Getty and Townend Worship Music (Videos)

A number of the songs we like to sing in our worship -- The Power of the Cross, In Christ Alone, O Church Arise, How Deep the Father's Love for Us, Across the Lands, and others -- were written and composed by some combination of Keith and Kristyn Getty (from Ireland) and Stuart Townend (from England).

One problem with contemporary worship music has been its tendency toward lyrical shallowness. Maybe you've heard the tongue-in-cheek definition of contemporary worship: "One word ... two notes ... ten minutes!"

The Getty/Townend songwriting combo has been at the center of a trend away from shallow repetition in worship music. Their vision is to write songs with the doctrinal depth and scriptural richness normally associated with traditional hymns--songs with staying power beyond the temporary appeal of a catchy phrase or musical "hook."

Keith Getty, the primary composer on many of the Getty/Townend songs, has expressed a desire to write in a musical style that unites rather than divides--to compose music that can be sung in traditional "piano and organ" churches as well as contemporary worship band settings.

I thought some in our fellowship might want to get a little better acquainted with these musicians who are present in spirit in so many of our worship times.

Here are two videos ...

The first is of Keith and Kristyn performing the most well-known of all the Getty/Townend songs, "In Christ Alone."

In the second, Stuart Townend leads a congregation in singing, "The Power of the Cross."