The Greatest Lutheran Composer: A church organist got it right

» Dan_Ellsworth - A church organist got it right

I had come to think of Bach as intricate, but not especially joyful, until one Sunday, years ago, when our church organist Marian Slayton played Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring in a very up-tempo, joyful way, and perhaps for the first time, I heard it as I am convinced it was intended. Marian had a firm habit of playing with joy (I don't know exactly how that is communicated, but apparently she did.), sometimes giving hymns a whole new meaning from that imposed by slow and struggling pianists and organists. But this one time, as the offering was being collected, Marian seemed to take flight with that classic, bringing my slouched body upright as I received the joy communicated by Marian and (Old Powder-Wig? Hardly!) Bach himself. I am not very musical, but I am convinced: There is more doctrine in the composition and playing of music than most people ever suspect. For a few long-remembered moments, it was clear: Bach rocks and Jesus rules. To the glory of God? I believe it.

And that's just one performance of one of his works.

-- posted by Dan_Ellsworth