Out of Love for the Truth: Martin Luther and Music of the Reformation

Schola Cantorum of Eau Claire will perform at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Menomonie on Friday, May 12, at 7:30pm; and again on Saturday, May 13, at 7:30pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. The concert traces choral music tradition in Germany and Austria, and how it has changed in the dawn of Lutheranism. The title of the program “Out of Love for the Truth” is a translation of the first few words (“Aus Liebe zur Wahrheit”) in the Ninety-Five Theses, which Martin Luther penned and published 500 years ago in 1517. The document pointed out the problems in the contemporary practice of selling indulgence, letters that could be purchased from the Catholic Church to essentially pre-approve sins. It sparked fierce debates, eventually leading to the Reformation and Protestant denominations. In the early days of Lutheranism, Luther wrote new worship music in the German language, some of which were based on well-known Catholic chants. As such, Schola’s musical selection will include music of the Catholic Church by German composers, as well as Lutheran music that grew out of that tradition since the 16th century through 19th century. Composers include J.S. Bach, Brahms, Eccard, Hassler, Luther, Praetorius, Resinarius, Scheidt, Schein, Schütz, Walter and Zaphelius.