The 16th Century

Luther's theology of church music was guided by several basic understandings.

Music was God's creation and good gift to us, not our gift to God.
It was to be used in praise of God and proclamation of the good news of the Gospel.
Church music was liturgical music. It was music that helped people celebrate the liturgy and engaged their participation.
Music in the church was the song of royal priests and a sign of continuity with the whole church.

Luther believed the central point about music in the life and worship of the church was that it was God's creation and God's good gift to his people.

"I would certainly like to praise music with all my heart as the excellent gift of God which it is and to commend it to everyone . . . (LW 53:321)

And you, my young friend, let this noble, wholesome, and cheerful creation of God be commended to you . . . At the same time you may by this creation accustom yourself to recognize and praise the Creator. (LW 53:324)

A person who gives this some thought and yet does not regard it [music] as a marvelous creation of God, must be a clodhopper indeed and does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs. (Buszin, Luther on Music, 1958, p. 6)

Music is an outstanding gift of God and next to theology, I would not want to give up my slight knowledge of music for a great consideration. And youth should be taught this art: for it makes fine, skillful people. (Plass, What Luther Says, p. 979)

I am not satisfied with him who despises music, as all fanatics do; for music is an endowment and a gift of God, not a gift of men . . . I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise." (Plass, What Luther Says, p. 980)

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