* Harold ten Cate

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General: ‘Defender’ is a song with two musical faces. While for the most part it stays compact and intimate with piano at it’s core, the bridge bursts open with full band accompaniment as if to underline the sung creed: a mighty fortress is our God! We have no evil to fear. The rest that comes from that promise, finds its musical voice in this song, also suitable for solo performance.

 

General: There aren’t many songs that make you long for God’s Kingdom in such a festive manner as ‘Build your kingdom’ does. That’s probably due to the band that wrote it; Rend Collective, an Irish ensemble that breaks musical boundaries in the genre. The loose folk character of the song brings with it an abundance of instrumental possibilities. The joy and enthusiasm of this song is infectious; all of us together are God’s church and we can call on Him to help us build His kingdom here on earth.

General: This world can be a dark place, full of confusion and fear. That’s the reality that sparked this creed, worded in song. ‘We Believe’ delivers a powerful statement both lyrically and musically as the chorus names the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and looks ahead in its triumphant climax to the return of Christ. This song is widely applicable in liturgy and converts community singing into a shared creed as a reminder of the hope that overcomes the darkness.

 

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General: The power of prayer is hard to ‘grasp’ in a song, but ‘Speak, O Lord’ manages to capture the wonder & majesty of meeting God. Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s composition, arranged by Mary McDonald, gradually builds to an orchestrated highlight; a movement that’s mirrored in the lyric. From the small and personal, God Who works in us and sows the seed of His Word, to the revelation of His plans that will come to fruition for all eternity! Both intimate and majestic at the same time, this song excels in worship services and as a supporting song for a liturgical moment of prayer.

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General: This composition, originally from Chris Tomlin and Ed & Scott Cash, is a wonderful example of an epic arrangement that makes you sing the creed in the lyrics with gusto. The march percussion in ‘Whom shall I fear’ points to the heavenly armies. Who is there to fear, when we know God is sending his angel armies to fight on our behalf?

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