Luther's first hymn

July 1 is the anniversary of the deaths of Heinrich Voes, and Johann Esch, the first martyrs of the Reformation. I usually do a post about them on that date, though for some reason I forgot this year.

When Martin Luther heard about their deaths, he wrote his very first hymn, "Now Shall A New Song Be Begun." Though it will never be an all-time favorite (The Lutheran Hymnal, issued in 1941, drastically shortened it and used a different tune, calling it  "Flung To the Heedless Winds," Number 259"), it's not a bad first effort at all.

Concordia Publishing House recently issued a cassette of Luther's hymns that includes it and posted it on YouTube. Here it is: