The Melody of the Reformation

A nightingale knows up to 260 verse types. Thus, the songbird is not only famous for its talent but also for its comprising repertoire. These two attributes explain why Martin Luther was already known as “nightingale of Wittenberg” during his lifetime. The reformer used his musicality to write numerous church songs thus creating a fund for eternity. It is thanks to his poetry and melodies that singing plays an important role in Protestant church culture until today.

Luther always considered music to be a crucial element of faith. That is why he declared it to be the “gift of God that drives away the devil and makes man happy”. Since church songs played a decisive role in the spreading of religious concerns, music was far more than just mere enjoyment during the time of Reformation. In , this symbiosis cannot only be found at historical sites. The melodious heritage is still an inherent part of today's vibrating cultural landscape.

Martin Luther – Source of inspiration for highly gifted musicians

None other than himself helped Protestant church music reach its heyday. The grandmaster of Baroque regarded himself as a devoted Lutheran and dedicated himself to the poetry of the reformer. In transforming it into polyphonic pieces, chorales and organ plays, Bach provided the Reformation with a diverse melody. The artist’s life and work are presented to posterity in , the musical landscape of which he had shaped for 27 years. For instance, history enthusiasts can explore the Leipzig Bach Museum and St Thomas Church on a tour along the Leipzig Music Trail (“Notenspur”). Another must-do is a visit to the Grassi Museum for musical instruments where numerous exhibits from the Baroque era can be seen.

Although Bach was already appreciated during his lifetime, if mainly as an organ expert and virtuoso player,it was not before the 19th century that his work reached a new dimension of acknowledgement. In big parts this is owed to Bartholdy who also worked in Leipzig and was deeply inspired by the works of the Baroque master. Merely a child, the musician converted to Protestantism expressing his deep religiousness in numerous compositions. Bartholdy’s last dwelling, where the romanticist also completed his oratory “Elias”, is now one of the cultural centres of Leipzig and presents an exhibition on the life and work of the exceptional artist.

Strong-voiced heirs of Reformation

For centuries, not one but two Saxon boys’ have been known to be “especially worth hearing”: the St Thomas Boys Choir (“Thomanerchor”) in Leipzig and the Holy Cross Boys Choir (“Kreuzchor”) in Dresden. Both share an exceptional sound and above all the task to maintain the Protestant treasury of songs. That is why the works of Johann Sebastian Bach can be enjoyed on a regular basis during and concerts of the Thomanerchor. Interestingly enough, the singers were also constant companions to Luther. For example, the Thomanerchor performed when the Leipzig Debate was opened with a mass at St Thomas Church in 1519. 20 years later, Luther was accompanied by their high voices when he held his speech at the introduction of the Protestant faith as state religion in the Duchy of Saxony.

In Dresden, the state capital, the Kreuzchor maintains not only the works of Bach but also the songs by Heinrich Schütz. The “Father of German Music” who worked during the times of the Thirty Years’ War created a new quality of Protestant church music. Every fall, his works come to life again during the Heinrich Schütz Music Festival. Then the Kreuzchor, which turned 800 in 2016, revives the compositions of the first German composer that was appreciated all over the world.

Cornerstone for a resounding branch of industry

Without the Reformation Saxony might not be known as the center of the production of musical instruments today: When heretics were expelled from their homeland after the Peace of Augsburg, religious refugees from Bohemia settled in the Vogtland. Quite a piece of luck for religion. Because among the refugees there were violin makers who settled in Markneukirchen, Klingenthal and Schöneck.

With the foundation of the first German guild of musical instrument production in 1677 began the melodious success story of the Vogtland. With more than 1,000 people it is the most significant location of musical instrument production in Europe today. During exciting show presentations in the workshops, visitors to Markneukirchen can experience how the bodies are manufactured with high precision and love for detail. A visit to the Museum of Musical Instruments is especially recommended. Its approximately 3,000 exhibits show the different facets of this artistic craft.

Musical highlights on the 500th anniversary of Reformation 2016-2018

• 09 – 11/12/2016: Christmas Oratory with the Kreuzchor at the Church of the Holy Cross in Dresden

• 01/07/ – 31/08/2017: Monday concerts at the Bach monument – Musiksommer Leipzig International, courtyard of the St Thomas Church in Leipzig

• 08/09/2017 – 28/01/2018: Exhibition “Bach and Luther”, Leipzig Bach Museum

• 28/04/2017 Premiere of the musical “In Gottes eigenem Land” (In God’s own Land) - International Theater Project of the Landesbühnen Sachsen Theatre Radebeul on the occasion of the Reformation anniversary 2017

• 25 – 28/05/2017: “Kirchentag auf dem Weg” (Protestant church conventions) under the motto “The Leipzig Sound: Music. Debate. Life.” with trombone meeting, Leipzig

• 09 – 18/06/2017: Leipzig Bach Festival “Ein schoen new Lied – Music and Reformation”, Leipzig

• 06 – 15/10/2017: Heinrich Schütz Music Festival, Dresden

• Regular motets at the Thomaskirche Church: Fridays 6 pm and Saturdays 3 pm (except during Saxon school holidays)

• Regular vespers at the Church of the Holy Cross in Dresden: Saturdays 5 pm (except during Saxon school holidays)

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