BP21O1 A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD Dan Forrest SATB Beckenhorst Press, Inc. 960 Old Henderson Road Colombus, Ohio 43220
Program Notes From the arranger: For the 500th anniversary of Luther s publication of his 95 Theses at Wittenburg (1517), this arrangement offers an aural glimpse of Luther s hymn through history: from the opening blows of Luther s hammer, to the Renaissance rhythms of Luther s original version (sung by a solo voice, representing Luther standing alone), to harmony and counterpoint based on J.S. Bach s harmonization for the Lutheran church 200 years later, to modem day material that is, nevertheless, based on Luther s original rhythms and melodic intervals. Two English translations of Luther s text are offered: the Hedge translation (common in broad Protestant use), and, in italics, the texts (rhythmic and isorhythrnic) from the Lutheran Service Book (1978). Either text may be used. Cover photo: Detail from the oldest existing copy of Eine Feste Burg, a second edition published in 1533 (four years after the original 1529 publication), on display at the Lutherhaus in Wittenberg, Germany. (Photo credit: Paul T. McClain. Used by permission.) Full Product listing o Piano accompaniment (BP2 101 D) is available for purchase. o Full score and parts for 2 trumpets, horn, 2 trombones, tuba and 1-2 percussion players (BP21O1A) are available for purchase. o A full performance/accompaniment compact disc (BP2 101 C) is available for purchase. o Full score and parts for orchestral accompaniment (BP2 101 B) are available for purchase. o A reproducible congregational sheet (BP2 10 1E) is available for purchase. o Also available for SSAA (BP2102) and TTBB (BP2 103) voices. BP21OI-2
Commissioned by the Concordia Choir and Sinfonietta of Concordia University Irvine (Dr. Michael Busch and Dr JeffHeld, conductors), to the gloiy of God, and in honor ofthe 500th anniversary of the Reformation. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God For SATB Choir, Organ, optional Brass Sextet and Percussion, or optional Orchestral Accompaniment* Martin Luther, C. 1527 Tr. Frederick Hedge, 1852 Alt. tr from Lutheran Service Book, 1978 EIN FESTE BURG Arranged by DAN FORREST (ASCAP) Slowly, boldly = ca. 80 4 f (Play cue-size notes only (fnot usingpercussion or piano) > i:r.. : >. 1(16+32) 2 3 Moderato, with great confidence = ca. 96-100 I Baritone SOLO (or TB unis; Tenor I may omit) (Renaissance dance feel) -..i ii inf A might - y For - tress is our God, a bul - wark nev - er fail - **A might - y For - tress is our God, a trust - y Shield and Wea -.--- ; A 4 de _ 5 6 7 -.r= E i.l. ii,.n -- ei I I - - ing. Our help - er He, a - mid_ the - pon. He helps us free from ev - ry...,c., inf L o - 9 iol * See page two for full product listing. ** Alternate text is in italics. V 11 i Copyright 2016 by Beckenhorst Press, Inc. All rights reserved. BP21013 Neither CCLI nor OneLicense.net Licenses grant permission to photocopy this music.
I 4 11 F flood of mor - tal ills pre-vail - ing. need That hath us now o er-ta - ken. 3 4 flzfø. 4g. 15 I 16 V 13 14.A marcato (Renaissance dancefeel) SA unis. mf I QJ E!:_/ - - - (-E) (Cue-sized notes arefor alternate text) For still our_ an - cient foe Now seeks to work us The old e - vi? foe Now means dead - ly I_ -- I 14 I-I 14 1 A -::;J r N J (I & I I h r - ---------- t4i-------- 17 I 18 I V 19. 20 - A,. 3 I, 1 I woe; His wrath and pow r are great And armed with cm - el woe; Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms_ in marcato (Renaissance dance feel) TB unis. mf ri i r -r.. II (Organ shouldplay choir A notes, whichever text is used). I,t I I I I I & 21 I 22 23or:r ii BP2 10 1-4
5 r hate, On earth is not his e - qual. fight; On earth is not his e qual. j r Pcresc. t, 25 26 27 Slower, molto maestoso = ca. 80 4 Slower, molto maestoso = ca. 80 Massive, brilliant registration 4 > > >,ff legato 29 3O 31 32 33 (+32 ) 4 (+ Optional Congregation, unison). 1 nt. a tempo -H Did No nit, a tempo f 9 H (Play cue-size notes only (1 not using percussion or piano) 9: 34 35 36 37 BP21O1-5 --- I :: nit, a tempo f
6 Poco phi mosso = ca. 86 we in our_ own strength con - fide, our striv - ing would be strength of ours can match His might! We would be lost, re - Poco phi mosso = Ca. 86 flit r (Ifcongregation does not sing, Soprano II mayjoin alto melody) d V los - ing. Were not the nght_ Man ject ed. But now a cham - pion 43 44t7 F on our_ side the Man of God s own choos - comes_ to_ fight, whom God Him - self e - lect - F P F d BP2IO1-6 46r r 47
