SOUND!

In Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace in northeast France, is the grand Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, the Roman Catholic seat of the bishop. But when I visited the city (with Tom, a fellow Aberdonian, and my nephew, John), we were fascinated by the corresponding Protestant edifice, Église Saint-Thomas. While the site where the current church is located had been used for worship since the sixth century, this new, magnificent building with its imposing steeple was completed in the early 1500s. An important church in the history of the Protestant Reformation. The German Reformer, Martin Bucer (1491–1551), who makes a cameo in my dissertation, ministered here.

But what really caught our attention was the sound. The church has two wonderful, historically significant instruments: the 1741 Silbermann main organ and the 1905 choir organ built by Haerpfer. The latter was designed in 1905 by the noted educator, physician, sociologist, and musicologist, Albert Schweitzer. The former was actually played by Mozart in 1778 (the console is in the background of the picture above). One wonders why Mozart, with his Catholic persuasion, chose to play the organ in a Protestant Church. One does not wonder long.

Somebody began to play Bach while we were in St. Thomas that morning. Any Bach is amazing as it is, but the sound of the organ and the acoustics of the church were magnificent. We just sat there and listened, entranced, soaking in the ambience, awash in some of the greatest music ever written. Mozart, understandably, made a beeline for this place.

But there is a more exquisite sound that should be listened to, joined in, and put out ….

We have heard the joyful sound;
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land,
Climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ‘tis our Lord's command:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle strife;
By his death and endless life
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Give the winds a mighty voice;
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free;
Highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Priscilla Jane Owens, 1892

This is a God worthy of praise, for out of the greatness of His love, grace, and mercy, He has saved believers in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
proclaim good tidings
of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds
among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD
and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
Splendor and majesty
are before Him;
strength and beauty
are in His sanctuary.
Psalm 96:1–4, 6

Eternity will be full of that joyful sound. And entranced we will be forever.

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
praise Him according to
His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him
with timbrel and dancing;
praise Him
with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 150

Come, let us worship this great God!