5-2-16<\/p>\n
The great composer Johann Sebastian Bach, who lived between 1685 and 1750, universally is regarded as one of the great music-makers of the human race; certainly on almost every critic\u2019s list of the great composers of all time.<\/p>\n
Bach received additional plaudits when in 1977 the Voyager spacecraft was sent to nowhere in particular except up, with the hope that, hurtling beyond the solar system and maybe the galaxy, it might some day intersect some civilization in a remote part of the universe. Perhaps, it was hoped, aliens would discover and understand something of mankind from the spacecraft\u2019s unique payload \u2013 a copper and gold alloy disk with images and music, estimated by its designers \u201cto last a billion years.\u201d <\/p>\n
Among the playlist of global music, Bach was the only composer represented thrice: the Second Brandenburg Concerto<\/em>, first movement, performed by Karl Richter and the Munich Bach Orchestra; the Gavotte from the Violin Partita No. 3<\/em>; and the Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier<\/em>, Book 2 were chosen to represent humankind\u2019s creative profile. <\/p>\n At the time, biologist Lewis Thomas was asked what he would have nominated for this message to unknown civilizations about humankind. \u201cThe complete works of J.S. Bach,\u201d he suggested. \u201cBut that would be boasting.\u201d<\/p>\n Such are the sorts of tributes due to Old Bach, among countless heartfelt tributes when trained musicians and common laymen and everyone in between have their hearts melt and their souls stirred by his music.<\/p>\n Bach himself saw his music \u2013 and his entire life \u2013 as a tribute, instead, in all humility and with his priorities straight, to God Almighty. He was aware, but not vain, about his music-making gifts, gifts from God. Therefore his talents deserved to be raised up to God. In his life, he was first a Christian; second a family man; third, a man who made music. He made music, wrote music, composed music, taught music, was an innovator of music, breathed<\/em> music, as did his family tree of 40-odd Bachs before, during, and after his own lifetime.<\/p>\n More than half of his approximately 1800 compositions (1200 of which survive) were of Christian focus: cantatas and chorales, motets and masses, Passions and Oratorios. <\/p>\n Yet for all his mighty \u201csecular\u201d works of keyboard and organ pieces, suites and concerti, songs and fugues (whew!)\u2026 he viewed all of them, too, to be written as unto the Lord<\/em>. He knew the Source of his inspiration, and the One to whom credit was due.<\/p>\n Bach began virtually every composition, even his secular music, with a blank paper on which he wrote, Jesu, juva<\/em> (\u201cJesus, help me\u201d) on the upper left corner of the first page; and Soli Deo Gloria<\/em> (\u201cTo God alone the glory\u201d) on the bottom right corner of the finished ending. <\/p>\n His was a personal relationship with the Savior, not a professional duty even when he was employed by churches. <\/p>\n Such \u201cbookends\u201d were as anointing oil over all of Bach\u2019s creative work. So did he begin and end his days \u2013 and his life \u2013 with such petition and praise: \u201cJesus, help me\u201d and \u201cTo God alone be all the glory.\u201d With or without the mode of music, such dedication speaks to us through the years. <\/p>\n The \u201cS.D.G.\u201d (his occasional abbreviation) should have a special meaning to us today. Most people of the 21st century, understand \u201cGod,\u201d and understand \u201cglory.\u201d But it is hard for us, in contemporary times, to understand how a man like Johann Sebastian Bach could say, and mean, \u201calone<\/em>\u201d in that Credo. Can we? <\/p>\n Emerging cultures and emerging churches have compartmentalized every aspect of life, including God, and arguments are made that God would have it that way. Not so! \u201cPersonal fulfillment\u201d is the artist\u2019s goal in today\u2019s world. But to Bach\u2019s worldview, such an idea was an offense. <\/p>\n God \u201calone\u201d is the source, the content, and the goal of artistic expression. Alone.<\/p>\n These prayers, and the prioritization of \u201cALONE\u201d when we thank God, is how we should live, and how we should pray. Not (virtually) \u201cthanks for helping me in this way or that way, God\u201d; but \u201cThank you for being my inspiration, my helper, my right hand, my goal\u2026 my all in all.\u201d<\/p>\n When we are too busy to pray, we are\u2026 too busy. We all know this, yet it happens. But if \u2013 at least \u2013 we start every day with the brief \u201cJesus, help me\u201d as Bach began his compositions; and if we ended every day with \u201cTo God alone be the glory,\u201d we will be in appropriate frames of mind. <\/p>\n We will start dwelling on the profound and proper life-truths of those simple prayers. We will not escape from their gentle but deep implications. We will expand on them in our active thoughts, and in our subconscious moments. We will hide those words and their implications in our hearts.<\/p>\n The truths spoken to our lives will become like\u2026 tunes we cannot get out of our minds. Like many of Bach\u2019s themes. Musical and spiritual. <\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n Real Clear Religion, on whose site many readers have followed Monday Music Ministry, has been to many people an indispensible part of their daily fare. It is going through changes right now after almost seven years. <\/p>\n