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Keith, congratulations on this new album release! It looks to be a mixture of traditional and modern hymns chosen for the album. Please tell us about the selection of hymns and what made you choose these particular ones.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You and Kristyn are considered hymn writers. What\u2019s the major difference between writing hymns over worship songs? Is there a difference in preparing the music for a hymn?<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n Talk about the importance of a good melody.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n When writing a hymn, how do you get inspiration? Do you read through Scripture only, or do you read through old hymns or something more modern?<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n What advice could you give to a worship leader who\u2019s struggling to get his congregation involved and to worship?<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n
\nIt was a great opportunity to work with the Gospel Coalition event and with pastors from 40 different countries. We wanted to choose hymns that were rich in theological truth, but were also hymns that people would carry with them. We chose a number of traditional hymns \u2014 \u201cHoly, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty,\u201d \u201cPower of the Cross,\u201d \u201cWhen I Survey,\u201d \u2014 big hymns that everyone would recognize. We also chose some more contemporary songs that have come out in recent years \u2014 songs that are rich in truth and that everyone could sing along with.<\/p>\n
\nThere\u2019s no scientific term for what\u2019s an actual \u201chymn\u201d and what\u2019s a \u201csong.\u201d But when people listen to it, they will refer to a song and say \u201cthat song is more hymnlike,\u201d or \u201cthat one is more worship song like.\u201d I think for us, we’ve ended up being called hymn writers because we script our priorities. We tend towards singing and writing our songs that are about teaching and learning our faith. The songs are all about the context of rich, passionate, relevant worship (we hope). Secondly, we try to write melodies that are a traditional form that every generation can recognize and sing along with.<\/p>\n
\nWell melody is what carries the song. The vast majority of the songs that are our favorites and the favorites of others are popular due to melody of the song. Of course, there\u2019s always the words that go with the song, but I think it has to be a combination of both, especially melody, because that\u2019s what is carrying the song. Being Irish, I think, has always helped me with getting the congregation involved. I think the Irish melody is very catchy, and people like to sing. Irish music is a very \u2018shared\u2019 type of music, where people are expected and want to sing along. There\u2019s always a group of people singing Irish songs; it\u2019s rare to be individual.<\/p>\n
\nI think for us, we try to be very intentional in the form of cradled hymns, like the style of Charles Wesley or even Martin Luther. Martin Luther tried to teach the European church that there are certain songs we should sing. Charles Wesley made it his goal to teach the entire European church the songs he sang. He traveled across the European countryside teaching the church his songs so everyone could know the faith. I think we have a similar goal with material that we would call church-filled music. But in terms of the inspiration, Kristyn and Stewart are the wordsmiths, and they are keenly aware of what\u2019s going on in our culture today, so they\u2019re always looking for fresh and relevant ideas in the lyrics.<\/p>\n
\nI think, first of all, your question is the right question. Recently I spoke with a group of quite accomplished worship leaders, and I asked them, \u201cWhat do you guys discuss after the worship session?\u201d And they quickly answered whether the congregation was involved and participated. So I think that\u2019s the right question to be asking: Did the church worship? So if we begin at that place and ask how we get the congregation to sing, I think it starts with the pastor. If the pastor is teaching about worship and encouraging the congregation to worship, then we as worship leaders need to be the very best musicians we can be and constantly searching for the right songs that connect with the people and help them worship God. For instance if we walk into a room that has 30 people and we start singing \u201cAmazing Grace,\u201d everyone will likely sing along because that song is ingrained in us. So I think it starts with the pastor, and it\u2019s our duty to find the right songs and to encourage everyone to learn to sing, to sing well and passionately, and even to go home and practice harmony. That\u2019s the key \u2014 for everyone to want to sing.<\/p>\n