Keith & Kristyn Getty

Keith & Kristyn Getty at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), 29 Nov. 2012. Photo by Emil Handke.

Keith & Kristyn Getty at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), 29 Nov. 2012. Photo by Emil Handke.

Composer and musician JULIAN KEITH GETTY (born 16 December 1974 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland) is the son of John and Helen (née Irwin) Getty, who were both Presbyterian church musicians. Regarding the music he heard at home as a child, he later recalled, “Almost all the music was either classical music or congregational singing—from Song of Fellowship and Gaither albums to classical hymns and gospel songs.”[1] Raised in Belfast as a youth, he became actively involved in church music, then earned a degree in music from Durham University in 1995. He found some early success as an arranger and orchestrator for other artists and productions, sacred and secular, including James Galway, Michael W. Smith, and the African Children’s Choir. He was the founding conductor (1994) of the New Irish Choir and Orchestra (New Irish Arts).

KRISTYN LENNOX (born 22 May 1980 in Belfast) is the daughter of Gilbert and Heather Lennox. At age 15, she was invited to perform at Focusfest, a conference for women, and started to develop a reputation as a vocalist and songwriter, releasing a pair of EPs (1997, 2000) and appearing on Focusfest: The Sound of Grace (2001). She earned a degree in English literature from Queen’s University of Belfast (2001). In 1999, while Kristyn was completing her degree, Kristyn’s uncle, John Lennox, math professor at Durham, Christian apologist, and a former professor of Keith’s, reached out to Keith to see if he would assist his niece with music and production. Keith assisted with one track on the EP Kristyn Lennox (2000), he produced Kristyn’s album Tapestry (2002), and they collaborated on Operation World (2002) and Window on the World (2002/3). Kristyn was included on New Irish Hymns 2 (2003) in place of Máire Brennan.

They were married on 16 June 2004 in Armagh, then spent a year living in Geneva, Switzerland, to focus on writing. They have continued to be a successful singer-songwriter duo, producing numerous albums, videos, concert tours, and conferences. Since 2000, when Keith Getty approached fellow singer-songwriter Stuart Townend to assist with the song “In Christ Alone,” they have collaborated on other well-received songs, earning many accolades and awards in the process, and providing a valuable model for other Christian songwriters. Their earliest songs were published through Kingsway Music.

The first denominational hymnal to incorporate their songs was the Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook (2004). Their first major U.S. tour was in the fall of 2005, after which they opted to move to the United States in early 2006, joining Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, under pastor Alistair Begg. That year they released In Christ Alone, their first album under their own label. They moved their primary residence to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2010. In 2017, the Gettys launched their own worship conference, Sing!, held annually in Nashville. They have four children: Eliza Joy, Charlotte, Grace, and Tahlia.

  1. The New Hymn Makers: Speak O Lord (Kinsgway, 2011).

Discography: 

As performer(s):

Note: Many of these recordings have been made available as performance tracks, starting with Songs That Jesus Said (2005). Singles are not included here. Children’s materials are listed separately below.

EP (1997)
Kristyn Lennox

Kristyn Lennox (Kayelle Records, 2000) EP: PDF
Kristyn Lennox, with Keith Getty

Focusfest: The Sound of Grace (21 Sept. 2001) PDF
Geraldine Latty, Kristyn Lennox, Máire Brennan

New Irish Hymns (Oct. 2001) PDF
Margaret Becker, Máire Brennan, Joanne Hogg, Keith Getty
Reissued in the U.S. as In Christ Alone: New Hymns of Prayer & Worship

Tapestry (18 Oct. 2002) PDF
Kristyn Lennox & Keith Getty

Operation World (2002) PDF
Kristyn Lennox, Stuart Townend, Margaret Becker, et al.

New Irish Hymns 2: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (22 Aug. 2003) PDF
Margaret Becker, Joanne Hogg, Kristyn Lennox, Keith Getty

New Irish Hymns 3: Incarnation (17 Sept. 2004) PDF
Margaret Becker, Kristyn Getty, Joanne Hogg, Keith Getty

In Christ Alone: Yesterday Today Forever (2004) PDF
[compilation including Keith Getty, Stuart Townend, others unspecified]

An Evening in Prague (22 Apr. 2005) PDF
Keith Getty conducting the Czech Television Studio Orchestra

New Irish Hymns 4: Hymns for the Life of the Church (21 Oct. 2005) PDF
Margaret Becker, Kristyn Getty, Joanne Hogg, Keith Getty

The Apostles’ Creed (2006) PDF
Tim Hughes, Susan Ashton, Brenton Brown, et al.

