No other group, I am certain, has contributed more to the welfare of the Lutheran Church for the past 25 years than the Valparaiso University Church Music Seminar. Founded by Dr. Theodore Hoelty-Nickel and led by him, it has quietly but effectively roused the Lutherans of the U.S.A. to serious study of their marvelous musical heritage. In addition, this group has successfully urged that the Lutheran Church become more creative and strive to increase the treasure that it has.

Evidence of the work carried on by this group is before you in the anthology of 16 essays prepared for and read at the annual conferences. As the table of contents indicates, we find here breadth and depth dwelling together under one roof. This collection will, no doubt, be the finest and most lasting offering for the anniversary celebration to take place 2–5 April 1970 at Valparaiso University.

The tone for The Musical Heritage of the Church is set by editor Hoelty-Nickel in his introductory essay. He points out that truly Lutheran music is consistently anchored to the three great solas: sola gratia, sola Scriptura, sola fide. Or, to put it another way:  neither the Scriptures nor the Lutheran Confessions (Book of Concord) have become museum pieces but proclaim authentically and authoritatively the Word of God (Law and Gospel) to every age and every condition of man.

For maximum profit, the essays should be read, if possible, at one sitting to get hold of the sweep of the presentations as a whole. They should then be read again one at a time. Whereupon the reader will engage in constructive criticism, self-evaluation, and creative reflections of his own. Both he and the church will be the better for it.

Hearty congratulations are in order to Hoelty-Nickel and his fellow protagonists.

Blessings from on High on these servants of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Elmer E. Foelber
House Editor
Concordia Publishing House
St. Louis, Mo.

From The Musical Heritage of the Church, Volume VII (St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia Publishing House, 1970). Copyright Concordia Publishing House. Printed by permission. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Concordia Publishing House.