Composer: Martin Luther

Composition: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (also known as the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation")

Date: 1529

Genre: Four-Part homophonic chorale. This piece was written to be sung by the lay church membership instead of just by the church leaders a was practiced prior to the Reformation.

Form; Four part Chorale, Strophic

Nature of Text (topic, lyrics, translations): Originally in German so it could be sung by all church attendees.

Performing Forces: Congregation—This recording is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Things to listen for: Stepwise melody, Syncopated rhythms centered around text

Translation: Translated from original German to English by Frederic H. Hedge in 1853.

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 power are great, and, armed with cruel 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 though 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 powers, 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.