Augsburg Fortress

This arrangement was written for an Easter Sunday when I found myself unexpectedly with a very small but capable choir. I wanted to write a piece that would help these few singers sound their best and to use the organ, which still had all its voices, to help interpret the text. The second stanza speaks of Jesus being born both human and divine and our participation in that duality, so the Christmas hymn "From Heaven Above" is quoted in the right hand. Stanza 3 has the Easter hymn "This Joyful Eastertide" hidden in the left hand as a nod to the joy and anticipation of meeting "at the feast of the Lamb." It's not expected that the listener will catch these other tunes; rather, my hope is that by including references to other hymns, the choir will be better able to sing their anthem with a broader story in mind and a context for the joy of Easter.