Lutheran worship continued to use the historic Mass in the context of
the Church Year. The
influence of Reformed practice, Pietism, and Rationalism significantly
influenced Lutheran worship. In many places the liturgy's complexity was
reduced. Simple Pietistic hymns were substituted for traditional chorales
in order to make worship more personally devotional.
Complicated polyphonic music was valued by some, but opera's influence
led many to desire simple settings of Biblical texts.
Order of a Lutheran Mass
Leipzig churches retained the traditional Lutheran Mass and Vespers services
with modifications. The following outlines identify the particulars of
the Leipzig services on ordinary Sundays of the Church Year.
Order of the Mass at Leipzig's Main Churches on Ordinary Sundays
Congregation and Organ
Choir
Preacher and Ministers
Prelude
Polyphonic Motet
Prelude
Polyphonic Kyrie
Intone Latin Gloria in Excelsis
Polyphonic Gloria in Excelsis
Salutation
Collect
Epistle
Prelude
Hymn of the Day
Gospel (chant?)
Creed (Latin Chant
Prelude
Cantata, Part I
Prelude
Creed Hymn ("We All believe
in one true God")
Announce Sermon
Prelude
Sermon Hymn
Sermon Text
Lord's Prayer
Sermon
Prayers
Announcements
Peace
Prelude
Communion Hymn
Preface
Communion
Notes on the Order of the Mass in Leipzig:
1. Polyphonic hymns would precede and follow the Mass on festivals. The
Sanctus (without Hosanna and Benedictus) and Agnus Dei would follow the
Preface.
2. In Lent, the organ did not participate and the Cantata was not sung.
The opening and closing polyphonic hymns were not performed. The Kyrie,
Gloria in Excelsis, and Sanctus were chanted, not sung in polyphony. A
Litany was sung after the Epistle and the choir chanted the Creed in Latin
after the pastor's intonation.
3. The service began at 7:00 a.m. and lasted three hours. The sermon was
one hour long.
4. Normal church attendance was 2,000 people.
5. The cantor chose the hymns of the service. Bach's preference was a
repertoire of traditional chorales.
For more information about Mass and Vespers service outlines in Leipzig
see Christoph Wolff, Johann Sebastian Bach, the Learned Scholar (New York,
2000), pp. 235-259, and Guenther Stiller, Johann Sebastian Bach and Liturgical
Life in Leipzig (St. Louis, 1984) explores in detail many aspects of Leipzig
worship.
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