Q • Are there any composers or writers who have particularly influenced your work? Serving the A • Thousands! First of all I love Irish folk music. The Irish melodic contour extends a little wider than whole body of many English hymns. For example, the melodies of the Londonderry Air and Slane cover an octave believers and a fourth. I love English church music, especially music by Vaughan Williams, Finzi and Howells, and also Broadway musicals from Love of God revealed in wonder Gershwin onwards – there are Irish composer Keith Getty has By the works of a Maker’s hand, integrity, one could and should Seas that roar with thund’rous splendour, lots of influences. a passionate vision for writing follow his word. Fields that whisper at His command; and sharing congregational music All the joys of life we cherish During my time at university Are God’s gracious sign; Q • What are the ingredients for God from a clear Christ-centred music that divides congregations which bridges divisions and serves I began to study choral directing We are children of His promise, writing a song or hymn, and is and Trinitarian standpoint. because they can’t relate to it are, the 21st-century church. Presently Heirs of mercy and grace divine. with James Lancelot, the Organist there a difference between the two? The ‘horizontal dimension’ that I think, failing the body of believers. based in America, he and his wife at Durham Cathedral, which Unfailing love from Heaven’s throne, A • There is no technical difference. makes Christian worship radically The music we sing must serve Kristyn will be touring the UK in That sought me out and brought increased my love for church music, Augustine said that a hymn is a different from any other form of the body of believers, and we as June 2009. CMQ spoke to Keith me home; liturgy and choral evensong that My song of praise shall ever be: song of praise to God. singing is what makes the Church musicians are servants to it. to find out more. had begun at grammar school with ‘The Father’s love for me’. From a ‘vertical dimension’, different: that is, it is a body of my music teacher, Peter Hunter. Love of God revealed in frailty if we look back to the Psalms, we believers of every age group, of Q • Many churches in the UK offer Q • When did you start to get As someone who had thought very Through the gift of a servant King, see songs that speak beautifully every taste, of every social order, different services in different involved in church music, and Sov’reign pow’r robed in humility, deeply and intentionally about faith and poetically of God’s character of every nation, tribe, creed and styles to cater for various musical what led you to begin writing Perfect grace crowned with suffering – and belief, and as a professional Oh, what love, that calls humanity in its diversity, in its mystery, and tongue, coming together to sing tastes. What’s your view? hymns and songs for the church? To kneel at the cross musician, I struggled to apply all in its revealed nature, and yet to their Creator and Redeemer. A • I don’t have a really strong A •I got involved in music when And exchange our sin’s futility this to the overall direction of For the joy of a Father’s love. speak honestly, passionately and Modern charismatic worship that opinion here. Every case is different. I was ten – first as a classical contemporary worship music. personally. As Christians we also divides congregations because they I think the body of believers should guitarist, then as a flautist. Along Love of God, what priceless treasure This became a real problem for Over all this world affords, have the chance to speak about can’t sing it, or traditional choral be together as much as possible, so the way I also did some piano me, and I was not involved in local To be His and His forever; my instinct would tend towards not study and choral and orchestral This my glory and my reward! church music for several years. splitting congregations. That said, conducting. I was involved in May this love, beyond all knowing, However, stemming from the So capture my soul I don’t think curry and ice cream church music from the very start. That I’m filled to overflowing challenge of my pastor to get go together well (most of the time!). My father loved choral singing, sang With a passion for Christ alone. involved in writing songs for the The way to bring people together in some excellent choirs, and was a Love of God Revealed in Wonder church, and then meeting Stuart Keith Getty & Stuart Townend in a church is not to force the pipe church organist. In the Presbyterian Copyright © 2007 Thankyou Music Townend, I began a journey to try Sheet music at www.kingswaysongs.com organ to play Coldplay . . . where church I grew up in we used both to write what have become known humanly possible we should create the hymnal and new contemporary as modern ‘folk hymns’. I had two a congregation of people who want worship music. goals. I wanted to write hymns that to love and care for each other. Just before I went to university, When I went to Durham University were lyrically poetic, theological I got my break into professional I really had to look at my faith again. and thought-provoking, as well music. I was a flute student with I struggled with the uniqueness of as of musical use in a variety of James Galway in Switzerland for Christ, as well as whether scripture settings – cathedrals with choirs, a summer school, and he asked me could be believed and why I should contemporary churches with rock to write some arrangements. He believe it. After about a year and bands or folk bands, or indeed didn’t think I was a very good flute a half I came to the conclusion that churches with no musical The Gettys in performance player(!) but he encouraged me in Christ’s life, teaching, death and instruments, as is the case for my arranging and helped redirect resurrection were unique, and that a growing number of churches < my career. to accept Christ’s claims with any around the world. Keith and Kristyn Getty

