The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers by Patrick Kavanaugh

Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, Christianity
Length: 119 pages

Reviewed by: Emma Fitzgerald

In his book, The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers, Patrick Kavanaugh examines the testimony of faith produced by twelve master composers of classical music. Beginning in the Baroque period with J.S. Bach, and ending in the 20^th century with Igor Stravinsky, Kavanaugh delves into each composer’s spiritual life and seeks to uncover how their daily lives, music and legacy were all shaped by their faith.

Kavanaugh handles the biographical genre admirably, managing to present a good deal of information on each composer while avoiding the textbook stuffiness often associated with facts and dates. His writing is clear, flowing, and extremely readable – the perfect vehicle for his obviously thorough research. He brings color and life to biographical fact with interesting narratives, and fleshes out his description of the composers with their own quotes, writings, and the opinions of their contemporaries. In addition, there are extensive footnotes on each chapter that encourage further study.

Morally the book is very satisfactory, as Kavanaugh strives to present an honest view of each composer’s spiritual life, specifically their profession of Christian faith. His balanced approach does not ignore or excuse instances of immorality (i.e. Franz List’s numerous affairs) or other inconsistencies between a composer’s profession of faith and personal life. However, he focuses his lens on the expressions of true faith and reliance on God found in the words, actions, and even music of these great men. The end of each chapter is a reflection on a particular virtue exemplified by each composer, such as humility, generosity, etc.

As a musician, music history enthusiast, and Christian, I deeply appreciated the fresh approach Kavanaugh took in examining these composers, particularly those whose faith has been disclaimed by many contemporary music historians. His conclusion rang true, that although none of these men were perfect, their spiritual walks are worthy of study and in some cases, emulation. It was inspiring to read of how J.S. Bach inscribed Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be glory) on many of his compositions (p. 13), and to discover that he was not the only composer to give God the credit for his incredible musical ability. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining more insight into the lives of these remarkable musicians and appreciating more fully the God who created them.