LCMS Worship Institute: S1Ep17. Bach Teaches the Psalms – Matt Rivers

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The church cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach are a rich treasury of theological commentary. Bach rightly uses Holy Scripture to musically interpret Scripture, allowing listeners to gain insight and clarity to the text. In this presentation, we will examine multiple examples of Bach’s treatment of the Psalms in his compositions. This will enable attendees to improve their understanding of Bach’s theological and catechetical intent and provide a new way of examining Bach’s music.

Bio:

A member of Faith Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas, Mr. Rivers earned a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College (Trombone) and a Master of Music from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has taught music theory, hymn writing and a seminar on Bach’s choral works at Faith Lutheran High School and has presented on these topics at the Consortium of Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE). Mr. Rivers is a Bach scholar and is currently authoring a Lutheran listener’s guide to the St. Matthew Passion and a commentary on Bach’s church cantatas.

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.