12 CMQ 13 Q • Are there any composers or writers who have particularly influenced your work? Serving the A • Thousands! First of all I love Irish folk music. The Irish melodic contour extends a little wider than whole body of many English hymns. For example, the melodies of the Londonderry Air and Slane cover an octave believers and a fourth. I love English church music, especially music by Vaughan Williams, Finzi and Howells, and also Broadway musicals from Love of God revealed in wonder Gershwin onwards – there are Irish composer Keith Getty has By the works of a Maker’s hand, integrity, one could and should Seas that roar with thund’rous splendour, lots of influences. a passionate vision for writing follow his word. Fields that whisper at His command; and sharing congregational music All the joys of life we cherish During my time at university Are God’s gracious sign; Q • What are the ingredients for God from a clear Christ-centred music that divides congregations which bridges divisions and serves I began to study choral directing We are children of His promise, writing a song or hymn, and is and Trinitarian standpoint. because they can’t relate to it are, the 21st-century church. Presently Heirs of mercy and grace divine. with James Lancelot, the Organist there a difference between the two? The ‘horizontal dimension’ that I think, failing the body of believers. based in America, he and his wife at Durham Cathedral, which Unfailing love from Heaven’s throne, A • There is no technical difference. makes Christian worship radically The music we sing must serve Kristyn will be touring the UK in That sought me out and brought increased my love for church music, Augustine said that a hymn is a different from any other form of the body of believers, and we as June 2009. CMQ spoke to Keith me home; liturgy and choral evensong that My song of praise shall ever be: song of praise to God. singing is what makes the Church musicians are servants to it. to find out more. had begun at grammar school with ‘The Father’s love for me’. From a ‘vertical dimension’, different: that is, it is a body of my music teacher, Peter Hunter. Love of God revealed in frailty if we look back to the Psalms, we believers of every age group, of Q • Many churches in the UK offer Q • When did you start to get As someone who had thought very Through the gift of a servant King, see songs that speak beautifully every taste, of every social order, different services in different involved in church music, and Sov’reign pow’r robed in humility, deeply and intentionally about faith and poetically of God’s character of every nation, tribe, creed and styles to cater for various musical what led you to begin writing Perfect grace crowned with suffering – and belief, and as a professional Oh, what love, that calls humanity in its diversity, in its mystery, and tongue, coming together to sing tastes. What’s your view? hymns and songs for the church? To kneel at the cross musician, I struggled to apply all in its revealed nature, and yet to their Creator and Redeemer. A • I don’t have a really strong A •I got involved in music when And exchange our sin’s futility this to the overall direction of For the joy of a Father’s love. speak honestly, passionately and Modern charismatic worship that opinion here. Every case is different. I was ten – first as a classical contemporary worship music. personally. As Christians we also divides congregations because they I think the body of believers should guitarist, then as a flautist. Along Love of God, what priceless treasure This became a real problem for Over all this world affords, have the chance to speak about can’t sing it, or traditional choral be together as much as possible, so the way I also did some piano me, and I was not involved in local To be His and His forever; my instinct would tend towards not study and choral and orchestral This my glory and my reward! church music for several years. splitting congregations. That said, conducting. I was involved in May this love, beyond all knowing, However, stemming from the So capture my soul I don’t think curry and ice cream church music from the very start. That I’m filled to overflowing challenge of my pastor to get go together well (most of the time!). My father loved choral singing, sang With a passion for Christ alone. involved in writing songs for the The way to bring people together in some excellent choirs, and was a Love of God Revealed in Wonder church, and then meeting Stuart Keith Getty & Stuart Townend in a church is not to force the pipe church organist. In the Presbyterian Copyright © 2007 Thankyou Music Townend, I began a journey to try Sheet music at www.kingswaysongs.com organ to play Coldplay . . . where church I grew up in we used both to write what have become known humanly possible we should create the hymnal and new contemporary as modern ‘folk hymns’. I had two a congregation of people who want worship music. goals. I wanted to write hymns that to love and care for each other. Just before I went to university, When I went to Durham University were lyrically poetic, theological I got my break into professional I really had to look at my faith again. and thought-provoking, as well music. I was a flute student with I struggled with the uniqueness of as of musical use in a variety of James Galway in Switzerland for Christ, as well as whether scripture settings – cathedrals with choirs, a summer school, and he asked me could be believed and why I should contemporary churches with rock to write some arrangements. He believe it. After about a year and bands or folk bands, or indeed didn’t think I was a very good flute a half I came to the conclusion that churches with no musical The Gettys in performance player(!) but he encouraged me in Christ’s life, teaching, death and instruments, as is the case for my arranging and helped redirect resurrection were unique, and that a growing number of churches < my career. to accept Christ’s claims with any around the world. Keith and Kristyn Getty

