From Theodore Dalrymple

Staying recently in a South Yorkshire town called Rotherham-described in one guidebook as “murky,” an inadequate word for the place-I was interested to read in the local newspaper how the proprietors of some stores are preventing hooligans from gathering outside to intimidate and rob customers. They play Bach over loudspeakers, and this disperses the youths in short order; they flee the way Count Dracula fled before holy water, garlic flowers, and crucifixes. The proprietors had previously tried a high-pitched noise generator whose mosquito-like whine only those younger than 20 could detect. This method, too, proved effective, but the owners abandoned it out of fear that it might damage the youths’ hearing and infringe upon their human rights, leading to claims for compensation.

This is not unlike the routing of the Moabites, Ammonites and  Meunites by Israel. Jehoshaphat sent the choir out in front of the army and the enemy scattered before them. I don’t think it was because the choir – unlike most Anglican choirs –  was singing that badly, but because evil can’t withstand the genuine worship of God.

After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for GOD; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing,

Give thanks to GOD, His love never quits.

As soon as they started shouting and praising, GOD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead. [23] The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed. 2 Chr 20:21ff

Bach’s manuscripts were inscribed: “Soli Deo Gloria,” “To God Alone be the Glory”, an idea that is anathema to the barbarian, causing him to flee in horror.