Luther and Music

"We know that music is hateful and intolerable to devils. I firmly believe, nor am I ashamed to assert, that next to theology no art is equal to music; for it is the only one, except theology, which is able to give a quiet and happy mind. This is manifestly proved by the fact that the devil, the author or depressing care and distressing disturbances, almost flees from the sound of music as he does from the word of theology."

"Singing is the finest art and practice. He who is singing has no quarrel with the world and is not concerned with contentions in a law court. Singers are neither worried nor sad but shake all cares from their souls."



* All quatations of Dr. Luther are from: Ewald M. Plass. What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active Christian. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959.

*All pictures of Dr. Luther are from: Gustav Konig and Heinrich Gelzer. Dr. Martin Luther der Deutsche Reformator. Hamburg: Rudolf Besser, 1851.