Keith And Kristyn Getty Bring Joy To Carnegie Hall
Joy—An Irish Christmas was created and produced by Keith and Kristyn Getty. The Gettys—who performed a sold-out show on Dec. 11 at Carnegie Hall—are modern hymn writers and their show is a mixture of traditional Christmas songs interspersed with original Christian Christmas hymns.
The Gettys put a new spin on traditional Christmas hymns, such as O Come All Ye Faithful, Angels We Have Heard On High, Joy To The World and Hark The Herald Angels Sing, and arrange them so that they have a bluegrass sound to them. They also give all the traditional Christmas songs a distinct Celtic edge that modernizes them, yet keeps them classic.
One of their best known hymns, In Christ Alone, has a strong Irish melody and is sung in churches throughout the world. Their songs have been recorded by many artists including Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss and Natalie Grant, among others.
Kristyn’s sleek, soothing voice is reminiscent of Andrea Corrs’, the singer from another musical Irish family. The Gettys, who reside in Northern Ireland and Nashville, introduced each original song by explaining how and why it was written. Several were lullabies to their children, such as Consider the Stars and How Suddenly A Baby Cries.
The Gettys were backed at Carnegie Hall by a talented group of 20 musicians, including Shannon Lambert-Ryan and Maggie White, both of whom were wearing traditional Irish step dancing shoes and throughout the evening, danced Irish jigs and reels, at times while playing their violins. The Gettys were also backed by the Carnegie Hall Choir. Guest appearances were made by a rousing Times Square Church quartet and John Patitucci, Grammy-award winning bass player.
The Gettys’ musicians had battling guitars, dueling violins and other comic elements that kept the show lively and entertaining.
Kristyn closed the show by reciting an Irish Blessing.
Joy-An Irish Christmas will be broadcast on public television this Christmas season. The Gettys have a new Christmas DVD, Joy—An Irish Christmas, that can be purchased on Amazon or at www.gettymusic.com.
