Carl F. Schalk: A Life in Song

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With his lively wit and frank, engaging manner, Carl Schalk is the leading voice of our generation on the subject of Lutheran church music. Author Nancy M. Raabe weaves Schalk's career, his musical compositions, and numerous interviews with Schalk himself into a compelling narrative that features insightful anecdotes and sound advice concerning the hymns, liturgy, and worship life of the Church.

Hear Schalk's perspective on the theology of music in worship, the development of the hymnals Lutheran Book of Worship and Lutheran Worship, the composer's craft, and his work with such personalities as Herbert Brokering, Paul Bunjes, Richard Hillert, and Jaroslav Vajda. Get an inside look at some of Schalk's most popular hymn tunes, including:

Before the Marvel of This Night (MARVEL)
God of the Sparrow (ROEDER)
Now the Silence (NOW)
O Christ the Same (RED HILL ROAD)
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle (FORTUNATUS NEW)
Someone Special (EISENBERG)
Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise (THINE)
Where Shepherds Lately Knelt (MANGER SONG)

Carl F. Schalk is Distinguished Professor of Music Emeritus at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois, where he has taught for some forty years. He is the author and composer of numerous music publications, recordings, and books, including Key Words in Church Music, God's Song in a New Land, and Music in Early Lutheranism. As founder of the Master of Church Music program at Concordia, he influenced a generation of church musicians across denominations.

Nancy M. Raabe is a widely published author and church music composer. Her career as a classical music critic included publications in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and the Milwaukee Sentinel.

What Others Are Saying

This engaging account of Carl Schalk's life and work offers insights for every church musician and everyone interested in the Church and its worship. On each page, one has the feeling of a conversation with Carl. . . . Readers will be fascinated with the back story of various hymns and choral works as well as his pioneering initiatives in church music.

Steven Wente

Chair, Music Department

Concordia University Chicago

Nancy Raabe's wonderful survey of the life and work of Carl Schalk reminds us once again of his unwavering commitment to the worship life of Lutherans everywhere. . . . In all his work Schalk calls us back to those things which matter most—a solid biblical theology and the centrality of congregational song in the life of the Church. He has bequeathed to this generation and those to come an extraordinary model, one which will serve well all those who aspire to a life of significant service in the Church.

Barry L. Bobb

Director, Center for Church Music

Concordia University Chicago

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