Books published by Lutheran University Press

The celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation brings with it an increased interest in all things Lutheran. Certainly one area of well-deserved attention is the rich tradition of a vibrant musical life in Lutheran congregations. This heritage--which continues to be lovingly passed from generation to generation--is due, in part, to the value Dr. Luther himself placed on music in worship. Because the organ and the choir continue to play a significant role in the ministry of most Lutheran churches today, it would be easy to assume that this has always been the case. Not necessarily so. Both essays, in a lucid and thorough manner, paint the picture of the role of the organ and the choir in early Lutheran worship, thus dispelling a number of myths and assumptions that things have always been this way and offering some useful reflections on what this all means for the faithful practice of church music in our own time.

The Jerry Evenrud collection of images of the parable of the Prodigal Son is the largest known such collection in the world. It encompasses works from 1540 to 2005. The historical span of the collection affirms the continuing resonance of the parable. The media range from etchings, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, and fabric. The collection reveals the desire of the artists to delve into the meaning of the parable and to convey that meaning to others. Some artists depict the entire narrative in a series of works, usually four to six segments. Others focus on one aspect, such as the pig pen or the return of the prodigal. The segment most frequently portrayed by a single print is the homecoming embrace by the father the scene that represents the focus of the parable and thus of faith grace and forgiveness.

Harriet Reynolds Krauth Spaeth (1845-1925), daughter of the nineteenth-century Lutheran theologian Charles Porterfield Krauth, was a highly educated and accomplished woman in her own right. As music editor of the Church Book with Music (1872), she was the only woman ever to serve in that capacity. The story of her life and contribution to the Lutheran tradition of liturgy and congregational song is told in this excellent treatment by Robert D. Hawkins, who initially presented this topic at the Vi Messerli Lectures in Church Music, October 16-18, 2011.