July 28th 2007

Prayer for the Day

This day in 1750 saw the death of one of the greatest composers of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach. The Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki is a world-famous authority on Bach and founder of the Bach Collegium in Tokyo. Together they will be performing the Mass in G major at the proms next week. Suzuki also sees himself as a missionary. "I am spreading Bach's message, which is a biblical one," he says. "Bach's music is the fifth Gospel."

Suzuki makes sure his musicians, mostly non-Christians, have a deep understanding of the spiritual foundation of their music. He is the driving force behind the current Bach revival which has seen large numbers of Japanese turning to Christianity as a result of encountering the music of Bach.

It's not only Bach's overtly sacred texts that have this impact. The theology is written into the music. Take the Saint Anne Fugue, for example; a triple fugue based on the hymn tune "O God our help in ages past". The interwoven lines of music demonstrate with mathematical complexity, Bach's understanding of God, three persons in one substance. It's a notion almost impossible to describe in words - but Bach demonstrates it in the music. Truth takes many forms. It's the business and the calling of scientists and historians but also of artists, composers, writers and broadcasters.

We pray today for all who deal in ideas and seek to express truth.
For artists and their audiences, academics and students,
For politicians and for journalists; writers and broadcasters,
We pray that there may be respect for the truth
And a freedom that comes from living by it. Amen

BBC4