Chorale Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (trans. Damrosch; adapt. Anthony O'Toole)

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General Info

Year: 1709 / 1935 / 2017
Duration:
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Organ and Choir
Publisher: Anthony O'Toole Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown

Instrumentation

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Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

In 1709, when the 24-year-old Johann Sebastian Bach composed his Chorale Prelude on Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" , the congregation would, at the appropriate time, have sung the hymn they all knew so well – In German. Luther composer Ein feste Burg is unser Gott between 1527 and 1529, well after his 1517 nailing of the 95 theses.

Chorale Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is one of several tributes Bach made to Martin Luther. We play it today in remembrance of the 500th anniversary of Luther's nailing his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Church on October 31, 1517, thereby starting what became the Protestant Reformation, which changed the course of history of Western civilization.

Walter Damrosch transcribed Bach's work for orchestra and choir in 1935. This transcription for band, initiated by the board of Sierra Nevada Winds for this very occasion, is by Anthony O'Toole.

- Program Note from Sierra Nevada Winds concert program, 18 November 2017

The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

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State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

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University of Wisconsin-Parkside Community Band (Laura Rexroth, conductor) – 7 December 2017
University of Arizona (Tucson) Wind Ensemble (Chad R. Nicholson, conductor) – 30 November 2017
Sierra Nevada Winds (Yuba City, Calif.) (Robert Halseth, conductor) – 18 November 2017

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)

