All Praise and Glory!

About the piece

In the fall of 2022 I found myself considering the text of the hymn tune Ein' Fest Burg. This has always been a very meaningful hymn to me, and I wanted to write a fanfare for wind ensemble that captured the spirit of this piece.

When considering the text of this piece written by Martin Luther (1483-1546), I was struck by Psalm 46:1 which says:

"God is our refuge and strength." (KJV)

When considering those words, I was immediately drawn to a feeling of euphoria and excitement regarding the reality of what that means. What a joy to consider!

The opening section is a fugue based on a motif from the last statement of the hymn Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (MIT FREUDEN ZART) which declares "To God all praise and glory!" Then, we hear a statement from the low brass announcing the opening strains of the hymn We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer (KREMSER). The section builds into a glorious statement of the Ein' Fest Burg melody in all of it's triumphant glory.

The second section begins with the trumpets and saxophone stating a variation of MIT FREUDEN ZART presented in 7/8 time before the ensemble begins building energy again through the use of the last phrase of the KREMSER melody which declares again, "....glad praises we sing."

The third section serves as a musical bridge based on the hymn tune Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven (LAUDA ANIMA) presented in a series of harmonic progressions eventually returning to a full statement of the Ein' Fest Burg hymn.

This final fanfare statement also combines both melodic and rhythmic motifs from the previous sections into a satisfying and glorious resolution.