12 CMQ 13 Flowing naturally out of that they As a composer I also think I have ‘In Christ Alone’ will want to enjoy each other, a responsibility to be listening, so UK tour 2009 encourage each other, and support I always take time after concerts to Evangelical and respect each other’s music. The spend time with people who were Friday 12 – Sunday 14 June National Concert Hall, Glasgow music is not the main thing – when there – with music directors, pastors it becomes the main thing, that’s and lay people, listening to their Wednesday 17 June Oxford Community Church, Oxford Anglicans when division happens. dreams, their concerns and their ideas. That’s part of my responsibility Saturday 20 June t i m l o m ax an d p ete r m o g e r Waterfront Hall, Belfast Q • You and your wife Kristyn have to the body of believers as a composer. travelled widely in the UK and US Wednesday 24 June The King’s Centre, Chessington to share your music with others Q • Where would you like to see Since launching its Transforming Worship initiative in A hard-hitting lecture by Jeremy Begbie posed serious and will be giving concerts across church music go in the future? Thursday 25 – Friday 26 June 2007, the Church of England’s Liturgical Commission has questions for songwriters and theologians: The Regent Theatre, Ipswich been engaging with networks and organizations to promote How might songs (words and music) reflect the true the UK this month. Tell us why A • I would love to see what is sung Saturday 27 June good practice in worship. As part of this programme, the breadth of the Christian gospel? touring is important to you. being a beautiful and passionate Brighton Dome, Brighton Commission gathered around 40 evangelical Anglican How can we respond to the contemporary desire A • While it is wonderful to do description of the God of the Bible worship leaders, musicians, song writers and theologians to for immediacy of encounter with God in worship? Sunday 28 June magazine interviews and talk about and of Christ who is the centre Caird Hall, Dundee discuss the shape and content of worship in the evangelical How might we encourage an understanding of fruitful music, what is important is actually of our faith and the only hope tradition. Anglican evangelical worship has developed interplay between ‘order’ and ‘non-order’ (as in jazz) – in to hear music. I think it is the duty for a lost world. greatly in recent decades with – in some places – a widening terms of worshipping structures and freedom to improvise? of every composer in history to I would also love to see music gap between official liturgical provision and the practice How can we guard against the dangerous tendency for share his music as much as he can. serve the whole body of believers so Links ‘on the ground’. This consultation was an opportunity to worship leaders to become ‘priestly’ cult figures? Music and art are ‘caught’ in life we can be a singing church – as the affirm the many positive aspects of contemporary worship How might we foster a sense of the ‘catholic’ church – as well as explore areas for development. both worldwide and historic – as a corrective to our better than ‘taught’. During our church has been in every great age www.gettymusic.com www.myspace.com/keithandkristyngetty Held at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, the day featured two infatuation with the present moment? UK tour last October, we had the of revival, a vibrant Christian witness www.youtube.com/keithandkristyngetty excellent keynote addresses from Chris Cocksworth (Bishop privilege of performing to 10,000 with music as strong, innovative and of Coventry and former Principal of Ridley Hall) and Jeremy Building on Chris Cocksworth’s challenge, Tim Lomax gave people, and joining with massed brave as it can be. Begbie (Research Professor in Theology, Duke University a presentation on ‘Framework within a Freedom’, exploring choirs. At least 500 music directors As we enter a multi-faith age and and Associate Principal at Ridley Hall). Worship was led by the shape of worship, examining the creative formats in one week got to sample the the challenges of the 21st century, I Graham Kendrick – who demonstrated ‘Psalm surfing’ (the provided in Common Worship and showing how they may music, taste it, feel it and sing it want to see Christians who are robust improvised singing of Psalms by singer and congregation) – enable journeys of transformation for the worshipper. in its context. I think it’s the best in their understanding of faith and and by Pete James and Becca Staniforth (St Thomas Crookes, Peter Moger then chaired a final session in which strands Keith and Kristyn are preparing for the next Sheffield) and Helen Bent (Diocese of Sheffield). from the consultation were gathered together. Four priorities way to introduce music to people. music playing a part in that. stage of their UK tour, ‘In Christ Alone’. In an initial session, Tim Lomax flagged up four were identified: perceived needs: a desire by songwriters to set key liturgical texts in a musical for a developing vision for evangelical Anglican worship style appropriate to contemporary evangelical worship for songs – given their central liturgical role – to provide the possibility of collaboration between the Liturgical breadth (a wide range of themes), depth (rich, biblical Commission and the Songwriters’ Consultation content) and height (helping enable worshippers catch a need for theological training for songwriters and worship a vision of God’s glory) leaders in local churches for healthy worship structures which allow for freedom musical training and effective formation in worship to re-examine our liturgical heritage, looking for leading for ordinands. creative ways of using traditional ideas. The day revealed a genuine desire among many evangelical Chris Cocksworth encouraged engagement with liturgy, Anglicans to rediscover the liturgical riches of the Church. saying that ‘A positive approach to the use of liturgy does The Liturgical Commission is confident that this will have not mean being bound by the book, nor straitjacketed been a vital step towards resourcing the whole Church to by liturgy. The deep evangelical instinct for room to develop worship that changes lives. Watch this space! manoeuvre in worship is a godly thing. Since the 17th century, evangelicalism has brought varying degrees of pressure on the Church of England to loosen up its worship. Links In the latter part of the 20th century this joined forces with shifts in liturgical scholarship and major cultural changes. www.transformingworship.co.uk The result is an official approach to liturgy – embodied in The full text of Dr Cocksworth’s address may be found at www.fulcrum-anglican. Common Worship – that is a wonderful gift to evangelicals, org.uk/page.cfm?ID=350 especially to evangelical charismatics.’

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