Additional information about Hymn 42

Jeff Ostrowski wrote as follows on 28 May 2024: Earlier this afternoon, I found time to compose a simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) for Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, which is almost always paired with “GROSSER GOTT.” These simplified keyboard accompaniments are designed for musicians learning how to play the pipe organ. Pianists also seem to like them. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours. My volunteer choir sang the Brébeuf arrangement—not the simplified version—of this hymn on the feast of the MOST HOLY TRINITY, and here’s the ‘live’ recording from that Mass.

There’s a Groovy Harmonization and Interlude for “Grosser Gott” with a walking bass-line. Some people believe the harmonies are clever, while others think they sound too much like a circus.

Here is the Pipe Organ Harmonization found in the Christ of King hymnal by Father Knauff (IMPRIMATUR 1954)

Moreover, take a peek at this interesting harmonization of GROSSER GOTT from a Roman Catholic German hymnal printed in the 1950s. Three (3) readers generously took the time to re-typeset this score for all to enjoy—and all three versions are included in that PDF file.