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He is risen! He is risen!
Score and parts for UNSER HERRSCHER arranged for 5-part brass ensemble (two trumpets, two trombones, French horn) and timpani. Includes descant part, or for two trumpets with cadential descant. Scores are at concert pitch, trumpet parts are in both C and B♭. The final fanfare of both versions is the same.
Description
The tune UNSER HERRSCHER was written by Joachim Neander (cf, LOBE DEN HERREN), with the underlay being Neander's own hymn Unser Herrscher, unser König (Our Lord, our King). It is AAB in form, and in the original the B phrase was a refrain played in a stately triple meter resembling a court menuet. Born and raised in Bremen, Neander turned from the life of raffish student when he came under the influence of the pastor of the Martinskirche, and from there began a new life of theology, study, teaching, and hymn writing. He had tenures as private tutor, rector (principal) of a school, and lay minister at the Martinskirche. His life was cut short by tuberculosis, at age 30. The tune is set in 8 7 8 7 7 7 meter, permitting application to a wide variety of texts - the Hymnary lists 15 online texts, and shows page facsimiles of several more, including the hymn for which this arrangement was created, the Easter hymn by Cecil Frances Alexander, He is risen! He is risen!, which uses the sun and dawn as metaphors of the Son and the resurrection.
Editions
v9.3.1 (+)
Add version for two trumpets (Dec 2025)
Previous Versions
v 9.3.1 - August 2024 (Easter 2025)
Revised instrumentals on verse 1
v 9.2.2
Revised score layout to US Letter (landscape)
Detailed minor edits to score and parts
v 9.2.1
four bars intro in brass rewritten
bridge rewritten
new voice leading in final four bars
includes minor 2021 edit to trumpet part
v 9.1.3
four bars intro in brass, four bars at beginning of descant
Verses
1. He is risen, he is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice:
he has burst his three days' prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice:
Death is conquered, we are free,
Christ has won the victory.
2. Come, ye sad and fearful-hearted,
With glad smile and radiant brow!
Death's long shadows have departed;
Jesus' woes are over now,
and the passion that he bore–
Sin and pain can vex no more.
3. Come, with high and holy hymning,
hail our Lord's triumphant day;
Not one darksome cloud is dimming
yonder glorious morning ray,
Breaking o'er the purple east,
Symbol of our Easter feast.
4. He is risen, he is risen!
He hath opened heaven's gate:
We are free from sin's dark prison,
Risen to a holier state;
And a brighter Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream.
Binding
The score has been formatted to US Letter, landscape orientation. This more compact size allows for use from the organ bench, as well as by a conductor. (nevertheless, there is a separate two-page organ part.) The treatment shown in the image can be produced by uploading the pdf to Staples or your regular quick printer - both options cost less than $10 in 2025.
Parts are US letter in portrait mode.
TWO TRUMPETS
With only three sheets of music (the cover sheet is overproduction), loose leaf printed one side is sufficient. We also provide a two-page organ and choir part, but the organist - even the choir - can just as easily read from the score.
Suggestion: if using the score for everything, print the choir copies in booklet mode on 11x17 for a quick four-pager.
Everything is US letter in portrait mode.
Five Easter Pieces
For Brass Quintet and Timp
or Two Trumpets
with congregation, choir, and organ.