Modern Hymns Live (2006) PDF
Keith & Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend
Includes previously released material

In Christ Alone (2006) PDF / with songbook
Keith & Kristyn Getty

Prom Praise (2008) PDF
with Noël Tredinnick and the All Souls Orchestra

Keswick Live (1 Oct. 2008) PDF
Keith & Kristyn Getty, Steve James, Stuart Townend

Keswick Live: Faith that Works (2009) PDF
Keith & Kristyn Getty, Steve James, Stuart Townend

Awaken the Dawn (2009) PDF / with DVD (PDF) / songbook
Keith & Kristyn Getty

Keith & Kristyn Getty Live (2011) DVD: PDF
Recorded at Shadow Mountain Community Church, San Diego, CA
[DVD case says “Live audience recorded at Brentwood Baptist Church,” TN]

Joy! An Irish Christmas (16 Oct. 2011) PDF with songbook

Prom Praise 40th Anniversary (30 Sept. 2012) PDF / with DVD

Hymns for the Christian Life (9 Oct. 2012 : PDF / Deluxe in 2013) with songbook

Live at the Gospel Coalition (10 Sept. 2013) PDF / with songbook
Recorded in Orlando, FL

The Greengrass Session (24 Nov. 2014)

Joy! An Irish Christmas Live (9 Oct. 2015) PDF with DVD [PDF], songbook (vol. 2)

Facing a Task Unfinished (17 June 2016 / also Deluxe) PDF / with DVD, songbook
Recorded live at Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN

Sing! Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference (1 Dec. 2017)
Recorded in Nashville, TN, in 2017

Hymns of Grace: Live at Shepherds Conference (1 Mar. 2018)
with Bob Kauflin, Clayton Erb

North Coast Sessions (7 Sept. 2018)

Sing! Psalms Ancient & Modern (22 Feb. 2019)
Recorded in Nashville, TN, in 2018

Hymns of Grace: Live at The Shepherds’ Conference (16 Aug. 2019)
Recorded live at The Master’s Seminary, Los Angeles, California

Sing! An Irish Christmas (25 Oct. 2019)
Recorded live at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, TN, during the 2019 Sing! conference.

The Life of Christ Quintology

Incarnation (29 Nov. 2019)
Passion (21 Feb. 2020)
Resurrection (10 Apr. 2020)
Great Commission (26 June 2020)
Heaven (31 July 2020)

Evensong: Hymns and Lullabies at the Close of Day (4 Sept. 2020 / Deluxe 7 May 2021)

Evensong Christmas (20 Dec. 2020) EP

Sing! Global (5 Mar. 2021 / Deluxe 30 July 2021)
Recorded at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, TN, 30 Aug. to 2 Sept. 2020

Confessio: Irish American Roots (29 Oct. 2021 / Expanded 11 Mar. 2022)

Sing! In Christ Alone (8 Apr. 2022)
Recorded at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, 13–16 Sept. 2021

Come to Jesus: The Sing! Sessions (13 May 2022)

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (23 Sept. 2022 / Expanded 28 Apr. 2023)

He Will Hold Me Fast: Prayer for Peace (21 Oct. 2022) EP

Christmas Duets (2 Dec. 2022)
Includes previously released material

Sing! Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (27 Jan. 2023)
Recorded at the Grand Ole Opry House and Gaylord Opryland, 4–7 Sept. 2022

The Sing! Sessions: Doxology (26 May 2023)
Recorded at the Grand Ole Opry House and Gaylord Opryland, 4–7 Sept. 2022

I Set My Hope on Jesus (8 Sept. 2023) EP
with Matt Boswell & Matt Papa

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence: The Carols of Christmas, Vol. 1 (1 Dec. 2023)

Sing! The Great Commission Word Tour Live (9 February 2024 / Expanded 12 Apr. 2024)
Recorded in Belfast, Singapore, Sidney, and Nashville, summer 2023.

