Music and Theology: Essays in Honor of Robin A. Leaver

by Daniel Zager (Editor)

Overview

The scholar Robin A. Leaver holds a unique place in sacred music scholarship because of his training in both music and theology. He has written widely, bringing acute insights on a variety of musical repertories and topics related to Martin Luther, sixteenth-century psalmody, hymnody, and the sacred music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

In Music and Theology, twelve scholars influenced by Leaver's work contribute essays in diverse areas of sacred music history and philosophy, focusing on the intersection of music and theology. Ranging chronologically from the twelfth-century writer and composer Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) to present-day considerations of American church music and worship, the volume provides thought-provoking new work for all who study church music. Reflecting the prominent emphasis in Leaver's own scholarship, eight chapters deal with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, including his organ music, sacred cantatas, and passion settings. A final chapter provides a chronological listing of Leaver's own voluminous writings on music and theology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810854147
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/13/2006
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.33(w) x 9.39(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Daniel Zager is head of the Sibley Music Library at the Eastman School of Music and also serves as associate professor in musicology and sacred music.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Preface Part 2 1 "The Soul Is Symphonic": Meditation on Luke 15:25 and Hildegard of Bingen's Letter 23 Part 3 2 Early Lutheran Hymnals and Other Musical Sources in the Kessler Reformation Collection at Emory University Part 4 3 Tradition with Variations: Chorale Settings per omnes versus by Buxtehude and Bach Part 5 4 Bach's Preluding for a Leipzig Academic Ceremony Part 6 5 Bach's Setting of the Hymn Tune "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" in His Cantatas and Organ Works Part 7 6 Historically Informed Rendering of the Librettos from Bach's Church Cantatas Part 8 7 The Role of the "Actus Structure" in the Libretto of J. S. Bach's Matthew Passion Part 9 8 Two Unusual Cues in J. S. Bach's Performing Parts Part 10 9 Johann Sebastian Bach and the Praise of God: Some Thoughts on the Canon Triplex (BWV 1076) Part 11 10 Bach and Dresden: A New Hypothesis on the Origin of the Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) Part 12 11 A Is for Apple: The Search for an American Church Music; or the ABCs of American Church Music: A Is for Apple, B Is for Billings, and C Is for Chapman Part 13 12 Beauty and Terror: What Have We to Sing; What Has Worship to Pray? Part 14 13 Robin A. Leaver: A Bibliography of His Writings Part 15 Index Part 16 About the Contributors

Editorial Reviews

...a collection of pieces by 12 scholars who were influenced by Leaver.

Church Times

This is a fine collection of essays....I recommend this collection without reservation and hope that it finds prominence in every scholarly library.

Lutheran Quarterly

In this collection, Zager (musicology and sacred music, Eastman School of Music, U. of Rochester) brings together 12 essays in honor of the contributions of musicologist and theologian Robin A. Leaver and his work in sacred music history and theology. Essays treat composer and writer Hildegard of Bingen, American church music and worship, and eight consider the music of J.S. Bach, such as his church cantatas, chorale settings, the Canon Triplex, and the Goldberg Variations. The last chapter consists of a bibliography of Leaver's writings. Contributors are scholars of music and theology at universities in North America and Europe.

Reference and Research Book News

...a collection of pieces by 12 scholars who were influenced by Leaver.--Church Times, July 27, 2007

In this collection, Zager (musicology and sacred music, Eastman School of Music, U. of Rochester) brings together 12 essays in honor of the contributions of musicologist and theologian Robin A. Leaver and his work in sacred music history and theology. Essays treat composer and writer Hildegard of Bingen, American church music and worship, and eight consider the music of J.S. Bach, such as his church cantatas, chorale settings, the Canon Triplex, and the Goldberg Variations. The last chapter consists of a bibliography of Leaver's writings. Contributors are scholars of music and theology at universities in North America and Europe.--Reference and Research Book News, May 2007

This is a fine collection of essays....I recommend this collection without reservation and hope that it finds prominence in every scholarly library.--Lutheran Quarterly, December 2008

From the Publisher

This is a fine collection of essays....I recommend this collection without reservation and hope that it finds prominence in every scholarly library.

December 2008 Lutheran Quarterly

In this collection, Zager (musicology and sacred music, Eastman School of Music, U. of Rochester) brings together 12 essays in honor of the contributions of musicologist and theologian Robin A. Leaver and his work in sacred music history and theology. Essays treat composer and writer Hildegard of Bingen, American church music and worship, and eight consider the music of J.S. Bach, such as his church cantatas, chorale settings, the Canon Triplex, and the Goldberg Variations. The last chapter consists of a bibliography of Leaver's writings. Contributors are scholars of music and theology at universities in North America and Europe.

May 2007 Reference and Research Book News