The Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers

by Patrick Kavanaugh

Handel, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Messiaen . . . Men of genius as different as their music - but all inspired by deep spiritual convictions. Peter Kavanaugh uncovers the spirituality of twenty of music's timeless giants, revealing legacies of the soul as diverse as the masterpieces they created. Warmly written, beautifully illustrated, and complete with listening recommendations for each composer, Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers is a fascinating look at the inner flame that lit the works of these masters.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Christian, Christianity, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an instructive book for helping one learn basic biographical facts about 20 composers from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Further, Patrick Kavanaugh writes from an evangelical perspective and seeks to identify the basic faith commitments of some of the greatest musical geniuses of all times.

The brief chapters begin with a brief story that brings to life a key event or interaction of each composer followed by a biographical sketch. A very helpful and enjoyable component to each chapter is the author's classification of each composer's life by a single word. For example,

Bach - productivity
Haydn - humility
Shubert - sincerity
Brahms - modesty

Finally, each chapter concludes with a recommended starting place to gain an introduction to their music.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Bach and Dvorak. The former was useful and informed a recent short article I wrote, "Welcoming Bach Among the Theologians." [1]

For Dvorak, I have loved his "Czech Suite in D Major" since my wife discovered it a few years ago (highly recommend) but knew nothing about him, his other compositions, or his faith. For instance, as a native of the present day Czech Republic, Dvorak wrote an overture celebrating the ministry of the pre-reformer John Hus.

Kavanaugh doesn't assume or conclude that every expression of faith equates to Christian orthodoxy or orthopraxy among the composers--and some are far from that--but he does provide enough evidence to allow the informed evangelical to see where he might have common ground with many from this remarkable group.

Even so, all readers will benefit and find enrichment in this book, and even inspiration to take up, read, and then listen, like Bach would have us, SDG.

(SDG = Soli Deo Gloria, "To God alone, the glory.")

[1] http://jgduesing.com/2017/04/20/welco...

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting and inspiring read. Each of the composers talked about had similar characteristics, and each had their own unique qualities. Many felt their musical talents were a gift from God, and that exercising their gift was a form of worship. Most struggled and few were richly rewarded for their efforts in terms of monetary compensation. My favorite was an account of Antonin Dvorak. I can't say that I would recognize his music. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading that he did some of his best composing at home with his family. I liked the following quote, "Surrounded by the aroma of bread baking in the oven and the din of children chasing noisily through the house, Dvorak did some of his best composing."

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, both as mini-biographies and research. Lots of footnotes to verify the research, and lists at the end of each mini-biography regarding the composers’ works.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't explain how inspiring this book is to me! I read it slowly because I didn't want it to end! SO so so good! I learned so very much!

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that inspire and bring you closer to God. I have started a few modern books that had questionable scenes in them and had to set them down. I was so glad to pick this up and finish it. I wish a few of the composers at the end were different or left out, as I didn’t care about them as much as the others, but that’s probably my failing for not knowing much about them. I loved this perspective! It’s amazing to see God in everything. It’s made me look at music more closely and think about what I’m exposing myself and my family to. There is so much good out there, I need to focus on those things.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated this book of condensed biographies on the lives of the great composers. This book focuses on their goodness and their contributions rather than their poor choices. This is a similar read to "The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff."

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who have enough interest to stay awake while reading a book about classical music and composers.

When I first saw the title of this book, I was pretty surprised, since I could only think of like Handel and Bach who (I recognized as) devout Christians, mainly because of their very famous religious works. So, I was interested in the religious faith of the other 18 composers.

After reading into the book, which gives a small section for each composer describing their spiritual life, I was fascinated at how much these composers were serious about their faith. I thought these composers were not religious, because books and stories don’t really dig deep into the religious part of their life (but the main reason I thought this was some of the things they did during their life). This book gives a real close-up for each composer and their deep relationship with God. This gave me a new way to look at these composers; an unexpected discovery.