All Wind Works

5 Preludes and Fugues (arr. Beyrent)
Adagio (arr. Hautvast)
Adagio (arr. Warner)
Air (arr. Hautvast)
Air (arr. Klemke) (c. 1730/2006)
Air (tr. Lang) (c. 1730/1958)
Air for Woodwind Choir (arr. Blahnik)
Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3 (arr. Daehn) (1721/1980)
Arioso (arr. De Haan) (1729/2000)
Arioso (arr. Hill) (1729/1984)
Arioso (arr. Reed) (1729/1998)
The Art of Fugue (tr. Amis) (c. 1745)
Ave Maria
Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) (arr. Lovrien) (1853/2004)
Bach: Air (arr. McGinty) (c. 1730/)
The Bach Buch (tr. Pann) (2011)
Bach Chorale and March (arr. Wilson) (c. 1730/1990)
Bach: Chorale and Variation (arr. McGinty) (1994)
Bach Fugue (arr. Kinyon) (/1984)
The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Brand). See: Fugue à la Gigue
Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Mitchell) (1921/2005)
Before Thy Throne I Now Appear (arr. Bukvich) (1750/1993)
Berceuse (arr. Hautvast) (/1994)
Bourrée (arr. Isaac) (1720/1969)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (arr. Marlatt) (1721/2011)
Brandenburg Concerto No 3. See also: Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3
Canzona (orch. Stock)
Chaconne (arr. Ito) (1720/1987)
Chaconne and Festive Aria (arr. Daehn)
Chaconne in D Minor (arr. Daehn) (1720/)
Chaconne in D Minor (tr. Whitwell) (1720/2015)
Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
Chorale and Fugue (arr. Warner)
Chorale and Fugue in F Major (arr. Daehn) (1988)
Chorale Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (tr. Damrosch; adapt. O'Toole)
Chorale in C Minor (arr. Topolewski) (2012)
Christ He Is My Life (arr. Cailliet) (1973)
Christmas Pastorale (arr. Hastings) (1970)
Ciaccona (arr. Votta) (1720/2021)
Come, Blessed Peace (arr. Tolmage) (1736/1958)
Come, Sweet Death (arr. Reed) (1736/1976)
Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Flute and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Flute, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto for Prince Johann (arr. Daehn) (c. 1713 / 2011)
Contrapunctus I (arr. Barnes) (c. 1745/1988)
Contrapunctus I (arr. King) (c. 1745/1960)
Contrapunctus III (arr. King) (c. 1745/1955)
Contrapunctus IX (arr. Clark) (c. 1745/2005)
Contrapunctus V (arr. Daehn) (c. 1745)
Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness (arr. Reed) (1990)
Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; tr. Topolewski) (1727?)
Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; arr. Nowlin) (1727?/2016)
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 (arr. Hunsberger) (1727?/1997)
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (arr. Horovitz) (c. 1838/1986)
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 "The Great" (arr. Boyd) (c. 1838/1985)
Fantasia in C (arr. Sterk) (1706/2017)
Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Boyd) (1703-7/1957/1985)
Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Goldman) (1703-7/1957/2012)
Fervent is My Longing; Fugue in G Minor (tr. Cailliet) (c. 1710/1935/2006)
Forget Me Not, O Dearest Lord (arr. Reed) (c. 1736/1985)
French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Brand) (1921/2008)
Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Mitchell). See: Bach's Fugue à la Gigue
Fugue à la Gigue (arr. Rondeau) (1921/2011)
Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
Fugue in B-flat Major (arr. Daehn) (1722/1988)
Fugue in E-flat Major (tr. Abrams and Jones) (1739/2019)
Fugue in G Minor (arr. Kimura) (1703-1707/1993)
Fugue in G Minor (arr. Rechtman) (1703-1707/)
Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
God Still Lives (arr. Reed)
Goldberg Variations (arr. Colgrass)
Hertzlich tut mich verlangen. See: Fervent is My Longing; Organ Fugue in G Minor
If Thou Be Near (arr. Moehlmann) (1725/1940)
If Thou Be Near (arr. Reed) (1725/1984)
In Dulci Jubilo (arr. Reed) (1970)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Cailliet) (1723/1962)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Custer) (1723/1975/1997)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Hazo) (1723/2012)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Leidzen) (1723/1936)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Moerenhout) (1723/2019)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Pekas) (1723/)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Reed) (1723/)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sapieyevski) (1723/)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sparke) (1723/2004)
Jig Fugue (arr. Marlatt) (2003)
Komm, Susser Tod (arr. Leidzen) (1736/1936)
A Little Bach Suite (arr. Gordon) (1966)
Little Fugue (arr. Romm; adapt. Custer) (c. 1705/1974/1991)
Little Fugue in G minor (arr. Howland) (c. 1705/1974/2015)
Little Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578 (arr. Parks)
March (arr. Grainger) (1946)
My Heart, Ever Faithful (arr. Barnes) (1988)
My Heart is Filled With Longing (arr. Reed) (c. 1710/1986)
My Jesus, Oh What Anguish (arr. Reed)
My Soul Longeth to Depart in Peace
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (arr. McAlister)
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (arr. Stert) (c. 1748/2013)
O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (arr. Westover) (c. 1736/2017)
O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
Our Father Who Art in Heaven (arr. Reed) (1710/1988)
Passacaglia (arr. Glover) (c. 1703-1713?/2014)
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1703-1713?/ 1968/1975)
Passacaglia and Thema Fugatum in C Minor (tr. Stowkowski; ed. Sosnowchik) (1703-1713?/2014)
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Falcone) (ca. 1712/1969)
Passacaglia from "Cantata No. 12" (arr. Daehn) (1714/2011)
Präludium und Fuge d-Moll (tr. Rechtman) (1722/2003)
Prelude IV (arr. Reed) (1722/1983)
Prelude and Fugue No. 6, BWV 535 (arr. Anthenien) (1722/1979)
Prelude and Fugue in A-flat, BWV 557 (tr. Moehlmann) (1964)
Prelude and Fugue in Bb major (Brass Ensemble) (arr. Beyrent)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Brass Quintet) (arr. Beyrent)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major, BWV 553 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1955)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major BWV 553 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor, BWV 559 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1969)
Prelude and Fugue in C major (arr. Beyrent)
Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 (arr. Steinmetz) (1710/2018)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (arr. Beyrent) (1722/2001)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 555 (arr. Coleman) (1852/2017)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1988)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor (tr. Rechtman). See: Präludium und Fuge d-Moll
Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552 (setting Hunsberger) (c. 1739/2009)
Prelude and Fugue in F major (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/?)
Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 555 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1954)
Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV 535 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1939)
Prelude, Chorale and Fugue (arr. Godfrey) (1919)
Prelude in E-flat, BWV 552 (arr. Tamura) (c. 1739/2001)
Prelude No. 22 (tr. Lynch) (c. 1722/2013)
"Ricercare a 6" from Musical Offering, BWV 1079 (tr. McAlister)
Saint Anne's Fugue (arr. Rhoads) (1965)
Sarabande (arr. Kennaway) (1972/1977/1995)
Second Bach Suite for Band (tr. Tolmage) (1965)
Sehet was die liebe tut (arr. Grainger) (1937)
Sheep May Safely Graze (arr. Reed) (1713/1981)
Sinfonia from "Cantata No 29" (arr. Ninmer)
Sinfonia from "Cantate 156" (arr. Daniels) (1729/)
Sixteen Chorales (ed. King) (1958)
Sixteen Chorales (arr. Lake) (1938)
Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Patterson) (1731/1995)
Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Reed) (1731)
Sleepers, Awake! (tr. Sparke) (1731/2002)
Songs of Exaltation (arr. Gordon) (1974)
St. Anne. See: Prelude and Fugue in E-flat
Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Thus Do You Fare, My Jesus (arr. Reed)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major (arr. Rechtman) (c. 1717)
Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue, BWV 564 (tr. Paynter) (c. 1717/2000)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
Toccata, Aria, and Fugue in C Major (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
Toccata & Fuge d-Moll (arr. Goldhammer) (1705/2011)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Goldhammer). See: Toccata & Fuge d-Moll
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Goto) (1705/2014)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hindsley) (1705)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1705/1998)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Leidzen) (1705/1942)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Lopez) (1705/2010)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Nowlin) (1705/2015)
Violin Partita No. 3 in E major (arr. Kitakata) (1720/2018?)
Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)
Wachet auf (arr. Marlatt) (1731/)
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (arr. Lauf Jr.) (1731/2019)
Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just (arr. Croft) (1978)
Wir Glauben All’ An Einen Gott (arr. Stokowski) (1739)

Resources

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Wikipedia Accessed 20 November 2017