''Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott'' ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"), Op. 27, is a

chorale fantasia Chorale fantasia is a type of large composition based on a chorale melody, both works for organ, and vocal settings, for example the opening movements of Bach's chorale cantatas, with the chorale melody as a cantus firmus. History Chorale fantas ...

for organ by

Max Reger Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 187311 May 1916) was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He worked as a concert pianist, as a musical director at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, Leipzig University ...

. He composed it in 1898 on Luther's

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

"". The full title is ''Phantasie über den Choral "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott"''.

Background

Reger was raised Catholic but was fascinated by the variety of melodies of Protestant hymns, and used quotations from them throughout his life. He composed seven chorale fantasias in Weiden between 1898 and 1900, inspired by a fantasia on "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern", Op. 25 (1895) of his teacher

Heinrich Reimann Professor Dr. phil. Heinrich Reimann (March 12, 1850 – May 24, 1906), was a German musicologist, organist, and composer. Reimann was born in Rengersdorf, Silesia, and was a son of Ignaz Reimann, also a musician. Reimann studied at the ...

. Reger's fantasias follow Reimann's model of setting individual stanzas, connected by interludes. Reger wrote the works for

Karl Straube Montgomery Rufus Karl Siegfried Straube (6 January 1873 – 27 April 1950) was a German church musician, organist, and choral conductor, famous above all for championing the abundant organ music of Max Reger. Career Born in Berlin, Straube stu ...

, whom he met in April 1898 when he played concerts at the Frankfurt

Paulskirche St Paul's Church (german: Paulskirche) is a former Protestant church in Frankfurt, Germany, used as a national assembly hall. Its important political symbolism dates back to 1848 when the Frankfurt Parliament convened there, the first publicl ...

, including parts of Reger's Suite for organ, Op. 16. Straube believed in Reger as a composer and premiered several of his works from manuscript. The text of the hymn was written by

Martin Luther Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Reformation, Protestant Refo ...

, published in 1529. Reger composed the fantasia in Weiden in August and September 1898, and dedicated it to

, who played the first performance in

Wesel Wesel () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district. Geography Wesel is situated at the confluence of the Lippe River and the Rhine. Division of the city Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighove ...

on 20 September 1898. It was the first work written for Straube, and the first work by Reger to find success with the public, regarded as his breakthrough as a composer. The fantasia was published by Rob. Forberg in Leipzig in March 1899. Reger had planned it as his Op. 27a, with Op. 27b a fantasia on "Freu’ dich sehr, o meine Seele". The second work was published by Jos. Aibl Verlag as Op. 30. ''Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott'', as other chorale fantasias by Reger, is more often performed in concert than in liturgical church services, because of its dimensions. Reger commented the alleged difficulty of his organ works in 1900 to his friend the organist Gusav Beckmann: "Meine Orgelsachen sind schwer, es gehört ein über die Technik souverän herrschender geistvoller Spieler dazu" (My organ pieces are difficult; they need a skillful player who masters the technique). The organist

Alfred Sittard Alfred Sittard (4 November 1878 –– 31 March 1942) was a German cantor, composer of church music and one of the most important organists of his time. Life and career Born in Stuttgart, Sittard was a pupil of his father, the music teacher and ...

first recorded this work by Reger on shellac in 1908 on the Sauer organ of the Berlin Garnison Church.

References

Bibliography

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External links

Scores of Op. 27
a
IMSLP

Music manuscripts
Max-Reger-Institute
Max Reger: Organ Works – Choralfantasie "ein' Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott" Op. 27; Introduktion, Passacaglia Und Fuge E-moll Op. 127
arkivmusic.com
Max Reger / Organ Works Vol. 2
klassik-heute.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Feste Burg ist unser Gott, Ein' Compositions for organ Compositions by Max Reger 1898 compositions