20 Ross ⦁ Making Music Augustine also refers to music as a gift from God in essential writings that Luther would have been familiar with. Another similarity between Luther and Augustine was their recognition of the power of music. Both theologians realized that music could sway feelings. They both believed that it could be a useful tool when worshipping, but unlike Luther, Augustine was also concerned about the dangers of distraction by the instruments: “Luther, along with Augustine sees the power of music. Luther was probably influenced by Augustine’s view of a delight in music and that though he was aware that this had somehow attracted him to God, he also had the feeling of having sinned when he paid more attention to music’s beauty than to its spiritual meaning.”23 Unlike Augustine, Luther believed that the positive aspects provided through music were worth any potential danger. He did not share in the “inclination towards the negative effects of music.”24 Luther could not comprehend how beautiful music could only distract. Instead, he believed that music would help to illuminate the text and that beautiful music would help to keep attention focused on the words of praise. It is worth saying that, for Luther, music cannot be too beautiful. His appreciation of the beauty of music differs remarkably from that of Augustine. Indeed, the scruples of Augustine in Confessions were utterly inconceivable for Luther. He did not see beautiful music as distracting the mind from hearing words. According to Table Talk, Luther assumed that Augustine would have agreed with him if he had lived in Luther’s time.25 Because of the way Augustine and Luther both refer to music, and their recognition of the power of music, it is possible to conclude that Augustine exerted some influence on Luther, though not as foundationally as his influence on Jean Calvin. Augustine, Jean Calvin, and Martin Luther were all church fathers who proposed widely separate views concerning the role of music in worship. Even though their opinions differed, all three men cared deeply about correctly interpreting the Bible regarding church music. While both reformers held distinct views, they each understood the power of music through Augustine. This recognition led to the encouragement of 23 Kartawidjaja, 88. 24 Kartawidjaja, 26. 25 Anttila, 184-185.
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