Martin Luther’s Church Hymn Ein feste Burg: Its Meaning in the Opera Son Yang Won (2011) by Chae Hoon Park and in the Opera L

Martin Luther’s Church Hymn Ein feste Burg: Its Meaning in the Opera Son Yang Won (2011) by Chae Hoon Park and in the Opera L

Martin Luther’s Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott is one of the best well-known church hymns to Protestants. Many composers have been inspired by Luther’s hymn and have left numerous pieces for choir, organ, oratorio, and opera. Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots (1836) is a grand opera, in which Luther’s Ein feste Burg occurs. Its plot is based on a historical event, namely the St Bartholomew massacre that took place in Paris on the 23rd of August, 1572. In Les Huguenots, Luther’s Ein feste Burg is used as a symbol of Protestantism and appears in the passages, which are related to the Huguenots. Luther’s hymn has a great impact not only in Western Christian countries, but also in East Asia, especially Korea. Since its introduction in Korea, Luther’s Ein feste Burg enjoyed great popularity by Korean Christians. It was sung under Japanese annexation as well as after liberation. Nowadays, many arrangements for choir have been produced. In 2011, the Korean church musician Chae Hoon Park (b. 1922) composed an opera, namely Son Yang Won, where one can hear Luther’s Ein feste Burg. This study aims to explore the meaning of Luther’s hymn in both operas – Les Huguenots and Son Yang Won – and its incredible influence on the believers. Since this study examines Luther’s Ein feste Burg used in operas, which were produced in different eras, contexts, and perspectives, it would make contribution to expanding our viewpoints.

Martin Luther’s Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott is one of the best well-known church hymns to Protestants. Many composers have been inspired by Luther’s hymn and have left numerous pieces for choir, organ, oratorio, and opera. Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots (1836) is a grand opera, in which Luther’s Ein feste Burg occurs. Its plot is based on a historical event, namely the St Bartholomew massacre that took place in Paris on the 23rd of August, 1572. In Les Huguenots, Luther’s Ein feste Burg is used as a symbol of Protestantism and appears in the passages, which are related to the Huguenots. Luther’s hymn has a great impact not only in Western Christian countries, but also in East Asia, especially Korea. Since its introduction in Korea, Luther’s Ein feste Burg enjoyed great popularity by Korean Christians. It was sung under Japanese annexation as well as after liberation. Nowadays, many arrangements for choir have been produced. In 2011, the Korean church musician Chae Hoon Park (b. 1922) composed an opera, namely Son Yang Won, where one can hear Luther’s Ein feste Burg. This study aims to explore the meaning of Luther’s hymn in both operas – Les Huguenots and Son Yang Won – and its incredible influence on the believers. Since this study examines Luther’s Ein feste Burg used in operas, which were produced in different eras, contexts, and perspectives, it would make contribution to expanding our viewpoints.