#504: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

[lutheranhymns]

Didn't we just do this one?

Yes, but Lutherans really like it.

Same text? Same pitches?

Basically, yeah.

Then why twice?

Oh we're just getting started.

But. Why.

So, the previous arrangement was just melody. This has harmonization too.

They couldn't have combined it into one like they do for all the other harmonizations?

Not in this case. See, this one is in 4/4 with even measures. The previous one doesn't really have measures, the durations of the notes are just kinda "whatever" and it's more dance like.

So do they have different hymn tune names?

No, the hymn tune is "Ein feste burg" (which is just the German for "A Mighty Fortress") in both cases.

Then how do you tell them apart?

In the hymn tune index (yes, of course there is one), the previous version is "Ein feste burg (rhythmic)" and this one is "Ein feste burg (isometric)."

Isn't an isometry also a sort of function in mathematical analysis that preserves--

Yes, yes, that's something else though.