Now, there was one controversial name on the list that I was really curious about. Good old RICHARD WAGNER. I was surprised to see this guy on the list, because he's got core fans and real haters. Probably half the factor was his music and half his personality. But we can all agree he is the most unfit composer to be on the list of this book. The author thought not so. He revealed Wagner and his understanding in the Bible. I was really, I mean really surprised to find out Wagner had a time where he diligently studied this religion.

I won’t say too much more about him, but this book can bring about new findings and understandings on these geniuses and on the Christian faith. The book itself is like a Bible, if you will, with a bunch of “books” (sections devoted to a composer) collected in one book. This makes it easier to read, as you can pick and choose who to read about. Even if you don’t get through the whole book, it will definitely go to your benefit.

And an invitation to classical music.

[isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think I’ve never been so invested in a non-fiction book before. This truly is a gem to end all gems and was a delight from cover to cover. It felt like I was reading about people I know and love, and finding out more about their spiritual convictions and the very essence that fuels their talent makes them seem even more like friends. I love the writing style, for it never seemed to get boring, and each account of each composer never seemed repetitive, instead having a new colour to each tale. The little annecdotes at the start of each chapter were such a cute breath of fresh air, and were somethings I looked forward to every chapter. I could go on forever about insights from each man, but I’ll just say that no matter how many times I read Beethoven’s story and what he said about his ear organs I can feel my heart twisting in discomfort. It makes their music much more meaningful to me and will enable me to become a better musician as I perform their music with another layer of understanding.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first two chapters (up to page 37) and plan to return to finish later when I borrow it again.

[John Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book looked very intriguing when I saw it on the shelf at the library. It contains short biographical sketches of twenty of history's greatest composers, concentrating solely on the aspect of their spiritual beliefs, and how those beliefs impacted their music.

There are definite strengths and weaknesses to this book. It's quite easy to read, and offers some interesting details about the lives of these fascinating musicians that weren't covered in any of my music history textbooks. The citations and bibliography are very thorough, which I enjoy in a book of this nature, because it lends credibility and points in the direction of further reading about the composers who most piqued my interest. It's also an absolute gold mine of quotes, providing fodder for many a Facebook status update!

Kavannaugh also devotes time correcting popularized misconceptions about some composers. For instance, we encounter a much more historic portrayal of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart than his unflattering depiction in the movie Amadeus, which won 8 Oscars in 1984 (including "Best Picture") but was notoriously bad history.

On a whole, though, the book missed the mark for me. I had high hopes for a book that would demonstrate how the beliefs of composers of all spiritual persuasions and levels of devotion were manifested in their work. Many of these men were very conflicted and troubled... how did their devotion to God (or lack thereof) impact their music? Is there an observable difference between the work of devout Christians and the work of, say, someone who devoted his life to one of the Eastern religions? These are questions that greatly interest me.

Unfortunately, the author chose instead to write a very superficial book, attempting to fit each of these composers into the mold of Christian orthodoxy. We are led to believe that all twenty musicians in this list were Christians, and this is meant to inspire those of us who are Christian musicians to take pride in the Christian heritage of our art.

I, for one, believe that we have all the inspiration we need, without having to exaggerate this heritage by giving a rosy and inaccurate picture of great composers who were more than likely not true believers. After all, it is our God who is the Creator of music, and the giver of every good gift! What else do we need? Upholding as Christian examples men who had profoundly unbiblical ideas about God such as Richard Wagner and Frederic Chopin tarnishes the testimony of true followers and lovers of Jesus Christ such as J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel.

A quick and interesting read, but take the author's words with a large grain of salt.

[Anita]

Well, this book took me 11 months to read. Probably because I wanted to listen to the works from each artist (listed at the end of each chapter) as I read. I felt that would help me understand them better. I really enjoyed that part of it.

