Classical Musicians Were Reformed

The following music was composed by composers who for the substantial most part represented the Reformed faith. They were strong Christians who were zealous about their faith. They were either Lutheran (Bach, Schultz, and Buxtehude) or Anglican (who embraced the Calvinistic 39 Articles—Handel, Purcell) or other reformed denominations. Their stated purpose was to Glorify Jesus Christ in music!



In English



Bach’s Passion of St Matthew

Bach’s Passion of St. John

Brahms Requiem

Handel’s Chandos Anthems (complete)---Psalms and other scripture

Handel’s Te Deum for the Victory of Dettingen ---the Psalms in English

Handel: Judas Maccabaeus

Handel: Israel in Egypt

Handel: Joshua

Handel: Solomon

Handel: Theodora

Handel: Saul

Handel: Belshazzar

Handel: Deborah

Handel: Nabal

Handel: Samson

Handel: Joseph and his Brethren

Handel: Esther

Haydn’s Creation

Mendelssohn’s Elijah

The Complete Sacred Music of Henry Purcell, Tallis’ Complete English Anthems—12

CD set of Psalms and other scripture

Walton: Belshazzar's Feast; Coronation Te Deum; Gloria

Early American Choral Music, Vol. 1 and 2

Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress

Boyce: David's Lamentation

John Rutter: Te Deum and other church music

America Sings, Volume I: The Founding Years

The Psalms of David—12 Disc CD set---St. Paul’s

Willem de Fesch: Joseph

William Boyce: Solomon, A Serenata---Song of Songs

William Byrd: The Great Service: Anthems



My Only Comfort: Death, Deliverance, and Discipleship in the Music of Bach by Stapert. This is a book with a Reformational interpretation of the biblical-theological themes that lie at the core of Bach’s work. It compares the similarity of Bach’s Lutheran theology with the Calvinistic Heidelberg Catechism. If you read this book it will help you understand Bach in German until the Lord is pleased to translate the rest of his works into English.



In German—Unfortunately



Bach 200 Cantata’s 60 CD’s---Lutheran Hymns composed by reformers

Bach: Motet No3; Motet No1

Bach: Mass in B Minor

Schultz: The Christmas Story, Cantiones Sacrae, Psalm 100

Dietrich Buxtehude: 6 Cantatas—All Lutheran Hymns, mostly composed by Martin Luther