This chorale prelude sets the famous reformation chorale, "A Mighty Fortress is our God." The chorale would have typically been sung on Reformation Sunday. The text of the first verse reads as follows, "A mighty fortress is our God, a tower of strength never failing. A helper mighty is our God, over ills of life prevailing. He overcometh all. He saveth from the fall. His might and power are great. He all things did create. And he shall reign for evermore."

Buxtehude takes a great deal of liberty as he ornaments the chorale melody in this particular prelude. The chorale melody is often a bit tricky to trace. Buxtehude's embellishment of the last line of the chorale melody is particularly interesting. He changes octave placement twice, shifting down an octave then shifting back up into the treble range. When he shifts down an octave the voice carrying the chorale melody crosses underneath the accompanying voices into the tenor range.

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