I once read that this is how Bach dedicated his works. Does anyone know the Latin phrase he used? And if I have the translation correct? (ok, all you Catholic high schoolers of yesteryear; anybody ready to dust off the Latin books and come up with this one?)
2007-02-16 22:18:17 · 7 answers · asked by Bruce G 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The traditional sequence in Latin is "ad maiorem Dei gloriam"
2007-02-17 00:43:00 · answer #1 · answered by Sterz 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, that was a rather unproductive question and a waste. Bach was neither stupid nor delusional, do you have a problem with someone dedicating things to God. Listen you don't have to do it but don't judge those who do alright? Try to be a little more respectful the way you bad talk christians by the way. You see how christians answer you with so much more kindness, I read a question about atheism, most of the atheist answer, "God is BS and there is no proof." OR "God is freaking gay." (Those are real answers copy and pasted). Is it that hard to treat people with kindness nowadays?
2016-05-23 22:04:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure that it was Bach who inscribed his works thus, I thought it was Haydn. If he did, and as Haydn did, he would have used the letters 'AMGD', rather than writing out the words ad maiorem gloriam Deum in full. It mattered not that he was a Lutheran Protestant, he used Latin as did many educated people in the 18th century. he even composed a Mass using the Latin text. Handel was also a Protestant, but, again, composed a few works using Latin for the text.
2007-02-17 00:09:15 · answer #3 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bach's dedication was "To God Alone Be the Glory", which in one of what are called the "Five Solas" of Lutheranism. They are:
Sola Scriptura- Scripture Alone
Sola Fide- Faith Alone
Sola Christus- Christ Alone
Sola Gratia- Grace Alone
Soli Deo Gloria- To Go Alone Be the Glory
Bach abbreviated this at the end of many of his manuscripts with the letters S.D.G. in the last measures. On some occasions he also scrawled I.N.J. at the beginning of his manuscripts, referencing the Laitn "In Nomine Jesu", or "In the Name of Jesus".
2007-02-20 05:08:37 · answer #4 · answered by rwf 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it goes like this in Latin (had 4 semesters in high school.. but that was over 25 years ago)
"Per Magis Dei Gloriam"
HOWEVER! Taking into account that as far as I know Bach was a Lutheran and not a Catholic, I think it would have been in German more likely. German would be like this:
"Für den grösseren Ruhm des Gottes"
2007-02-16 22:30:25 · answer #5 · answered by Kostagh 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Are You sure that Beethoven was a Catholic? You wouldn't be thinking of Handel's:
"Gloria in Excelsis Deo"? "Glory to God on High" by any chance?
"Per majis Dei Glorium", "For the Greater Glory of God".
2007-02-16 22:33:13 · answer #6 · answered by Ashleigh 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In excelcis deo
I go to a school where the motto is SOLI DEO GLORIA meaning:
"for the glory of god"
2007-02-20 21:40:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