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The chief contributions of Martin Luther to Western civi-lization are in the fields of theology and religious reform; but his influence upon, and even his direct contributions to, the development of music also are of considerable importance. Luther has established a place for himself in history as "the great German religious reformer who began the Protestant Reforma-tion " (Brit.,436), but hi.s abilities as a musician are often overlooked. That Luther had a great love for music is clear from a letter which he sent to Ludwig Senfl, the court musician at 'Munich, on October 4, 1530, in which he says: "I firmly believe, nor am I ashamed to assert, that next to theology no art is equal to music; fO.r it is the only one, except theology, which is able to give a quiet and happy mind ••• • But why do I praise music now, trying to depict--or rather to disfigure--so great a sub-ject on so small a slip of paper? But my love for music, which has often refreshed me and set me free from great worries, abounds and bubbles over. " (quoted in:Plass,983). Indeed, Luther's influence in the history of music cannot be underestimated. uThe fact that we possess a great body of German Protestant church music is mainly att~ibutable to Luther's understanding and love of music.n (Buszin, 80). Martin Luther was greatly influenced by musical experiences which occurred throughout his life, but most especially in his youth. He was born on November 10, 1483, at Eisleben i