J. S. Bach: Soli Deo Gloria - To the Glory of God Alone
This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts.
These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries. Midnight Adventure
The night is dark and cold, and a fierce wind rattles the windowpanes.
A small ten-year-old boy tiptoes quietly down the stairs. He cups his
hand and shields the light from the candle he's holding, trying not to
awaken the others in the house. Slowly, ever so slowly, he pushes on the
door to the study. He knows it will squeak unless opened very slowly,
and if anyone hears him, his mission will be over.
 Johann
Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach has a burning desire to play new music. Since his
parents died, Johann lives with his brother, a church organist. His brother
keeps his music locked away, since he thinks it is too valuable to be
used by children. Johann has already mastered the beginner pieces and
now wants something more difficult to practice.
Johann sets down his candle and squeezes his arm through the lattice
of the locked music cabinet. Very carefully, he rolls a manuscript and
eases it out of the cabinet. He spreads the precious pages out on the
table. The rest of his night will be spent carefully copying the notes
of the piece he will begin to learn the following day. Once he has copied
the final line, he carefully places the music back in the locked cabinet.
Johann returns to his own bed, filled with anticipation of playing the
new music. For young Johann, music is more than something to listen to
or practice. It can cheer him up when he is sad. Music is the way Johann
expresses his thoughts and feelings.
God Makes the Music
Johann's love of music and dedication to practice began to pay off. At
just seventeen years old, he got his first job as a church organist. His
Lutheran family was pleased to see him carry on the family tradition in
music. Word of his musical abilities spread quickly. One day, he went
to compete in an organ contest, only to learn there was no contest.
"I guess you've won the organ contest Johann!" the judges said.
"But I haven't even played a single note! How did I win?" he asked.
"The Frenchman heard of your amazing talent and didn't want to risk getting
beaten. Louis Marchand knows he can't beat you!"
 When
Johann played music, he felt his soul praising God. In fact, he once said,
"I play the notes as they are written but it is God who makes the music."
After a few years, Johann got another job as church organist and choir
director at a small German church. He directed the choir and wrote the
worship music used in the church service. But even though he used his
musical talents to glorify God, a problem soon arose.
Misunderstood
"Johann, people are complaining about the music you've been composing."
Bach was stunned. He knew that some of the recent pieces were his best
work. What could the problem be?
The man continued, "The music is too showy. Some of our members even
think it is sinful. Music should be simple so that it draws attention
to God, not to the music or the performers."
Bach couldn't believe it! His music was "sinful"? How could people call
his music sinful when he only tried to glorify God? Bach took a deep breath
before defending his music.
 "The
main purpose of my music is to glorify God. Some people do this with music
that is simple. I haven't chosen to use a simple style, but my music comes
from my heart as a humble offering to God. This honors God no matter what
musical style I use."
Unfortunately, Bach and the church could not agree on this matter, so
he started looking for another job. In fact, Bach changed jobs many times
during his life, searching for the freedom to write the music he heard
in his soul. He found a temporary refuge in the town of Weimar. This was
the first time Bach did not work for a church, but his boss, the Duke
of Weimar, was a religious man. The Duke encouraged Bach to continue writing
sacred music, and for a while, Bach had the freedom for which he had searched.
Find out if Bach's freedom paid off in part two
of this "Glimpses for Kids" children's worship bulletin insert.
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