Theology in Music

A blog considering theology as illustrated by Western Art Music

American Music

  • Mission and appropriation in the New World

    In 1631 a Franciscan priest in the ‘Viceroyalty of Peru’ published a liturgical manual setting out Catholic rituals explained in both Spanish and the indigenous language of the area he was working in, Quechua. This book includes what is generally considered to be the earliest work of vocal polyphonic music printed in the New World, Read more

  • To the Glory of God

    Last week’s post concerned The Dream of Gerontius. That work is dedicated using the abreviation A.M.D.G. of the Jesuit motto Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (To the greater glory of God). Benjamin Britten set words of Gerard Manley Hopkins using A.M.D.G. as a title. The same initialism is sometimes asociated with J S Bach, though inacurately: Read more

  • In simple adoration

    In the week of Mothering Sunday, I am reminded that Volume 15 number 86 (December 1951) of Ohio’s Lorenz Music Publishing’s The Organ Portfolio, contains a short piece for organ entitled Adoration. It is by Florence Price, and has become popular, often in rearranged form – the solo violin version seems particularly prominent. Price was Read more