Church Musicians

The work of the church musician has always been challenging. In today's climate, there is a need to find new and effective ways to clearly articulate this calling to clergy, congregations, and choir members. This book of lectures examines their work and craft from a historical perspective through current practices. Paul Westermeyer's position as clergyman, musician, historian, and musicologist makes him uniquely qualified to give the reader a bird's eye view of the church musicians' vocation with all of its challenges and joys.

The work of the church musician has always been challenging. In today's climate, there is a need to find new and effective ways to clearly articulate this calling to clergy, congregations, and choir members. This book of lectures examines their work and craft from a historical perspective through current practices. Paul Westermeyer's position as clergyman, musician, historian, and musicologist makes him uniquely qualified to give the reader a bird's eye view of the church musicians' vocation with all of its challenges and joys.

Paul Westermeyer is Professor of Church Music at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he also serves as Cantor and administers the Master of sacred Music program with St. Olaf College. He has taught at Elmhurst College and Yale University's Institute of Sacred Music, has served the church as a musician and pastor, and has been the President of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, Editor of its journal The Hymn, and in 2004 was named a Fellow. From 1991 until 1998 he was the national Chaplain of the American Guild of Organists. Westermeyer's interested have been at the intersections of music, theology, and worship. His books- The Church Musician, The Heart of the Matter, Let the People Sing, Let Justice Sing, Te Deum, and With Tongues of Fire- relate to those topics.