Inspirational quotes by great composers
I recently read an article on the spiritual lives of great composers. Many of the greatest composers acknowledged that their musical inspiration came from God and the Bible, thus believing in the essential Christian doctrines. I would like to share a few of the quotations from the article reflecting their inspirational thoughts:
George Frideric Handel – This is one of my favorites: “A servant of Handel swings the door open to Handel’s room. The startled composer, tears streaming down his face, turns to his servant and cries out, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.” Handel had just finished writing a movement, which would take its place in history as the Hallelujah Chorus.”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Of his compositions he once shared his secret: “I prayed to God for His mercy that all might go well, to His greater glory, and the symphony began.”
Johannes Brahms – “The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach, and Beethoven drew their inspiration is the same power that enabled Jesus to do His miracles. I know several young composers who are atheists. I have read their scores. I assure you that they are doomed to speedy oblivion, because they are utterly lacking in inspiration. Their works are purely cerebral (intellectual). The great Nazarene (Jesus) knew that law also, and He proclaimed it in John 15:4: “the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine.” No atheist has ever been or ever will be a great composer.”
Olivier Messiaen – “I’m a composer because I love music, and a Christian because I believe.”
Johann Sebastian Bach – At the manuscript end, Bach routinely initialed the letters S.D.G. (“Soli Deo Gloria,” To God alone, the glory).
Franz Joseph Haydn – “Never was I so devout as when I composed The Creation. I knelt down each day to pray to God to give me strength for my work…when I was working on The Creation I felt so impregnated with Divine certainty, that before sitting down to the piano, I would quietly and confidently pray to God to grant me the talent that was needed to praise Him worthily.”
Bonus – Halloween was yesterday, but here is a little leftover tidbit for your enjoyment: Epic Halloween Organ Solo, Bach’s “Toccata in D Minor” by Richard Elliott – https://bit.ly/3UkDQIz