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.