The Roger Wagner Chorale, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

Another great offering from Robert Higgs.

The introduction to the song reads: 

"A Mighty Fortress Is OurGod,” based on the 46^th Psalm, was written by Martin Luther in 1529.  First used as a song of protest, it quickly became known as the “battle hymn of the Reformation.”  The song was first published with English lyrics in 1539 when it appeared in Coverdale’s “Goostly Psalmes.”  The music has been given well over fifty settings and has been used by many composers.  Bach harmonized it several times and used the text for his Reformation Sunday Cantata (No. 80).  [Some help.] Meyerbeer incorporated the melody in Les Huguenots.  The song was also used by Mendelssohn in his Reformation Symphony, by Richard Wagner in his Kaisermarsch.  Without a doubt, it is the best loved of all German chorales.  (arrangement by Roger Wagner & Ernest Gold).

I particularly loved the most recent comment by bearclawhogs44 three years ago, which reads, 

This—THIS—is what worship should be.  No foppish sentimentality.  Singing with strength, heart, and delight.  Praise God. 

Those Germans sure know a thing or two about music and religion.  

And this video 

makes the point that 

With the exception, perhaps, of John Newton’s hymn “Amazing Grace,” it is doubtful that any hymn is more widely known and loved than Martin Luther’s “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” or “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” in its most common English translation.