New Irish Hymns #4: Hymns for the Life of the Church

Description

New Irish Hymns #4: Hymns for the Life of the Church created by Keith Getty is a collaboration project featuring the three vocalists, American singer/songwriter Margaret Becker and the British singers/songwriters Kristyn Getty and Joanne Hogg (the latter of Iona fame), released on Kingsway Music in 2005. The album was produced by Keith Getty with Joni McCabe co-producing. Arranged by Tim Oliver.

The album is the final release in the four-part New Irish Hymns Series started with New Irish Hymns released in 2001, followed by New Irish Hymns #2: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (2003) and New Irish Hymns #3: Incarnation (2004).

Featuring producer Keith Getty on piano, Tim Oliver on keyboards (including programming), Paul Brannon on guitar, Joey Canaday on bass, and Scott Williamson on drums and percussion. Strings provided by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

The name Keith Getty is synonymous with hymns, co-writing contemporary classics such as «In Christ Alone», «See What a Morning», «Higher Throne» and the new «Power of the Cross», in Hymns for the Life of the Church he has written an invaluable collection of new congregational hymns on different subjects, from communion, preaching and benediction to unity, suffering and world mission. [Note on the back of the CD]

«In Christ Alone» co-writer Keith Getty is behind this collection of 12 worshipful songs which has, as the “Irish” in the title hints, quite a few folk elements and influences strewn throughout. And these can be heard in songs that, in some cases, would not be out of place on albums that have made big impacts in the charts over the past 10 years. «Across The Lands» plays on some strong themes reminiscent of Celtic band Clannad, while «Your Glory Be Ever Known» and «Every Promise» are tracks that would not sound out of place on an album by pop-folksters The Corrs. This all results in an interesting collection of contemporary music that will prove useful to churches and also be enjoyable at home. [Andrew Segal, Cross Rhythms, February 2006]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/new-irish-hymns-4-hymns-for-the-life-of-the-church/1796967320)

CD tracklist:

01. The Power Of The Cross
02. Across The Lands
03. Your Glory Be Ever Known
04. Beneath The Cross
05. When Trials Come
06. Speak O Lord
07. How Good How Pleasing
08. Light Of God
09. Every Promise
10. O For A Heart
11. May The Peace Of God
12. The Wonder Of Grace (Instrumental)

Note: In 2008, a 3-CD Box Set entitled New Irish Hymns: The Complete Works featuring all four installments of the Keith Getty produced New Irish Hymns Series (44 tracks) was released by Kingsway Music (also re-issued on 2015 through Integrity Music).

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Margaret Becker, Maire Brennan, Joanne Hogg, Kristyn Getty – New Irish Hymns: The Complete Works (Kingsway Music 2008) 3CD Box Set

This lavishly-produced 3CD compilation is indeed “the complete works”, being all 44 tracks from the four ‘New Irish Hymns’ recordings released in the years 2001, 03, 04 and 05 respectively (the 2004 album was a ‘New Hymns’ Celtic Christmas offering), although they’re presented here in a highly rearranged order. The recordings, particularly the first, created quite a sensation when first released. Many have attempted to write modern hymns that capture something of the lyrical majesty, theological solidity and musical beauty of the likes of Wesley, Watts and Newton. No one, however, has succeeded in all these respects as has Keith Getty (along with one of numerous co-writers he teamed up with). To hear four of the world’s finest CCM vocalists lend their diverse and tender vocals to some of the most beautiful hymns to be composed in the last 100 years or more, aided by several of the most illustrious of contemporary instrumentalists (eg, Troy Donockley, Phil Keaggy, Jason Carter and Terl Bryant, though perhaps we don’t hear enough of these guys) was almost bound to be sonic delight. And so it is. To have these 44 songs carefully grouped together in an eye-catching box set is even better. Several hours of beautiful, inspirational listening – a taste of Celtic perfection. [Tom Lennie, Cross Rhythms, April 2008]