Enchiridion: Gutenberg Luther texts - Footnotes (Introduction)

[Note 1] Quoted in the Christian Examiner, 1860, p. 240; transcribed Philadelphia, 1875.

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[Note 2] The popular impression that the hymn "Ein' feste Burg" was produced in these circumstances is due, doubtless, to a parallel in the third stanza, to the famous saying imputed to Luther on the eve of the Diet of Worms: "I'll go, be there as many devils in the city as there be tiles on the roofs." The time of its composition was in the year 1529, just before the Diet of Augsburg. If not written in his temporary refuge, the noble "Burg" or "Festung" of Coburg, it must often have been sung there by him; and it was sung, says Merle d'Aubigne, "during the Diet, not only at Augsburg, but in all the churches of Saxony."

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[Note 3] This much-quoted phrase is from Richter. It is reported as an expression of Melanchthon, looking on Luther's picture, "Fulmina erant singula verba tua."

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[Note 4] Merle d'Aubigne, History of the Reformation, Vol. III.

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[Note 5] This interesting and characteristic document was printed first in the Syntagma Musicum of Michael Praetorius, many of whose harmonies are to be found in this volume. It has been repeatedly copied since. I take it from Rambach, Ueber D. Martin Luthers Verdienst um den Kirchengesang, oder Darstellung desjenigen was er als Liturg, als Liederdichter und Tonsetzer zur Verbesserung des oeffentlichen Gottesdienstes geleistet hat. Hamburg, 1813.

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[Note 6] Quoted in Rambach (see previous Note), p. 215.

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[Note 7] In more than one of his cantatas, especially that for the Reformationsfest.

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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 4/6/04)