Two biblical worship groups at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary recently released albums to minister to a wider audience than the seminary community.
The vocal ensemble Doxology released its second album, O Great Redeemer, in April. The album contains six a cappella pieces, including the modern “Sing, Sing, Sing” and rearranged hymns “On Eagle’s Wings” and “Nearer My God to Thee.” The CD also features Norton Hall Band, another of Southern Seminary’s worship teams.
“The recording project was a wonderful culmination of hundreds of man-hours of work both collectively and individually,” said Doxology director Charles Lewis, who is also associate professor of church music and worship. “In many ways, making a recording in the 21st century is similar to writing a book. It becomes a lasting testimony of this generation’s proclamation of the Christian faith once for all delivered to the saints encapsulated in the lyrics of ‘O Great Redeemer.’”
A 16-member vocal ensemble, Doxology represents Austria, Ukraine, Uganda, Honduras, South Korea, and the United States. Lewis says the group’s diversity, talent, and exemplary hearts allow them to serve as prominent ambassadors for Southern Seminary and Boyce College.
“They serve tirelessly to prepare spiritually and musically to be a vessel for honor that is usable by God for his good purposes,” Lewis said. “As their director, I love to see how God brings voices from all of the world to Southern Seminary to declare his praise. Though from diverse national backgrounds, God has given Doxology a special unity of voice and heart that celebrates Christ and his gospel in unique and creative ways.”
Doxology performs for various churches and colleges across the United States and sings a variety of styles, including traditional, a cappella, jazz, and gospel, all of which are represented in O Great Redeemer. The album was engineered by Steve Cook of Sovereign Grace Ministries.
“I am beyond thankful for being part of our newest CD. It presents a response to His grace, love, faithfulness, and holiness. The songs reflect a deep sense of adoration and awe towards a holy God, our great Redeemer,” said Doxology member Debora Haller, of Eferding, Austria.
Boyce Vocal Band is a nine-member group that balances a cappella hymns with arrangements of new worship songs. The group’s first album, He Will Hold Me Fast, consists primarily of hymns arranged by band members. Selections on the album include “I Stand Amazed” and 19th-century hymns “It is Well” and “He Will Hold Me Fast.”
The band recorded the album over two weekends in Alumni Chapel and Cooke Hall using the Department of Biblical Worship’s newly acquired recording equipment. Mark Owens and Jacob Bozarth of Resonant Recordings engineered the album.
Boyce Vocal Band members said that recording He Will Hold Me Fast pushed them to be more intentional in their musicianship, since many of the members had never recorded an album before.
“Recording the CD with them has been a milestone,” said band member and Boyce junior Rachel Borengasser, of Pulaski, Tennessee. “The members of BVB are like family to me and their character was revealed, even in the recording process in how we worked together through the minor details required by such a process. Recording has been helpful in taking the next step of musicianship and teamwork.”
The worship team is selected by audition only, and group members receive a scholarship. Greg Brewton, Carolyn King Ragan Associate Professor of Church Music, serves as the band’s director.
The Institute for Biblical Worship at Southern Seminary sponsored both recording projects, as well as the recent Norton Hall album, Be Thou My Vision.
“The institute exists to serve churches, pastors, and students by providing resources, research, and music that encourage Christ-honoring, Bible-centered, and gospel-focused corporate worship,” said Joseph Crider, Ernest and Mildred Hogan Professor of Church Music and Worship and executive director of the Institute for Biblical Worship.
All the albums from Doxology, Boyce Vocal Band, and Norton Hall are available in the seminary’s LifeWay Campus Bookstore and on iTunes. A music video of Doxology’s “My Ransom” is available online at vimeo.com/128522538.
For more information about the Institute for Biblical Worship, visit the new website at www.biblicalworship.com.