A mighty fortress is our God - Martin Luther, John Rutter, Cambridge Singers, COL Sinfonia Brass
3. 'A mighty fortress is our God'
From the album ‘Sing, ye Heavens’
Composer Martin Luther (arr. John Rutter)
Conductor John Rutter
Organ John Scott
Choir The Cambridge Singers
Ensemble The City of London Sinfonia Brass
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LYRICS:
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.
(Martin Luther, tr. F. H. Hedge)
Sing, ye Heavens
Sing, ye Heavens is an inspiring album of 21 hymns spanning 15 centuries of the history of Christian Europe. Reflecting the immense riches of hymnody built up over centuries, this notably eclectic survey sees Gregorian Chant rubbing shoulders with German chorales, Celtic folk melodies alongside 18th-century London street songs – albeit from an Anglican perspective. The arrangements range from delicate accompaniment of the harp to thrilling festival treatments with brass, timpani, percussion and organ.
John Rutter, English composer and conductor, is associated with choral music throughout the world. His recordings with the Cambridge Singers (the professional chamber choir he set up in 1983) have reached a wide global audience, many of them featuring his own music in definitive versions. Among John’s best-known choral works are Gloria, Requiem, Magnificat, Mass of the Children, and Visions, together with many church anthems, choral songs and Christmas carols.
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