A Mighty Fortress / Angels We Have Heard On High

Despite the combined title, Amy Grant's recording here is entirely the traditional French carol "Angels We Have Heard On High," not a blend with the Luther hymn its title also names. The opening verse sets the scene plainly: "angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plain, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strain."

The Latin chorus, "Gloria, in excelsis Deo," repeats the angels' own announcement from Luke's Gospel word for word, in the language the carol has used since its French original centuries ago.

"Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing, come adore on bended knee, Christ, the Lord, the newborn King" turns the carol from description to invitation in its second verse — not just telling the story of angels singing, but asking the listener to go find out why. Grant's arrangement keeps the carol short and lets that repeated Latin chorus carry most of the weight.