This is a guided tour through music and arts coming from various Christian worship traditions around the world, plus a few other things of related interest such as multicultural musics.
Silent Night’ in 5/4, by Mosaic
A group of students at Belmont College in Nashville became friends, then musical partners. Mosaic formed in 2008, during a living room jam-session of “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” They kept singing songs old and new, and discovered a God-created whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.
“We thought we were just making a Christmas CD to give to our parents,” says Patrick Lockwood. “God had other plans.”
A night of creative fellowship spiraled into a full-length Christmas album, which grew into a month-long Christmas tour, topped off with an album review by Christianity Today and radio play of Mosaic’s signature “O Come All Ye Faithful” on Chicago’s Shine FM. ‘Until the Son of God Appears’ started to become quite a popular Christmas album (released 2009).
“We saw God working through our music and blessing it, and we realized that this was a greater calling than we had expected,” says Devon Graves.
http://mosaicworship.com/about/
In 2010 I heard their Christmas album via a friend and loved the vocal harmonies. I saw they were going to tour in North Texas so got in touch with them and made a few bookings. The first time I met them was at a downtown Dallas homeless shelter, and then a grad school where missionaries are trained. Their self-giving music ministry, humbly and freely sharing God’s Word through song, had a great God-glorifying impact on me and everyone I introduced them to.
We’ve since become dear friends. At a musical level, they’re one of my favorite bands to play and record with. And in addition to creating those marvelous harmonies and Scripture-infused compositions, they are humble, God-exalting, and can be reallllly silly, all of which are important qualities to me. :-)
Go here to read a recent interview with Mosaic members:
http://www.newschief.com/article/20111211/NEWS/112115015?p=all&tc=pgall
Besides their Christmas album, they’ve recorded 2 albums more of their original songs. You can hear songs streaming from all 3 at their website:
http://mosaicworship.com/music/
Be sure to listen to the Christmas album at the bottom of that page - if you’re looking for a Christmas gift for someone, this (and their other 2 albums) receives my highest recommendation.
For this blog post, I’m highlighting their creative arrangement of “Silent Night” which has much of the song in 5/4 time.
Be sure to check out Mosaic’s tour schedule at
http://mosaicworship.com/tour/
If you are interested in booking Mosaic for a concert, worship service, retreat, conference, party, chapel, songwriter’s workshop, etc, please send them an email at booking@mosaicworship.com
I guarantee that they will minister deeply to you and your group.
Audio file © 2009 by Mosaic.
