Luther and the reformation
Luther and the reformationOne of the most significant events of the Renaissance was the religious movement of the Sixteenth Century. This milestone, known as the Protestant Reformation, was the most serious upheaval in the Christian Church since the introduction of Christianity into Europe. Primarily, this revolution was neither political, philosophical, nor literary. It was a revolt that was centrally religious and idealistically moral in its motivation. It did,
however, achieve revolution in politics, philosophy, literature, art, and music in the end, although it was not begun for the sake of these aims.
The German Reformation was directed by a man of genius and energy, Martin Luther. Luther was born November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Thuringia (a province noted for its many musicians even up to the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach). Luther was brought up in the Roman Catholic Church. After attending the Latin Schools at Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach, he entered the University of Erfurt in 1501. From this institution he received the Bachelor's degree in 1502 and the Master's degree in 1505. He entered an Augustinian Monastery on July 17, 1505 to become a monk. Two years later, he was ordained as a priest. In 1508 Luther was appointed Professor of Philosophy at Wittenberg University, and he also studied there subsequently to receive the Doctor of Theology degree in 1512. In 1515 Luther was appointed Augustinian Vicar for Meissen and Thuringia. During the period of his appointment as Vicar, Luther underwent a
modification in his views and beliefs.
It is with music as well as theology that Luther brought about sweeping reforms in the German Church. During Luther's time, congregational chorales were performed in the service without accompaniment. They were most often sung with the...
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