Composer: Ellen Koehler
Arrangement Samples - Click pdf link(s) below to view
Sheet Music Category:
Available Arrangements:
- Hymn
- Lead Sheet
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth
Seek to work us woe –
His craft and pow’r are great,
And armed with cruèl hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus it is He –
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And tho’ this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him –
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure:
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly pow’rs,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also –
The body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still:
His kingdom is forever.
All Rights Reserved.
Words and hymn tune: Martin Luther, 1529. Transl. from German to English by Frederic H. Hedge, 1853.
Commentary -
This classic, triumphant hymn of the church has long been called “the battle hymn of the Reformation.” I prefer to think of it as the victory anthem of the Church, because it speaks of the spiritual warfare to which we are all called as the Body of Christ and the ultimate victory we will share because Christus Victor has disarmed and defeated all the powers of darkness. And because we are in Him, “we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.”
In this setting, the first two verses are set with their familiar harmonic rhythm (chord changes generally on each syllable). Verse three is set in a more contemplative tone and harmonies, still in the key of C, with a less busy chordal structure that encourages increased concentration on the text. Verse four modulates to the key of D, returning to its more familiar harmonic structure, to declare that “His kingdom is forever.”
Liturgical Uses:
Gathering and Sending hymn; Profession of Faith.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is traditionally sung on Reformation Sunday (the Sunday closest to October 31), and when the day’s Scripture includes texts on spiritual warfare such as Ephesians 6:10-20 or 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Because this hymn is based in part on Psalm 46, it is often used on Sundays for which the lectionary includes this psalm. It is also well suited to be used with other psalm texts that speak of the Lord as our Strength, Rock, Shelter, Defense, Strong Tower. Here’s an example I used for the first Sunday of Lent, Year C, based on Psalm 91:
Leader: You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty -
say to the LORD:
My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!
His faithfulness is a sheld and bulwark.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
When you call on Him, He will answer.
He will be with you in trouble;
He will rescue you and honor you
and you will see His salvation.
Leader: "Because you have loved Me,"
declares the LORD,
"I will deliver you.
"I will set you securely on high,
"because you have known My name."
- from Psalm 91:1-4, 11-16
Key: C, with modulation to D
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is available as a lead sheet. (It is available as a setting for keyboard or organ on request.)
Copyright ©2016 Ellen Koehler. All Rights Reserved.
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