Moravian Music
Moravian Music
For the Moravians, music has always been
considered as a necessity of life, not as a cultural veneer.
Instruments came to America early with the Moravians; by 1742
Bethlehem had flutes, violins, violas da braccio, violas da gamba, and
horns. These instruments were played not by “professionals” but by
accomplished amateurs, who enjoyed orchestral and chamber music as well
as accompanying vocal solos and anthems for worship. Of the music
written by Moravian composers, by far the greater portion is what today
is called “sacred” — anthems and solos for liturgical use. However, they
did copy and collect thousands of works, vocal and instrumental, by
their contemporaries in Europe, for use in worship and in the life of
the community. Visitors to the Moravian communities were consistently
high in their praise of Moravian musical activities.
Hymn-singing is a large part of Moravian worship, as our hymns
express and form our faith. Trombone choirs and church bands play
chorales to announce special occasions and accompany singing at outdoor
services; some still play from the belfry of their church for special
occasions or to announce the death of a church member.
Moravian Book of Worship
“The hymnal (Gesangbuch) is a kind of response to the Bible, an echo
and an extension thereof. In the Bible, one perceives how the Lord
communicates with people; and, in the hymnal, how people communicate
with the Lord.” – Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf
Copyright 1995 – Interprovincial Board of Publications and Communications
The Moravian Book of Worship “provides the means for unity in our
church, on of rich diversity. … this book joins with its predecessors
in extending the heritage, established when, at the beginning of the
sixteenth century, the Unitas Fratrum (early Moravian Church) published
what is considered to be the first Protestant hymnal.
The Moravians Influence
on Education
John Amos Comenius (March 28, 1592 – November 15, 1670) was
a Czech philosopher, pedagogue and theologian who is considered the father of
modern education. He served as the last bishop of the Unity of the Brethren
before becoming a religious refugee and one of the earliest champions of
universal education, a concept eventually set forth in his book Didactica Magna. As an educator and
theologian, he led schools and advised governments across Protestant Europe
through the middle of the seventeenth century.
Comenius introduced a number of educational concepts and
innovations including pictorial textbooks written in native languages instead
of Latin, teaching based in gradual development from simple to more
comprehensive concepts, lifelong learning with a focus on logical thinking over
dull memorization, equal opportunity for impoverished children, education
for women, and universal and practical instruction. (source)
Education is front and center of our culture at every
level. Elementary through higher education learning is intended for everyone.
The Moravian University is the 6th oldest college in America.
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