Augsburg Fortress

This quick-learn SATB setting of a familiar Appalachian carol (creatively re-organizing the Reginald Heber text) is especially useful for the short, early-January turnaround between Christmas and Epiphany. The haunting astringency of the style quotes both the shape-note harmonization of the source and (in a descant) "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" (PICARDY). An optional four-note part for handbells/chimes (or finger cymbals/triangle) adds further interest.