r i mf IJ k 7 ing. Dost ask who that_ may be? Christ ed. You ask who this_ may be? The mf S I F : LL, j - inf r 48 49 :fz* Je - sus, it.. is He: Lord Sab - a - oth His_ Lord of hosts.., is He! Christ.Je - sus, might - r r r 4 p 51 53 r F name, from age to age the same, and Lord, God s on - ly Son, a - dored. He I I II 0) r rrr, BP21OI-7 54 56 V F
8 I nt. I I I With great intensity = ca. 100-104 He must win the bat - tie. holds the field vic - tor - ious. nt. - - F F F. fl With great intensity = ca. 100-104.J I :!1::Li p I ct 1.. I OL > >- \,:1 -. I e ) r F F rr F I And though this unis. p legato, distant Though dev,2ils A might - y for - tress is our God. Oh A might - y for - tress is our God. Oh simile inf us. world, with dev - us filled, should threat - en to un - do r un - do de - your all_ the world should fill, All ea - ger to de - vour 4rnm 9:J 65 BP2IO1-8 63 64 -
Is. cresc. poco a poco 9 us, We will not us, We trem - ble A. cresc. poco apoco us, We will not us, We trem - ble cresc. poco a poco F F us, is our God. Will not us, is our God. Trem - ble B. inp legato, distant cresc. poco apoco F F F F F F F F us, A might - y for tress is our God. Will not us, A might - y for - tress is our God. Trem - ble c.pocoatff 66 67 68 F cresc. F fear, for God_ hath willed His truth to tn - umph through..._... not, un - moved_ we stand; They can - not o - ver - pow r F cresc. F fear, for God_ hath willed His truth to tn - umph through not, un - moved_ we stand; They can - not o - ver - pow r cresc. F F F F F F F F F F fear, for God hath willed His truth to tn - umph through not un - moved we stand; They can - not o - ver - pow r r Fz* j:f f F:F1FF fear, for God hath willed His truth to tn - umph through.. not, un - moved we stand; They can - not o - ver - pow r 9:L6 - p 69r BP21OI-9 r 70 r 711 cresc.
10 Slower = Ca. 86 trem - ble not for him; bat - tie we ii en - gage. I I cresc. poco a poco A I dure, for lo, his doom is sure. One lit - tie fail; God s judg-ment must pre - vail! One lit-tie cresc. poco a poco F r rage we can en - dire, his doom is sure, One lit - tie might is doomed to fail, God must pre - vail! One lit - tie 4.rr 9: p p C 80 BP21O1-10 J.L.. 8l 82F 83
I I dt. f Quickly = Ca. 132 11 wrd shall fell him. word sub - dues him. rü. f 6 r Quickly = ca. 132. : 86J r (16, opt. 32 ),-i?l, J [ fl.-.. -L FT r - i L - J I - 4: - J..J. 88 89 90 Y. 91 A A bit slower, triumphantly = Ca. 124 1 1:.. I I A - v a & - ff. H - A bit slower, triumphantly = Ca. 124 Full organ L) 4 I 4 L.J I j..,. - 4 92 r 93L - (+32 ) BP21OI-1 1 I I V V I
12 unis, (+ Optional Congregation) That Word a - bove all earth - ly God s Word for - ev - er shall_ a if unis. RH simile, LH and pedal sempre legato 96 97 98 99 pow rs, no thanks to them, a - bid bide, No thanks to foes, who fear if ioo lolr? lo2 rl) eth; The Spir - it it; For God Him - 1 j unis. j if if if unis. 11 lo4 lo5 lo6 BP21O1-12 lo7
(Cue-sized notes arefor alternate text) 13 and the gifts are ours through Him who self_ fights by our side with wea - pons (4 simile Y LI LI 108 109> 110> 111> > J 4# II with us sid - eth. of the Spir - it. rf H. ## 9## 112j 114t 115V > >. H -9: molto legato inf unis. H Let goods and kin - dred Were they to take our (organ may add chimes to manuals, ad lib., favailable). I fi ll6tt 117 BP21O1-13 118 t 119
I 14 f go, this mor - tal life al house, Goods, hon - or child, or H fri F J. 1 = = = 120 121 ty 122 123 4 F so. The bod - y they may spouse, Though l(fe be wrenched a if (-chimes) r II d - 124 25 126 l27 f kill; God s truth a - bid - eth way, They can - not win the 128 BP21O1-14 130 l3l
15 c L- A L 1T i Quickly cjca. 132 I (- Cong.) e ev.- er! ev - er! E? ç Quickly = Ca. 132 136 r I 39 (16, opt. 32 ) 1j# iy LI r F- - p... L 1- F L.... 140 BP2IO1-15 141 142 144
16 if IIIOII IIUII IIIIIll 7 48769 02101 9 nt., - His king - dom is for - The King - dom s ours for - if.-. Ai I I 4n P I I I 145 I 146 p 147fl a tempo (stagger breathing, or cut offon downbeat ofm. 151). I V Pr! - - ev er! ev a tempo --- ------------ -. ------- - -- - I - - A J i jy,e a tempo W tr r W Q) I - ;_#- Cd - 48L 149Y 15O -.. Molto Maestoso = ca. 100 n - t:je zb JE Y a 151 r - ho 152 BP21O1-16 >,sz -9-..,- -.- e - -,-, Molto Maestoso = ca 100 - A -- - -, :::EE:z- 8 ::: (H a a Q) - >- > > > I : fr.. 0 -- -Q - - LI 153. 154 T55 > --, -7