The word confessio refers to a creed or a statement of belief. As the world went into lockdown over the past two years, Keith and Kristyn Getty returned to Ireland (from Tennessee, where they spend most of their time) to remember their Irish roots and to introduce their children to some places and things that are important to them. Along the way, they also revisited their musical roots, the hymns that helped form and shape them as musicians and Christians. The album Confessio: Irish American Roots is the result of that journey.
About half the album is simple arrangements of traditional hymns. But while simple, these recordings can be remarkable. “Amazing Grace,” for example, is merely piano and saxophone accompanying a vocal duet between Kristyn Getty and Irish soul and jazz singer Dana Masters, but it is a wonderfully evocative version of this perhaps most well-known of all hymns.
The rest of the album is mostly new songs, composed by the Gettys. A standout is “All My Heart Rejoices,” a beautiful new setting of Anna’s song from Luke 2. The mostly acoustic nature of this album, along with fine arrangements by Keith Getty, make for another excellent listening experience. (Getty)
About the Author
Robert J. Keeley is a professor of education emeritus at Calvin University and leads music at 14th St. Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Mich.