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- Baroque period organist and composer Dieterich Buxtehude is pictured here in “Musical Party” by Johannes Voorhout (1674). Buxtehude’s organ works represent a central part of the standard organ repertoire and are still performed at recitals and worship services to this day. He composed a wide variety of vocal and instrumental pieces and his work is acknowledged to have influenced Johann Sebastian Bach.
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- Composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is acknowledged as one of the most famous, if not the most famous, and gifted of all composers past and present in the western world. Bach, a staunch and devoted Lutheran, is known for his music that was written primarily for the liturgical life of the church, to the glory of God.
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- The jazz ministry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church at 54th and Lexington in Manhattan was founded by John Garcia Gensel, pastor of the congregation. He began the Jazz Vesper Service for those musicians who couldn’t attend Sunday morning services after playing gigs late into Saturday night. St. Peter’s became the home for many musicians including the legendary jazz artist Duke Ellington, pictured here with Gensel. Ellington called Gensel “The shepherd who watches over the night flock.”
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- Paul Manz (May 10, 1919 — Oct. 28, 2009) pictured here with his wife, Ruth, was a Lutheran composer of choir and organ music. He received a master’s degree in music from Northwestern University and as a Fulbright scholar he studied with Flor Peeters in Belgium. His musical compositions are internationally known and his organ works are extensively used in worship services, recitals and in teaching. His motet, “E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come” is regarded as a classic.
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- The Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival has been produced by the Lutheran Music Program for over 30 years. The program consists of a four-week residential training and performance regime for gifted high school students. Picture is courtesy of Lutheran Summer Music Program.
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- Fiddling at the global sing-along at the 2008 Global Mission Event, La Crosse, Wis.
The rich Lutheran tradition of liturgies, choral works, hymns, songs and instrumental music has added to the worship experience throughout the centuries.
