Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

Johann Nicolaus [Nikolaus] Hanff 1665-1711) was a German organist and composer of the North-German organ school.

Only few details are known about his life.
He was a music teacher in Hamburg and held several posts as a church musician.

The seven-year-old Johann Mattheson was his pupil, and learned with him composition and piano for four years.

Until 1696 Hanff was organist at the Eutiner Hof of the prince-bishop of Lübeck.

After the death of bishop August Friedrich and the dissolution of the Eutiner Hof, probably in 1705, Hanff returned to Hamburg, where his two children were born in 1706 and 1711.

On August 26, 1711 he took over the organist chair at the Schleswiger Dom, however he died some months later.

"Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" is a ravishing prelude with a very imaginative cantus firmus line.

Registrations:

HW: (Left Hand)
Principal 8', Octave 4'
RP: (Cantus Firmus)
Prestant 8', Octave 4', Sesquialtera, Doublette 2', Trompette 8'
Ped: Principalbass 16', Octavbass 8', Choralbass 4'

Repeat:
HW: (Left Hand)
Viola 8', Holzflote 4'
UW: (Cantus Firmus) Tremulant
Holzgedackt 8', Gambe 8', Prestant 4', Octave 2', Zimmbel, Cornet 3'
Ped: Subbas 16', Octavebass 8'

The second part of the piece after the repeat same registration as beginning