The Lutheran Service Book‘s Divine Service, Setting Three was made to sing in parts.

Based on an Anglican style chant (meaning, traditional Western tonality, four parts, generally with only one note per syllable), the music of Divine Service Three flows well with the English language and is incidentally quite easy to sing. That said, not all of us grew up singing in parts, and it can be daunting to give it a try.

That’s where this handy little page can help!

Linked below are audio files for the liturgy, broken down into soprano, alto, tenor, and bass parts. Listen to the part that fits your vocal range, and sing along with the music in the hymnal (page numbers are provided). It will take a little practice, but before long you’ll be harmonizing like a Lutheran from Leipzig!*

*J.S. Bach, who was cantor in Leipzig, Germany, for over 25 years, was famously Lutheran.

Photo courtesy of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Special thanks to Rev. Christopher Clark for helping with this project.