The Story of Martin Luther

Posted by Lily Topolski Music on Oct 6th 2025

If you were to create a list of those who you would consider to be some of the most popular hymn writers, Martin Luther probably wouldn't be at the top of that list. His name is often forgotten among the authors of hymns as we are unfamiliar with many of his songs. However, the popularity of hymns to be sung by the congregation began with Luther himself. How did this come about?

In 1483, Martin Luther was born to Hans and Margarethe Luder in Eisleben, Saxony. As his oldest son, Martin Luther was set on the path by his father to become a lawyer. To accomplish this, Luther was thrust into education at five years old. During his early schooling in a Latin school was when he began to learn music. He was a prosperous student and began law school in 1505. Soon after beginning school, he encountered a severe storm (during which he vowed to become a monk) and dropped out of law school to join the Augustinian order.

During his time as a monk (1505-1524) and as a professor at the University of Wittenberg (1512-1546), Luther had a drastic change of theology after discovering in Scripture that salvation was not by works as he had been taught, but by grace through faith in Christ alone. This and other theological differences caused a breach between he and the Catholic Church. He was eventually excommunicated in 1521. After this point, Luther became even bolder in his theology and teaching.

Luther considered music to be a very important asset to the body of Christ as a teaching tool and an encouragement to believers. However, at that time it was only the clergy who sang and they sang in Latin, a language the common people could not understand. So, Luther began composing hymns in the common language and encouraging singing among all believers. He taught that, "next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world" (source of quote). His first hymn was titled "A New Song Shall Here Be Begun", which he wrote in 1524, just one year before marrying Katherina von Bora (with whom he had six children).

Luther had much physical pain and many health problems in his later years, and after a difficult journey to his hometown in 1546, he passed away at the age of 62. Though he had a difficult life full of controversy and struggles, Martin Luther left an undeniable and invaluable impact on the life of the church and sparked a Reformation that continues to this day. His legacy will never be forgotten!

Piano solo sheet music for hymns by Martin Luther: