October is Reformation Month, and Reformation Day (October 31st) will be here before we know it! Quite often, I like to kick off the Christmas season on my YouTube channel on October 31st with a hymn for the holiday. Since this date is also Reformation Day, in 2023 and 2025, the hymn I chose to do this with was a Christmas hymn written by the reformer Martin Luther. You can learn more about Martin Luther and his story in this article: The Story of Martin Luther
Originally a poem penned by Coelius Sedulius circa 450 AD, Luther translated the lyrics for this hymn into German. They were then translated into English by Richard Massie in 1854. The tune was written in Wittenburg in 1535. The lyrics of Now Praise We Christ, the Holy One reflect on how the holy Lord and Creator of all things came to earth as a humble, helpless babe and that He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.
About the Arrangement
Because the music for this hymn is from 1535, it felt a little difficult to get used to. The rhythm of 500-year-old hymns can especially feel a bit odd to us today. However, the tune and rhythm are still able to be more modernized! I tried to make everything feel more natural in this arrangement, still keeping the song's unique 1500's sound.
Sheet Music
The advanced sheet music for Now Praise We Christ, the Holy One can be found on our website here: Now Praise We Christ, the Holy One - Digital Sheet Music. This piece is very playable without a background track (as you can see in the video below), but the track adds extra emotion and power to the piece if you want to add a bit more character to a performance of the arrangement.
For the month of October, if you purchase the individual digital sheet music for Now Priase We Christ, the Holy One, the background track will be added to your cart for FREE! All you have to do is add the sheet music to your cart and the background track will be automatically added. This special expires at midnight on October 31st, 2026.
More Arrangements for Reformation Day
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (FREE Advanced Piano)
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (FREE Elementary Piano)
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (FREE Sight-Reading)
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (SATB Choir and Piano)
Conclusion
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