This frenetic assortment of familiar chorale melodies by Martin Luther was composed to mark the celebrations of Luther’s music (and the 800th anniversary of the choir of St Thomas in Leipzig) in 2012. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott [A mighty fortress is our God] appears as a powerful ritornello theme, elaborated with tender lyricism just before the end. A chorale setting of Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich [Lord, in thy mercy grant us peace] makes a calm middle section for this otherwise highly demanding organ piece.
The 2012 setting for organ duet has been arranged as a virtuoso work for organ solo in 2015. An organ with three manuals is required.