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A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Festival Hymn Setting
for SATB Chorus, Congregation, Organ, Brass Quintet, Timpani, and Optional Tambourine
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is a large-scale festival setting of Martin Luther’s historic chorale EIN FESTE BURG, created in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and inspired by the great tradition of chorale treatment represented by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Reger. The score brings together SATB chorus and congregation with the sonority of organ and brass, creating a setting intended for occasions that call for both congregational participation and concert-scale musical impact.
An energetic instrumental introduction establishes the work’s ceremonial character, with two trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba, timpani, and organ presenting and developing material drawn from the familiar hymn tune. When the congregation and choir enter, Luther’s melody remains immediately recognizable, but it is surrounded by vigorous harmonic writing, independent instrumental lines, changing meters, and increasingly expansive textures. Rather than functioning as a simple harmonization, the setting allows choir, congregation, brass, and organ to participate as equal elements in a continuously developing musical structure.
The complete hymn text forms the dramatic arc of the work, moving from the confident declaration “A mighty fortress is our God” through passages of struggle, assurance, and ultimate victory. Contrasting instrumental colors and changes in texture give each portion of the text its own character; the optional tambourine adds rhythmic energy later in the setting, while a choral descant provides an additional layer of brilliance as the work builds toward its culmination.
The final section gathers the musical forces around Luther’s concluding affirmation, “God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever,” broadening the hymn into a powerful communal proclamation.
Festive, substantial, and unabashedly grand, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is designed for Reformation celebrations, hymn festivals, church anniversaries, and other major worship occasions where congregation, choir, organ, and brass can combine in a compelling expression of the historic chorale tradition.
LISTEN
MIDI demo recording
LISTEN TO THE DEMO →
One purchase includes an unlimited-copy license for one purchaser and one organization.
Your purchase permits you to print or reproduce as many copies as needed for use by your ensemble or organization. The license is limited to the purchasing individual and one affiliated organization and may not be transferred, shared with another organization, resold, or distributed outside that organization.
Digital PDF download including:
Full score
Individual Brass parts
Individual Tamborine part
Chorus and Organ part
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Festival Hymn Setting
for SATB Chorus, Congregation, Organ, Brass Quintet, Timpani, and Optional Tambourine
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is a large-scale festival setting of Martin Luther’s historic chorale EIN FESTE BURG, created in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and inspired by the great tradition of chorale treatment represented by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Reger. The score brings together SATB chorus and congregation with the sonority of organ and brass, creating a setting intended for occasions that call for both congregational participation and concert-scale musical impact.
An energetic instrumental introduction establishes the work’s ceremonial character, with two trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba, timpani, and organ presenting and developing material drawn from the familiar hymn tune. When the congregation and choir enter, Luther’s melody remains immediately recognizable, but it is surrounded by vigorous harmonic writing, independent instrumental lines, changing meters, and increasingly expansive textures. Rather than functioning as a simple harmonization, the setting allows choir, congregation, brass, and organ to participate as equal elements in a continuously developing musical structure.
The complete hymn text forms the dramatic arc of the work, moving from the confident declaration “A mighty fortress is our God” through passages of struggle, assurance, and ultimate victory. Contrasting instrumental colors and changes in texture give each portion of the text its own character; the optional tambourine adds rhythmic energy later in the setting, while a choral descant provides an additional layer of brilliance as the work builds toward its culmination.
The final section gathers the musical forces around Luther’s concluding affirmation, “God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever,” broadening the hymn into a powerful communal proclamation.
Festive, substantial, and unabashedly grand, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is designed for Reformation celebrations, hymn festivals, church anniversaries, and other major worship occasions where congregation, choir, organ, and brass can combine in a compelling expression of the historic chorale tradition.
LISTEN
MIDI demo recording
LISTEN TO THE DEMO →
One purchase includes an unlimited-copy license for one purchaser and one organization.
Your purchase permits you to print or reproduce as many copies as needed for use by your ensemble or organization. The license is limited to the purchasing individual and one affiliated organization and may not be transferred, shared with another organization, resold, or distributed outside that organization.
Digital PDF download including:
Full score
Individual Brass parts
Individual Tamborine part
Chorus and Organ part