I Like Music Back When It Was Güt

The average person often overlooks the spiritual convictions of the great Christian composers—Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart, to name a few—all who openly glorified God with their music. Instead, we’ve ubiquitously romanticized them as ghastly yet charming personalities, as depicted through films like Amadeus.

Although they weren’t all saints, they were deeply spiritual and maintained a humility towards God’s influence over them and their talents. 

Johann Sebastian Bach, a close disciple of Martin Luther during the era of the Protestant Reformation, was so devout that nearly every piece he’d written had initialed on it messages such as “S.D.G.” (Soli Deo Gloria—To God alone, the glory) or “J.J.” (Jesu Juva—Jesus Help Me). 

“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”

— Johann Sebastian Bach

The composers that we consider to be the masters of the Baroque and Classical realm, were the humblest, God-fearing servants. They also, by His grace and guidance, indexed the language of music itself as it were.

All for the One and the One For All

It may be forgotten to most that the origin of many Ivy League universities originated with stances and aspirations not far from those like Thomas Aquinas: All truth is God’s truth because God is truth. 

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. 

— John 14:6

Consider also the seal found in Yale’s crest, which reads in Latin and Hebrew, depicted in what’s arguably the Holy Book: Lux et veritas (Light and Truth). 

I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of life. 

—John 8:12

The Creator creates all creation. So all creation points to their Creator.

During the ecclesiastical period, studying our world and universe meant discovering the blueprints of the Almighty Creator. Like copying His code. 

The joy of discovery was doubled since it not only meant a greater understanding of our reality, but they also delighted in gaining insights into the mind of the Creator. 

Much as we’re driven by every inch of knowledge achieved about a piece of music, we’re equally drawn closer to the mind of the composer who created it. Just as we love to study musical form intimately, we’re equally susceptible to developing a relationship with the One who created it. 

I Can Bach It Up!

By transcribing an elaborate movement by Bach, I’ve practiced an invaluable skill. But I am not necessarily nearer to composing something original that’s equivalent to Bach’s breakthrough in counterpoint.

If I am talented enough, I can replicate something resembling Canon in D, by outlining Bach’s techniques and style. But I will always be an imitator of Bach’s world, not necessarily the source of his inspiration:

“I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.”

—Johann Sebastian Bach

We’ve all generally accepted that art is merely borrowing ideas from other artists from the past or present. Naturally, this is true. I argue, however, that those who are truly attuned, receive their inspiration not only from what other musicians have done but also from the source of creation itself. 

All truly inspired ideas come from God.

—Johannes Brahms

Certain music artists in history, from the magical musical imagery of Charles Debussy to the bombastic yet catchy choruses of Kurt Cobain, created styles unlike those from the past. They create new beginnings.

Brahms took it even further as to say that composers such as Mozart and Schubert drew their inspiration from the same powers that “enabled Jesus to do his miracles.”

This is fitting, too. Being made in the image of God, the Almighty Creator, implies that we will inherit that intrinsic desire and miraculous power of creativity. 

Life begets life.

A Mustard Seed for Your Thoughts

Whether you choose to believe in perennial imitation alone or the possibilities of newly-inspired creations ex nihilo (from nothing), drawn from a supernatural source, neither direction negates the inevitability of the original Creator. All stems, no matter how long, have roots that spawned from one, single seed.

So, if we wish to attribute the source of masterful music, it would only fit into natural law that we would look to the Creator for inspiration, as did the legendary Baroque, Classical, and even Romantic period composers.

The Truth Whispers to the Attentive Ear

As a "self-taught” musician, I find music creation perplexing. It’s infinitely fascinating to ponder ideas of a universal grammar for musical systems. There’s a vestige of divinity about the origin of music, that ceaseless growth in the heart of humanity. It’s always growing, expanding, evolving, revealing the depths of its mysteries.

The nature of music is as infinitely present within us as is the Spirit.

Like those high school nights, slouched in solitude and learning the sounds of my instrument, my successes in music creation are in those moments of stillness and emptiness when I hear a whispery voice start to sing to me something sweetly…