JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 

 
For centuries classical music lovers have delighted in the great works of Johannes Sebastian Bach. Few, if any, have known that Bach’s greatest motivation in composing his music was his deep awe and love for God.

Bach, according to his biographers, was a profoundly religious man. Bitter, a nineteenth century biographer, wrote that Bach was a, "Sincere Christian" and that, "His deep religious feeling is shown throughout his life"(Leaver, 1985, 13). It is also a well established fact that Bach was a zealous Lutheran who made evangelical Christianity a central part of his life. Because of his zeal for Christianity he has been referred to as "The fifth evangelist"
(Ibid, 13).

Being an Orthodox Lutheran, Bach had a profound love for the Bible. By the extensive notes that he wrote beside many scriptural passages in his Bible, we can deduce that he was a serious and reflective student of the Scriptures.

Unknown to most is Bach’s view of music. His belief was that music was to be composed to give glory to God, as well as for pleasant recreation. In fact, it was his custom to write, "Soli Deo Gloria,"(Only to God be the glory), at the end of many of his works.

Bach was without doubt one of the greatest composers of all time. Yet, in spite of his greatness, he humbled his great genius before the Creator to whom he dedicated most of his masterpieces. As a result, for the past three centuries. much glory has gone to that great God, through the delight and inspiration that   millions have experienced in listening to his music.

 
  "To the Highest God alone be glory"
(Leaver, 1985, 29)

 

 BEETHOVEN, LUDWIG VAN

 
Beethoven’s music is both stirring and powerful. It is difficult to conceive that this German musical titan had any space in his life for a personal God. Yet he did. Beethoven was a sincere believer.

Beethoven openly expressed gratitude to the Creator for his musical success. He wrote in a letter, "At the moment, the competition to secure my works is very keen. And for this I am very grateful to the Almighty"
(Marek, 1969, 557).

The period from about the winter of 1818, to the spring of 1824, is the period when Beethoven focused on the spiritual side of life. During this time he composed his "Ninth Symphony" and his "Missa Solemnis."

In the "Ninth" he points the way toward a philosophy of daily and communal life, while in the "Missa Solemnis" he seeks to probe, "The undiscovered country"and occupies himself with the questions which each man asks in solitude. In the "Ninth" we hear the Creator who dwells above the stars, and in the "Missa" we hear the wars through which Beethoven had suffered.
(Ibid, 545)

Beethoven remained faithful to his Lord, until the end of his life.   "As the business of the will had been settled... there remained for us one ardent wish, to get him reconciled to Heaven, in order that the world might be shown that he ended his life as a true Christian" (Kalischer, 1926, 391).

Beethoven was undoubtly a musical genius, yet he did  reflect upon and glorify God for His greatness, for he knew he was only,"a part of the universe," and that God alone was, "The Greatest"
(London, 1970, 278).

 

 

              HANDEL, GEORGE FREDERICK

 
   " Sir John Hawkins believed the composer to a sincere Christian. He was a man of blameless morals, and throughout his life manifested a deep sense of religion. In conversation he would frequently declare the pleasure he felt in setting the scriptures to music: and how much the contemplating the many sublime passages in the Psalms had contributed to his edification; and now that he found himself near his end, these sentiments were improved into solid and rational piety, attended with a calm and even temper of mind." Manson-Myers, 1971, 79-80)

 

            HAYDN, FRANZ JOSEPH

 
Haydn began the work (The Creation), early in 1796 taking two years to complete...He found the task less fatiguing and more satisfying than anything else he had ever written before, because his personal religious feelings were strongly stimulated:

"Never before was I so devout as when I composed "The Creation."  I knelt down each day to pray to God to give me the strength for my work."

