Luther on Music

“Music I have always loved. He who knows music has a good nature. Necessity demands that music be kept in schools. A schoolmaster must be able to sing; otherwise I will not look at him. And before a young man is ordained into the ministry, he should practice music in school.” ~Luther’s Works, vol. 30.2, 557

“I would certainly like to praise music with all my heart as the excellent gift of God which it is and to commend it to everyone…Here it must suffice to discuss the great benefit of this art. But even that transcends the greatest eloquence of the most eloquent, because of the infinite variety of its forms and benefits. We can mention only one point (which experience confirms), namely, that next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.” ~Luther’s Works, vol. 53, 321

“I plainly judge, and do no hesitate to affirm, that except for theology there is no art that could be put on the same level with music, since except for theology [music] alone produces what otherwise only theology can do, namely, a calm and joyful disposition.” ~Luther’s Works, vol. 49, 428

“Those who are not moved by music I believe are definitely like stumps of wood and blocks of stone.” ~Luther’s Works, vol. 49, 427-28