Why Even Have a Music director - Part 2

I mentioned some big names in the Lutheran Church Music world in last month's article. You may have recognized some of them, such as Johanan Sebastian Bach and Michael Pratorius, and you may ask who these people are. Whether you know them by name or not, they are tied by a common thread: their vocation. These men served their congregations to the highest degree and understood the role of the cantor in our church traditions. 

As music directors, we understand and accept that there is a duality of perspectives when it comes to our position. On the one hand, we are musicians. Music is the medium through which we work. We practice, study, attend seminars, learn and perform the works of other musicians, and continuously seek to improve ourselves and our abilities to help enhance the church's musical life.

On the other, we are church musicians. It is our job to lead, develop, and encourage the musical and spiritual life of the congregation. We not only study the music we play and sing, but we also keep ourselves theologically informed and sound in our interpretations of the readings and lessons. Without an understanding of the word, there is no hope in us leading the congregation in praise and thanksgiving of God. 

As our pastors teach the faith through their words in the sermon, cantors lead the faith through music and liturgy. The pieces of music we choose weekly are based on the theological lessons of the day, and every musical choice we make, such as registration, tempo, and articulation, is influenced by theological significance. It is an integral part of our jobs that we continue to grow in our understanding of scripture, liturgy, and the musical life of our congregation to effectively lead the congregation in their experience of the Gospel through music.