(Butterworth, 1977, 122)

 

                                     LISZT, FRANZ

 
"Everything is transitory except the word of God, which is eternal—and the word of God reveals itself in the creation of genius."
(Walker, 1989, 544)

"Yes "Jesus Christ on the cross," a yearning longing after the cross,--this was ever my true inner calling; I have felt it in my innermost heart ever since my seventeenth year...In spite of the trangressions and errors which I have committed, and for which I I feel sincere repentance and contrition, the holy light of the Cross has never entirely withdrawn from me. At times indeed the refulgence of this Divine light has overflowed my entire soul. I thank God for this, and shall die with my soul fixed upon the Cross, our redemtion and our highest bliss.
(La Mara, 1968, 439)

 

 

               MAHLER GUSTAV
 

I am from God and will return to God. God will give me a candle to light me to the bliss of eternal life.
(Gartenberg, 1978, 266)

I am from God and wish to return to God.
(Ibid, 272)

Come Thou, Infinite Creator,
let Thy Spirit visit us
Inflame our senses with Thy light With Thy love fill our heart.
(Ibid, 321)

"All of creation adorns itself continually for God. Everyone has only one duty, to be as beautiful as possible in every way in the eyes of God and man. Ugliness is an insult to God."
(Mahler, 190)

"My earnest desire...to set up my God in the place of the idols of clay."
(Ibid, 190)

 

   WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

 
  "God, ordains all for the best, however strange it may appear to our eyes."
(Mersman, 1938, 105-106))

"No physician, no any other man, no accident, no chance, can either give life or take it, but God alone."
(Ibid, 106)

"Let us trust God and comfort ourselves with the thought that all is well if it be God's will, since he best knows what is requisite and necessary to our temporal and to our eternal happiness."
(Ibid, 106)

"Let us submit steadfastly to the Divine will, fully convinced it will be for our good, for he does all things well."
(Ibid, 108)

 

 

         PUCCINI, GIACOMO

 
"So far, God be thanked, I have had my full share of success."
(Adani, 1971, 111)

"I was born so many years ago...and Almighty God touched me
with His little finger and said: ‘write only for the theatre...
And I have obeyed the supreme command."
(Ibid, 179)

 

          RACHMANINOFF, SERGEI

 
The group of songs (Opus 21) contains one which might be described as the composer’s own confession. It is very moving and would serve as a fitting motto for his life and work."

No prophet I, no warrior bold No learned mantle wearing But as I go my harp I hold The grace of God declaring .
(Von Rieseman, 1970, 225)

"Then an entirely unexpected event, which I can only attribute to the of God, and which...came to our rescue."
(Ibid, 186)

 

 

 

 

 

                   PAUL CEZANNE

 
  "Once we have attained a certain age we find no other support or consolation than in religion."
(Rewald, 1950, 101)

 

               LEONARDO DA VINCI

 
"I obey Thee, Lord, first for the love I ought in all reason to bear Thee; secondly for that Thou canst shorten or prolong the lives of men."
(Richter, 1970, 237)

"Thou, O God, dost sell us all goood things at the price of labour."
(Ibid, 237)

"O admirable impartiality of Thine, Thou first mover; Thou hast not permitted that any force should fail of the order or quality of its necessary effects."
(Ibid, 237)

 

                 EUGENE DELACROIX
 

 "God is within us: it is that inner presence which makes us admire the beautiful, which rejoices us when we have done right and consoles us for not sharing in the happiness of the wicked. It is that, beyond a doubt, which constitutes the inspiration of men of genius and which warms them at the spectacle of their own productions."
(Pack, 1972, 697)

 

                  MICHELANGELO

 
"Unless Thou show us thine own true way no man can find it; Father! Thou must lead."
(Wordsworth, 1932, 319)

"Cut down by half the road, O my dear Lord, that climbs to heaven! You will have to aid me if I am going to climb even that half.Cause me to hate the value of the world and what I admired and honored in its beauty, so before death to taste eternal life."
(Creighton, 1980, 161)

"There's not a thing on earth so low and base as without you I am and feel myself,so that my own feeble and weary strength beseeches pardon for my exalted wish."
(Ibid, 161)

 

          PIERRE AUGUSTE RENOIR
"I believe that I am nearer to God by being humble before this splendor (Nature); by accepting the role I have been given to play in life; by honoring this majesty without self interests, and, above all, without asking for anything being confident that he who has created everything has forgotten nothing."
(Weaver, 1962, 218)

"I believe, therefore, without seeking to understand I don't wish to give any name to God, to statues or to paintings. For he is above everything that is known. Everything that is made for this purpose, is in my humble opinion, a fraud.
(Ibid, 218)