Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mike@turing.cs.unm.edu (Michael I. Bushnell) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Some thoughts on "Christian Music" Message-ID: Date: 19 Mar 90 05:43:40 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of No Money, Albuquerque, New Mexico Lines: 23 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article judith@athena.mit.edu (Judith Provost) writes: Very few people know, including Lutherans, unless they're musicians, that the music to: "A Mighty Fortress is our God" is a German drinking song, the words are quite bawdy in German. People were astonished when Luther wrote his hymn to that music. His answer to them: "Why should the devil have all the best music, let's give it to whom it belongs, God". I like that statement and I agree with him 100%. A nice story, even if it isn't true. According to all the hymnals in my house (four), the text is based on Psalm 46, written by Martin Lutherin 1529, and translated by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853. The music, known as the hymn tune "Ein Feste Burg" (8.7.8.7.6.6.6.6.7.) was written by Martin Luther in 1529, and has always been associated with the hymn. (Ein Feste Burg, is of course, German for "A mighty fortress"). -- Michael I. Bushnell \ This above all; to thine own self be true LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE \ And it must follow, as the night the day, mike@unmvax.cs.unm.edu /\ Thou canst not be false to any man. CARPE DIEM / \ Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!