LCMS Worship Institute: S1Ep11. Faithful, Practical, Musical: Profiles in American Lutheran Church Music – Benjamin Kolodziej

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In the 1940s, Theodore Graebner and Walter Buszin identified certain people who were integral to the history of LCMS music, but who were at risk of being forgotten. They had intended brief bios of these musicians to be written for The Lutheran Witness (it never happened). Nonetheless, utilizing their framework/identifications, and with the assistance of materials from Connie Seddon’s archives, Kolodziej reviews the impact these musicians have had on American Lutheran church music, and why these musicians should be remembered.

Bio:

Benjamin Kolodziej is a performing organist and church musician and has an undergraduate degree in organ performance and graduate degrees in theology and sacred music. He has presented lectures on repertoire for the church organist to many American Guild of Organist chapters and universities, including most recently in Buffalo, Birmingham, Tucson, Little Rock and Corpus Christi. Kolodziej has written two articles for The American Organist about the topic of accessible repertoire for the church organist and has also written two books on musical topics. His music has been published by Concordia Publishing House, GIA Publications, Augsburg Fortress and Northwestern Publishing House.

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes; lcms.org/worship.

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission.

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.