Eine feste Burg ist unser Gott. D. B.
Walther Ms F
( Johann Gottfried Walther, ca 1730)
( Johann Gottfried Walther, ca 1730)
‘Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott’ is probably the best known religious song of the Reformation, and thus Buxtehude’s setting of it likely ranks as one of his best known works. Indeed I have played it for church services many times over the years, but all too rarely with sufficient thought paid to the English words, let alone the original German, and with no real understanding of Buxtehude’s setting thereof. Many over the centuries have heard in this song a rallying cry in the face of struggle and persecution (there were others that were even more blatantly so); some have seen in it a very personal reflection and statement of faith by Luther. In either case, Buxtehude has richly captured the defiant spirit of the text in a splendid piece whose effect in the right circumstances must, and ought to, be little short of overwhelming.
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Ein feste burg ist vnser Gott Ein gute wehr vnd waffen Er hilfft vns frey aus aller not die vns jtzt hat betroffen Der alt böse feind mit ernst ers jtzt meint gros macht vnd viel list sein grausam rüstung ist auff erd ist nicht seins gleichen. |
A secure fortress is our God, A good defense and weaponry; He helps free us from every distress That has befallen us now. The ancient wicked enemy, He means it seriously now, Great power and much cunning Is his gruesome suit of armor; On earth there is not his equal. |
tr. Michael Marissen and Daniel R. Melamed
bachcantatatexts.org
bachcantatatexts.org
Gott der Vater wohn uns beÿ (D. B.)
Walther Mss. G and F
( Johann Gottfried Walther, ca 1725 and 1730)
( Johann Gottfried Walther, ca 1725 and 1730)
‘Gott der Vater, wohn uns bei’ – though covering some of the same themes and even phraseology – has quite the opposite Affekt. If ‘Ein feste Burg’ uses the Ionian mode for majestic and powerful effect, here the potential sweetness and naïveté of the mode is to the fore. A solo registration of 8' and 2' flutes accompanied by a Quintadena have been chosen to portray this simplicity.
Though the use of melodic motives in the bass voice is characteristic of Buxtehude’s short chorale settings in general, in this piece the bass features more melodic phrases than usual. A pedal registration including a prominent 4' Principal highlights the inherent dialogue between treble and bass.
Gott der Vater won vns bey
vnd las vns nicht verderben
Mach vns aller sunden frey
vnd hilff vns selig sterben
Für dem teuffel vns bewar
halt vns bey festem glauben
vnd auff dich las vns bawen
aus hertzem grund vertrawen
dir vns lassen gantz vnd gar
mit allen rechten Christen
entfliehen teuffels listen
mit waffen Gotts vns fristen
Amen Amen das sey war
so singen wir Haleluia.
God, the Father, with us stay,
nor suffer us to perish;
all our sins O take away,
us dying, cheer and cherish.
From the power of hell defend;
this grace to us be granted:
upon thee to be planted,
in heartfelt faith undaunted,
trusting thee unto the end;
with saints of every nation,
escaping hell's temptation,
kept by the Lord's salvation.
Amen! Amen! Answer send!
So sing we all Hallelujah!
tr. Leonard Woolsey Bacon,
The Hymns of Martin Luther
vnd las vns nicht verderben
Mach vns aller sunden frey
vnd hilff vns selig sterben
Für dem teuffel vns bewar
halt vns bey festem glauben
vnd auff dich las vns bawen
aus hertzem grund vertrawen
dir vns lassen gantz vnd gar
mit allen rechten Christen
entfliehen teuffels listen
mit waffen Gotts vns fristen
Amen Amen das sey war
so singen wir Haleluia.
God, the Father, with us stay,
nor suffer us to perish;
all our sins O take away,
us dying, cheer and cherish.
From the power of hell defend;
this grace to us be granted:
upon thee to be planted,
in heartfelt faith undaunted,
trusting thee unto the end;
with saints of every nation,
escaping hell's temptation,
kept by the Lord's salvation.
Amen! Amen! Answer send!
So sing we all Hallelujah!
tr. Leonard Woolsey Bacon,
The Hymns of Martin Luther