Theology in Music

A blog considering theology as illustrated by Western Art Music

J S Bach

  • True guidance in need and danger

    A short post for the end of the year 2025, and what could the subject be but Bach’s short chorale prelude on Das alte Jahr vergangen ist (the old year is past, BWV 614) from his Orgelbüchlein. The text of the chorale thanks the Lord Jesus Christ for having guided us so faithfully in need Read more

  • A Call that pierces the night

    So closely do I, an organist, associate the first Schübler Chorale (BWV 645) with Advent, that I always find myself surprised to remember – even though I know I have known it for a long time – that the cantata on which it is based (BWV 140) was written not for Advent Sunday, but for the Read more

  • The sweet song of the healing Word

    The 20th of August 1724 was a Sunday, and as was his wont the cantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig – someone you may well have heard of, J Sebastian Bach – had composed a cantata based on an existing chorale which had resonances with the readings of the day, in this case the parable Read more

  • How wretched am I really, and what do I need to do about it?

    Another composer who is likely to have been awaited by readers of a blog with this title is the great J Sebastian Bach, mountain of the North German musical landscape and foundation stone of much teaching of music theory. Ash Wednesday gives me an excuse to return to a set work from my A Level Read more