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| Keith & Kristyn Getty : Awaken the Dawn |
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Title |
Artist |
Sample |
Lyrics |
Get It |
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Hear O Israel |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Come People of the Risen King |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Creation Sings the Fathers Song |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Still, my soul be still |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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By Faith |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn) |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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All Around the World |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Every Promise of Your Word |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Compassion Hymn |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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When Trials Come |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Benediction (May the peace of God) |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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Reading: Psalm 57 |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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What Grace is Mine |
Keith & Kristyn Getty |
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My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is stead fast; I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” – Psalm 57:7-11
I will sing and make music…
Over the verdant hills and misty seaside cliffs of the Emerald Isle, an enchanted melody rises. Perhaps a haunting folk song or a lively jig, it is nonetheless a beloved and familiar sound. The music of Ireland is at once nostalgic and fresh, and for centuries it has resonated deeply with people throughout the world, from all walks of life.
After spending more than two years presenting their music in churches and at various conferences and events throughout the United States, acclaimed Irish modern hymn writers and recording artists Keith & Kristyn Getty saw firsthand how the melodies of their homeland transcended cultures and generations. The couple’s critically acclaimed 2007 stateside debut, In Christ alone, featured the immensely popular Celtic-flavored title-cut co-penned by Keith and award-winning British songwriter Stuart Townend; an extraordinary song that has been recorded by numerous artists and quickly taken root in churches around the globe.
On the heels of In Christ alone, the Gettys have had the opportunity to share their music at The Pentagon, Focus on the Family, the GMA Dove Awards, and at events in conjunction with the National Prayer Breakfast, among various other prestigious engagements. Last year Keith & Kristyn joined Franklin Graham for a crusade in Belfast, Northern Ireland; performed at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall with the All Souls Orchestra; and took their “In Christ alone” Tour to numerous cities in the US, as well as to London, Dublin, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The success of their debut, followed by a season of international touring, helped galvanize the fact that Irish folk music was indeed a perfect vehicle for articulately amplifying Scripture through song. To that end, it quickly became evident that a new collection of hymns from Keith & Kristyn must pay homage to the musical heritage that was already serving them quite well.
“At heart, Irish music is experienced in group from,” says Keith. “Whether it’s at a sports match, at a funeral, in church, in a family home or out with friends for the evening, we like to sing together. It’s not as sophisticated as a lot of music, but it has a simple melody that everyone can sing along with.”
I will awaken the dawn…
The result of that realization is Awaken The Dawn. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Phil Naish (Steven Curtis Chapman, Point of Grace, Michael Card), with orchestral arrangements by renowned composer Rob Mathes (Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion), the project is a chronological journey through a service of worship shaped by 12 fresh hymns and new songs for the Church. And as the emotive lilt of Kristyn’s voice emerges over the opening strains of “Hear O Israel” – an ethereal and earnest call to worship – it is immediately clear that Awaken The Dawn is more than just a recording; it is a gem of multi-faceted meaning and purpose.
“The two goals we have when we’re writing are to get people of every generation all across the world to sing, and in doing so, to sing songs that will build up the Church and enable people to express more about who God is,” Kristyn explains. “Our writing process often reflects upon how a worship service is put together, and so very intentionally we think of where a song might be used in a service as we write it. We hoped that crafting an album that echoes the movement through a worship service would be a purposeful and thoughtful journey.”
Awaken The Dawn, like its predecessor, In Christ alone, bears equal hallmarks of theologically rich lyrics and thoughtfully singable melodies. Keith & Kristyn once again collaborated with Stuart Townend on nine of the project’s 12 cuts, and the trio of writers is always keenly focused on procuring works of relevant spiritual insight and timeless musical artistry.
“I believe my responsibility as a hymn writer is to the Church,” Keith says. “We set time aside after every single concert to listen to people talk about their concerns and their needs in church music – what works for them, what moves them. To me, it is one of the most important times we spend every week.”
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations…
“There is an even greater emphasis in this album on the world Church and of the Gospel for all the nations,” Kristyn explains. “It’s interesting to contemplate the new churches that are growing up in the Global South or Far East that are needing Bible teaching and strengthening. How can the music help? We have seen many of the songs translated and used around the world, so we’ve thought about what it means to write songs that the Church in China might be able to use, or the church in Africa, and also how we in the West understand the global reach and vision of the Gospel as we sign. We’ve reflected that a bit more in some of the lyrics, in terms of understanding not just the church up the road, but the Church universal.”
“’When Trials Come’ is a song that conveys bringing hope to the nations, so we included it on the album after we received a letter from a Chinese house church,” Keith adds. “They explained that in the face of persecution, that song held a poignant comfort. It was interesting to have a song that was almost never used in the UK and America become such a huge help to people in other parts of the world.”
Another anthem for the nations and one with deep personal meaning for Keith & Kristyn is “Creation Sings the Father’s Song.” Filled with vivid imagery, its passionate lyrics were written in response to an invitation Kristyn’s uncle, renowned mathematics scholar and Christian apologist John Lennox, received to debate British scientist and noted atheist Richard Dawkins on creationism. While the UK debate generated media attention, it ultimately inspired a faith-building song of praise about the majesty of God’s handiwork that finds common ground with Christians all over the world.
I will sing of you among the peoples…
Beyond their theological foundation, the songs of Awaken The Dawn also represent a season of life for the Gettys. Primarily composed within the past two years, these new hymns were born of various experiences. New insights revealed, and wisdom discovered on the road.
“Our albums are really a reflection of where our writing has been over a previous period of time and a reflection of what we do week-in and week-out in going to churches and doing concerts,” Keith states. “For example, ‘What Grace Is Mine’ was written to finish an Easter Sunday service at our church. More people who are not Christians come to our church on Easter than any other Sun day of the year, so our pastor asked us to write a response song for that service.”
The song-a highlight of the album-is a beautiful marriage of past and present, as Kristyn’s stunning new lyrics are set to the melody of one of Ireland’s oldest and most ubiquitous tunes, “Danny Boy.” Making the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, where recordings by such legendary artists as The Beatles and U2 have been made.
“I have grown up with this melody and over the past few years had wanted to craft a fresh lyric to it-as several people have done before me-that would try and match the passion of the tune to a passionate response to the call of Christ on our lives,” Kristyne says. “’Danny Boy’ was written hundreds of years ago and it is a wonderful example of an easy to sing melody that is still useful today, and not only useful but timelessly beautiful. I hope that people’s familiarity with it might serve to carve the message deeper into our hearts.”
“What Grace Is Mine” closes the service of worship that is Awaken The Dawn. It is a fitting benediction for a collection of songs that speaks to the Church, yet offers Hope for a broken world.
“Even in times of darkness, struggles, and perhaps hopelessness and despair , the words we sing can be as light in dark places,” Kristyn concludes. “We’ve tried to fill these songs with the Truth that is always true no matter what the circumstance. So in a way, when we sing this Truth, we are being Light in this dark world.”
Small it may seem-anchored between the shores of the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean-Ireland has given the world both a rich treasury of music and a lineage of faithful missionaries sent forth to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth. Keith & Kristyn Getty are certainly modern embodiments of both traditions; eloquently crafting new songs with timeless melodies, songs that awaken the dawn with the message of Hope-the message of Christ for all nations and peoples.
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