The writing itself was a little dry and one dimensional for me. I would have loved reading about other parts of their lives, and not just their devotion to Christianity. Don't get me wrong, I liked reading about that part of their lives, I just wanted more.

I am always fascinated to learn about composers and to peak a bit into the inspiration that goes behind their compositions. All of the composers in this book are very quick to give all of the credit for their brilliant gifts to God.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very intersting book IMHO. 20 composers, each with a few pages of information about thier childhood, careers, their religious faith ect... also a list of recommended works to listen to. I found it interesting how so many of those up to the 1800's did not relate to any one faith-it is almost as if they were looking for something more complete. Some of them had some very powerful, spiritual experiences. Inspired in me the desire to learn more about them and to listen more to such inspired music.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Currently reading along with "Lives of Composers and what their neighbors thought". We read about a certain composer from each book and then listen to that composer from classical kids audio cd's. Great way of really getting to know these musicians. So far we have done, Vivaldi, Stravinsky (watched u-tube for this one), and then today we are doing Bach..4/8/15


Will continue to use this book each year as we keep studying these composers...4/27/15

Read for CC1 wk#20, studying Handel. Interesting read...krb 3/11/16

[Read1000books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since classical has become my music of choice, I have been wanting to read some short biographies of great composers, so finding this small book (> 120 pages) with a spiritual focus fit the bill perfectly. Each of the twelve short but informative chapters is divided into a biographical section; a particular, positive character quality each subject was known for such as adaptability, generosity, determination, etc,; and a recommended listening list (all of which are probably free on youtube.com or elsewhere online). It should be noted that the title word "Spiritual" does not refer to the now common 21st century definition but as it relates to the two main branches of Christianity, Protestant and Catholic. The author, Mr. Kavanaugh, has obviously done an incredible amount of research and I have no doubt that Handel, J.S. Bach, and Mendelssohn were true, born-again Christians based on their own words and writings. Beethoven, however, is a bit of an enigma. And as for Wagner and Liszt, only the Lord knows for sure. Two notable ommissions from the book are Tchaikovsky and Dvorak's friend Johannes Brahms, the latter perhaps being explained on page 77. In all, a "keeper" I will certainly read again.

[Tom Kopff · Rating 3 out of 5]

We rarely hear anything about artist's spirituality in the secular media. One could lament the fact and speculate why this is so, but Patrick Kavanaugh decided to do something better. He has written a book giving us insight into the religious beliefs and spiritual lives of 20 composers, ranging from J. S. Bach to Olivier Messiaen. Some I knew were men of faith, like Bach, others, like Richard Wagner, were surprising. There are Catholics, Protestants, and not a few who are hard to classify, but Mr. Kavanaugh uses letters, biographies, and reminiscences to reveal what their faith meant to them and their art. He mentions that he could have included dozens more composers in the book but ran out of room. I hope he writes Volume Two!

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the insight into the lives of these men and their exceptional natures musically.
I don't agree with all that was put in.
At the same time, I do appreciate this man's research and advocating for the composers and their inspired natures.

I do think many of them were inspired. I don't know that much about them and if anything this book has begun an interest into learning more about their attitudes and different tastes or perspectives on music.

I should also add, that while I would have written much differently here years ago, my thoughts on music have shifted frequently over the last couple years.

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inspiring read! I loved reviewing snippets of the lives of these 20 great composers, learning of entertaining episodes and surmising the spiritual connections of those that are not as obvious as others. I was struck at the magnitude of gifts and talents that God bestowed upon these men, many dying before the age of 40, already having produced scores and scores of work.

The chapters include the author's note about a prominent character trait as well as recommended listening for each composer. And the conclusions reached at the end of the book are worth pondering over--what if YOUR life were scrutinized by biographers in the future? Would your faith be easy to detect?

[Lauren Perotto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I highly recommend listening to the corresponding music with each chapter. It takes much longer to read but adds to the education.

