Bach in Arts
Bach Statues, Monuments, Memorials & Plaques

Memo-2762

Type:

Bach Stained Glass Window

Title:

Music in the Church at First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

Description:

This window depicts Music in the Church from the time of the Old Testament to the modern day.
The left section portrays David as the psalmist of Israel. Near him is a sheep and staff recalling his writing the familiar 23rd Psalm. Below the figure of David is one of Zacharias representing music from the New Testament. Zacharias is remembering for the Benedictus of Luke 1, sung after he learns that he is to be the father of John the Baptist. The camel hair coat and locust symbolize John the Baptist.
The center section portrays Martin Luther who helped restore congregational singing in the church during the Reformation. Luther himself composed such hymns as "A Mighty Fortress"; "From Heaven Above" and "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands". Below him is portrayed Philipp Nicolai, a Lutheran pastor who helped in developing the chorale as one of the richest forms of hymnody. Nicolai is the author of the king and queen of chorales - "Wake, Awake for Night is Flying" and "How Brightly Beams the Morning Star".
In the right section Isaac Watts, an English writer of hymns, appears. Watts is known as the father of English hymnody. From him have been received such hymns as "Jesus Shall Reign" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross". Below him is a portrayal of Johann Sebastian Bach regarded as the greatest of church musicians. A Lutheran organist and choirmaster, Bach wrote such great cantatas as "The Passion of our Lord, According to St. Matthew" (BWV 244). At the bottom is a portrayal of Ralph Vaughan-Williams, and English composer of recent times. Used frequently in our worship is his arrangement of "For All the Saints".

Measures:

Creator:

Comments:

Location: First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

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Source/Links: First English Lutheran Church Albums
Contributor: Teddy Kaufman (February 2008)