[2] The original titles of the three movements are: The chosen biblical verses, Sprüche or dicta, are concerned with a people (Volk), its national culture, and tradition passed from fathers to sons.

[4] The work was first performed in Hamburg on 9 September 1889 - with the aid of six brassplayers, three in each chorus (for the support of the alto-, tenor- and bass-singers) - for the ceremony of honorary citizenship by the Cäcilienverein, expanded to around 400 singers, conducted by Julius Spengel.

The performance was part of the Musikfest in der Hamburgischen Gewerbe- und Industrieausstellung (Music festival in the Hamburg exposition of trades and industry).

The first motet, "Unsere Väter hofften auf dich" ("In you our fathers trusted"), is marked Feierlich bewegt (solemnly moving).

[1] The middle motet, "Wenn ein starker Gewappneter" ("When a heavily armed man") is marked Lebhaft und entschlossen (lively and determined).