Joy: An Irish Christmas
2011
Keith and Kristyn Getty occupy a unique space in the world of music today as preeminent modern hymn writers. In re-inventing the traditional hymn form, they have created a catalogue of songs teaching Christian doctrine and crossing the genres of traditional, classical, folk and contemporary composition which are sung the world over.
“In Christ Alone” (penned by Keith and long-time writing partner, Stuart Townend) holds the #1 position of most-frequently-sung in UK churches for the past 9 consecutive years. It was voted the #2 best-loved hymn of all time in the UK according to a BBC Songs of Praise national survey and among the top 5 hymns of all time by the UK Hymns Society. According to CCLI, it is estimated that 40 to 50 million people sing “In Christ Alone” in church services each year— which does not include the unique reach the catalog has into traditional and classical contexts, as well as the popularity of the song throughout Asia.
The Gettys' hymns are used increasingly both in contemporary and traditional circles, being included in most modern hymnbooks (with a number of these now listing “Getty” as the most-featured composers), while in the more contemporary church, more than 60 of their songs are featured on top 2,000 CCLI charts between the UK and USA.
The Gettys' Irish Christmas show, touring annually since 2011, is built around their Christmas church music catalog, as well as their love for historic carols and congregational singing. The tour, playing to some 40,000-50,000 people each year, has featured annual sold out performances at Carnegie Hall, as well as performances at many of the top concert venues in the US, including the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. In 2015, the Joy - An Irish Christmas television special was featured on Public Television and broadcast to 45+ million homes across the United States. The television special has also been broadcast on BBC and internationally.
Keith and Kristyn Getty continue to be global ambassadors for modern hymns in the USA and throughout the world. In addition to their Christmas show, the Gettys tour internationally, visiting venues as diverse as the Ryman Auditorium, Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, The Pentagon, and Royal Albert Hall, with performances for George W. Bush, the United Nations, and South Korea President Lee Myung-bak. This worldwide representation of modern hymns led to the creation of their global church music conference, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, Sing! The Getty Music Worship Conference. The conference began in 2017 and is doubling in size for 2018! Featuring the best speakers and musicians, the focus of Sing! 2018 is the Psalms. For more information, visit www.GettyMusicWorshipConference.com
In 2017 and 2018 the theme of Sing! was reinforced with the release of Keith & Kristyn's first book, Sing! This book focuses on the importance of singing in every aspect of our lives and relationships. More details and a free resources can be found at www.TheSingBook.com
The Gettys newest release is a live recording from the 2017 conference, Sing! Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference, which features many new songs and guests artists.
To further expand this modern hymn movement, Keith and Kristyn Getty have created the Getty Music record label (which holds 3 Dove Award nominations and is distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution), built various print publishing partnerships and imprints, and produced unique merchandise containing their hymn lyrics. The label has now released two collections of songs and hymns for families, In Christ Alone and For the Cause.
The Gettys' songs have been performed or recorded by a diverse range of artists including Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Owl City, Lyle Lovett, Newsboys, Mercy Me, Natalie Grant, Passion/Kristian Stanfill, Heather Headley, Moya Brennan, and choirs from Anuna to Coventry Cathedral. They have also been selected for significant international events such as the Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the concluding ceremony of the third Lausanne Congress.
In 2017 Keith Getty was honored as an "Officer of the Order of the British Empire" (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The award, which commemorates Getty's contribution to "Music and Modern Hymn Writing," marks the first occasion that the award has been given to an individual involved in the world of contemporary church music.
In 2016 Keith and Kristyn launched a global release of “Facing a Task Unfinished” – the song, album, and tour. The Gettys, together with global partners, spearheaded the unparalleled global hymn sing of “Facing a Task Unfinished” in February of 2016. It is estimated that 1.1 million people in 100 countries across the earth sang the song on that single day. The studio album, which is conceived from this hymn and its global participation, features the Getty’s band, live congregational singing, and fresh global sounds as well as guest appearances by John Patitucci, Fernando Ortega, and artists from around the world.
The Global Hymn Sing project continued in 2018, as the Gettys led their third Global Hymn Sing which featured over a million believers, in 55 countries, and in 32 languages as they joined together to proclaim Jesus Shall Reign. Information for this annual event can be found at www.GlobalHymnSing.com
Keith and Kristyn live between Northern Ireland and Nashville with their daughters, Eliza Joy, Charlotte, Grace, and Tahlia.
