This setting of Ein feste Burg, like all the other double-choir pieces by Scheidt included in the present series, is taken from his Cantiones Sacrae Octo Vocum, (Hamburg, 1620). It is a remarkable collection, consisting as it does both of Lutheran chorale settings (Ein feste Burg, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, etc.) and quite Italianate Latin motets on texts that had mostly been set previously by Italian composers (there is a setting of the present text by Giovanni Gabrieli, for instance).
Martin Luther’s hymn Ein feste Burg, first printed in 1535, is one of the most distinctive in the whole Lutheran repertoire. From early on it was used for polyphonic settings: five arrangements in 4 and 5 parts from around 1540 can be found in our EML 325 ↣.
Scheidt’s setting of this hymn, like those of Christ lag in Todesbanden (ADC 57 ↣), Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (EML 304 ↣), and other Lutheran hymns, is far from straightforward, and uses short phrases from the hymn to build up climaxes. It is quite sparing in its use of tutti sections.
(Bernard Thomas)
English version of text (by T. Carlyle):
A safe stronghold our God is still
A trusty shield and weapon;
He’ll keep us clear from all the ill
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The ancient prince of hell
Hath risen with purpose fell;
Strong mail of craft and power
He weareth in this hour;
On earth is not his fellow.
With force of arms we nothing can,
Full soon were we down-ridden;
But for us fights the proper Man,
Whom God himself hath bidden.
Ask ye, Who is this same?
Christ Jesus is his name,
The Lord Sabaoth’s Son;
He, and no other one,
Shall conquer in the battle.
And were this world all devils o’er,
And watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore;
Not they can overpower us.
And let the prince of ill
Look grim as e’er he will,
He harms us not a whit;
For why? – his doom is writ;
A word shall quickly slay him.
God’s word, for all their craft and force,
One moment will not linger,
But, spite of hell, shall have its course;
Tis written by his finger.
And though they take our life,
Goods, honour, children, wife,
Yet is their profit small;
These things shall vanish all:
The City of God remaineth!
