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UPDATED 03/13/2010

 
Max Reger
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Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, Op. 135a, No. 5 Click to Listen [1:21]
The Chorale is in the Pedal, and the manual is topped off with a descant that would be attractive if sung. Registration is HW Bourdon 16' + Gedact 8' + Octave 4' + Progressio Harmonica 2-3 Fach; coupled to PD Subbass 16' + Gedactbass 8' + Violon 8'. Instrument: F. A. Mehmel Village Church Organ, St. Andreas Church, Nehringen Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany (1868) - Samples by Prof. Helmut Maier

Chorale Text
German:
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,
Ein gute Wehr und Waffen;
Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not,
Die uns jetzt hat bestroffen.
Der alt böse Feind
Mit Ernst er's jetzt meint,
Gross Macht und viel List
Sein grausam Rüstung ist,
Auf Erd ist nicht seinsgleichen.
--Martin Luther, 1529

English:
A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need
That has us now o'ertaken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
--Composite, Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868


Audio track was created with Hauptwerk v. 1 software