble gifts to the shithouse in this life, what will happen in that eternal life, where everything will be completely perfect and most lovely? But here is only the rough material [materia prima].
I have always loved musicam. He who knows this art is of a good nature, capable of everything. Musicam must be kept in schools because of necessity. A schoolmaster must be able to sing, otherwise I will not look at him. Young journeymen should not be appointed to the preaching ministry, for they have tried and practiced well in school.
When some fine, lovely motets of Senfels were sung, D. M. Luther was astonished and praised them very much. M. Luther was astonished and praised them very much, and said: "I would not be able to make such a motet, even if I were to tear myself apart, just as he, in turn, would not be able to preach a psalm as I do. Therefore the gifts of the Holy Spirit are diverse, just as in one body there are many gifts.
are all limbs. But no one is satisfied with his gift, is not satisfied with what God has given him; they all want to be the whole body, not limbs.
(This paragraph to "skillful people" in Lauterbach, April 5, 1538, p. 56.)
Afterwards, in the house of D. Wolf Reißenbusch, singers were singing at the table, Luther said: "Music is an excellent gift of God and the closest to theology. I did not want to deprive myself of my little music [for] something great, and the youth must be accustomed to this art, it makes fine skilful people. The beautiful, excellent gift of God, to speak, is very strange in the world; for although all men are especially born to speak, and many can speak languages, yet speaking is a strange gift. Gregory Bridge can talk.
2. singing.
(Cordatus No. 468.)
Singing is the best art and exercise. A singer has nothing to do in the world. For singers do not have to deal with disputes in courts of law, do not worry and are not sad, but shake off all sorrows from their hearts.
3. David's Musica.
Doctor M. Luther once said to a harpist: "Dear, play me a little song like the one David played. I think that if David were to rise from the dead now, he would be very surprised at how high people would get with music. It has never been higher than now. When David played the harp, it would be like the Magnificat anima mea Dominum, in octavo tono, because David did not have a decachordum.
4. of western and spiritual songs.
And further said: How is it that in Carnalibus we have so many fine poems and so many beautiful Carmen, and in Spiritualibus we have so coldly lazy things; et recitabat aliquas Germanicas cantilenas, den.
Thurnier from the full. I think this is the reason, as St. Paul says Rom. 7, 23: Video aliam legem repugnantem in membris meis, it does not want to flow there, it does not happen there as it does there. In Ecclesiasticis commendabat praecipue illud: Vita in ligno. Et dicebat, tempore Gregorii illud et similia esse composita, ante ejus tempora non fuisse. There have been some fine schoolmasters and parish priests who have made such carmina and poemata, and received them accordingly. The schools did most of the work in the church, and the parish priests were the ecclesiastics, and they worked. No one else took care of the youth. After that, it was corrupted by the monasteries and the convents, which were also schools at first, sed cum creverunt opibus, so they put off the work. The dear Mother of God, Mary, had much more beautiful singing and more than her child Jesus.
A beautiful sequence is sung in Advent: Mittitur ad Virginem etc.. It is not so coarse, but rather well-crafted. St. Mary has been celebrated more in grammatica, musica and rhetorica than her child, Jesus.
5. do not despise the musicam.
Who despises the musicam (said D. M. Luther), as all enthusiasts do, I am not satisfied with them. For the Musica is a gift and present of God, not a gift of man. Thus it also drives away evil, and makes people happy: one forgets all anger, unchastity, pride, and other vices. According to theology, I give musica the closest locum and highest honor. And one sees how David and all the saints have put their godly thoughts into verses, rhymes and songs. Quia pacis tempore regnat Musica.