Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: First English Evangelical Lutheran Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Grosse Pointe Woods

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1960

Subject/Title of Window: Music in the Church

Brief Description of Subject: The window depicts Music in the Church from time of the Old Testament to the modern day.

The left section portrays David as the psalmist of Israel. Near him is a sheep and staff recalling his writing the familiar 23rd Psalm. Below the figure of David is one of Zacharias representing music from the New Testament. Zacharias is remembering for the Benedictus of Luke 1, sung after he learns that he is to be the father of John the Baptist. John the Baptist is symbolized by the camel hair coat and locust.

The center section portrays Martin Luther who helped restore congregational singing in the church during the Reformation. Luther himself composed such hymns as "A Mighty Fortress," "From Heaven Above," and "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands." Below him is portrayed Philip Nicolai, a Lutheran pastor who helped in developing the chorale as one of the richest forms of hymnody. Nicolai is the author of the king and queen of chorales - "Wake, Awake for Night is Flying" and "How Brightly Beams the Morning Star."

In the right section Isaac Watts, and English writer of hymns appears. Watts is known as the father of English hymnody. From him have been received such hymns as "Jesus Shall Reign" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." Below him is a portrayal of Johann Sebastian Back regarded as the greatest of church musicians. A Lutheran organist and choir master, Bach wrote such great cantatas as "The Passion of Our Lord, According to St. Matthew." At the bottom is a portrayal of Ralph Vaughn-Williams, an English composer of recent times. Used frequently in our worship is his arrangement of "For All the Saints."

Condition of Window: Excellent

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Antique or Cathedral Glass, Lead Came, Vitreous Paint

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