While I enjoyed learning about the religious convictions of composers and their associated music, I felt like the book was extremely biased. I realize it’s supposed to be, but it felt like a lot was being left out or glossed over. Isn’t the great thing about our connection to deity that we’re all fallible humans who don’t always get it right? This is much more faith promoting and realistic to me than ignoring the “bad stuff.”

[Julian Rosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can get to know the musical style of a certain classical composer to the extent that you can sometimes recognize their style in a piece of theirs you've never heard before. But behind the music, there is a great inspiration. I found this a fascinating read: Beethoven's interest in Hinduism, Dvorak's acknowledgement of God as the source of his inspiration, and Handel's remarkable experience writing the Messiah, plus a lot more. It was a real pleasure and an easy read.

[Michael Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having appreciated the music of many of these great composers for years from a purely musical (secular) perspective, it was good to learn about the spiritual aspects of their lives. Being a believer myself, I can now relate to them in a way that makes their music even more relevant and appreciated.

[Chris Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really changed the way that I looked at a lot of the composers, especially Mozart. I loved the deep rich history of the composers and the triumphs and tragedies that they went through and how God used it for their good and for His glory. The stories and histories were amazing. A great read for anyone in love with classical music and the Bible.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short chapters…covered the composers I was curious about…and some I didn’t know that were easy to skim. I liked the one word descriptors of the composers i. Each chapter. I specifically went looking for it because I was curious about the spiritual leanings of a few specific composers. Answered my questions.

[Erin Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are reading this book as part of a middle-school age homeschool curriculum on the history of classical music. We have really enjoyed understanding the deep spiritual lives of the great composers, and how integral their spirituality was to their work and its legacy. The author writes gracefully. However, we can't help but notice that the author MUST be protestant himself. He displays a clear bias towards Protestantism. Any other faith denomination is often excused by the composer's proximity to protestantism as if that's the only truly acceptable faith. One example is Haydn....He was a devout Roman Catholic, but Kavanaugh reassures his readers that the Protestant clergyman CJ Latrobe vouched for him despite this unfortunate fact. He even went so far as to say Haydn edited Catholic texts to make them for centered on Christ!! As if Catholic texts weren't centered on Christ. Mozart is another example. He says the composer's faith "bore the marks of Roman Catholicism.....and yet it was authentically Christian." Does he not realize that Catholics are Christians?? The author doesn't seem to understand the Catholic faith, specifically, and seems to have a clear bias against what he thinks it is. This trend throughout the book was so striking, transparent, and obvious that I had to come on Amazon and write it in a review because I was so sick of it. It's a distraction from an otherwise really beautiful study of the great composers.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that highlights 12 composers, and how their Christian beliefs influenced them. At the end of each chapter a personality trait is listed and how that particular composer emulated said attribute. I really liked getting to know these men better; both their strengths and weaknesses.

[Dian Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know nothing about the great composers so it was enlightening. It felt a bit forced to label each composer with a trait and to justify their greatness. But I still felt it was worth the time to read it, it's a short book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this quote from the afterword of the book sums it all up: "Understanding (the composers) faith augments our appreciation of their music and their individuality, and it brings us back again to a personal response." "Do we live with Integrity, lives that are consistent with our beliefs?"

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a helpful book, but hard to know if the claims the author made about each composer's faith is actually true. It's hard to be able to tell sometimes. And I wish he'd talked more about how their faith influenced the type of music they wrote or why they wrote music.

[Sean Kewley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only qualm with this book is that it is too short. I'm left with a strangling desire to read actual biographies of some of the composers, namely Bach, Dvorak, Beethoven, Liszt and Wagner. Otherwise, great little book.

[Lois Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This succinct book highlights these great composers' faith and acknowledgement that their Lord and Saviour gifted them with their talents, of which many humbly used to serve the Lord. an encouraging and inspiring read.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Not great writing, but interesting stories. My husband is currently reading it, when he's done I will return it to the person who loaned it to me.