Projects for Children:

Still Walking in the Light (2000) CD & DVD
Produced/arranged by Keith for the African Children’s Choir

Live It Up! (2002?)
Songs by Kristyn, with a children’s choir primarily from Glenabbey Church, Northern Ireland

Window on the World (2 Sept. 2003)
Written and produced by Keith Getty & Kristyn Lennox for the African Children’s Choir

Songs That Jesus Said (2 Aug. 2005) with songbook

Getty Kids Hymnal, with songbooks

In Christ Alone (23 Sept. 2016)
For the Cause (16 June 2017)
Family Hymn Sing (7 Sept. 2018)
Family Carol Sing (27 Sept. 2019)
Hymns from Home (30 July 2021)

Everything: Hymns for Little Hearts (31 May 2024) EP
with Sandra McCracken & Skye Peterson

Joni Eareckson Tada (2024) Book
Illustrated by Hsulynn Pang

As Arranger/Orchestrator (Keith):

Ginny Owens, Blueprint (2002)

Graham Kendrick, Do Something Beautiful (2003)

A Worship House, God Is Here (30 Mar. 2004)

Zade, Roads to You (4 May 2004)

Starfield, Starfield (18 May 2004)

City of Prague Philharmonic, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (13 July 2004)

Watermark, The Purest Place (10 Aug. 2004)

City of Prague Philharmonic, Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album (10 Aug. 2004)

Bebo Norman, Try (24 Aug. 2004)

City of Prague Philharmonic, Once Upon a Time: The Essential Ennio Morricone Film Music Collection (5 Oct. 2004)

Michael W. Smith, Healing Rain (26 Oct. 2004)

Exit East, Exit East (25 Jan. 2005)

Natalie Grant, Awaken (22 Mar. 2005)

City of Prague Philharmonic, Reel Love: The Cinematic Romance Album (12 Apr. 2005)

Michelle Tumes, Lost in Wonder (26 Apr. 2005)

Joy Williams, Genesis (3 May 2005)

Matt Redman, Blessed Be Your Name (19 July 2005)

Reuben Morgan, World Through Your Eyes (13 Sept. 2005)

City of Prague Philharmonic, Film Music Masterworks: Ennio Morricone (2006)

Plumb, Chaotic Resolve (28 Feb. 2006)

Brenton Brown, Everlasting God (2006)

Mary Haskell, The Power of the Cross (22 May 2007)

Josh Wilson, Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup (29 Apr. 2008)

See also:

In Christ Alone: Songs of Keith Getty & Stuart Townend (18 Mar. 2011)

The New Hymn Makers: Speak O Lord—Keith & Kristyn Getty (7 Aug. 2011) PDF
Paul Leddington Wright & St. Michael’s Singers

100 Songs of Stuart Townend & Keith Getty (Integrity, 2016) [songbook]

Lectures:

Institute for Christian Worship Lectures, Hosted by Carl Stam, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY):

“Hymns, worship, and Christian thought,” Part 1 (5 Oct. 2005): SBTS

“Hymns, worship, and Christian thought,” Part 2 (6 Oct. 2005): SBTS

“Modern hymns: Christian congregational songs for the 21st century” (5 Oct. 2005): SBTS

“Songs That Jesus Said: Singing the Bible for young worshipers” (6 Oct. 2005): SBTS

“World music for the universal church” (27 Mar. 2006): SBTS

“Irish hymns: A singing faith for the worshiping church” (28 Mar. 2006): SBTS

“A musical and poetic vernacular for worship: Finding a heart language for the modern church” (28 Mar. 2006): SBTS

“The making of worship songs for the modern church” (22 Feb. 2007): SBTS

“New Irish hymns” (22 Feb. 2007): SBTS

“Behind the songs,” Part 1 (5 Feb. 2009): SBTS

“Behind the songs,” Part 2 (5 Feb. 2009): SBTS

Institute for Biblical Worship Lectures, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY):

Worship lecture (29 Sept. 2016): SBTS

Biography & Hymnology:

Fiona Mcllwaine Biggins, “New Irish Hymns: New hymns, ancient faith for three CCM hitmakers,” Cross Rhythms (1 Jan. 2002): CR

Kristyn Lennox, Profile (www.kristyn.co.uk, 3 Feb. 2002): Archive.org

Cory Engel, “Keith Getty interview,” Celtic Christian Tunes (Sept. 2003): PDF

Emily R. Brink, “Teaching the faith, expanding the song: An interview with Irish hymnwriter Keith Getty,” Reformed Worship, no. 81 (Sept. 2006): RW

Joan Huyser-Honig, “Keith Getty on writing hymns for the church universal,” Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (1 Sept. 2006): CICW

Michael Ireland, “Modern-day hymn writers seek to magnify Christ in music,” Crosswalk (17 Oct. 2007): CW

Stan Guthrie, “Singable doctrine,” Christianity Today (20 Feb. 2008): CT

Tony Cummings, “Keith & Kristyn Getty: Husband and wife duo bringing fresh popularity to hymnody,” Cross Rhythms (26 Nov. 2008): CR

“With one voice: A leadership interview with Keith and Kristyn Getty,” Christianity Today (1 Jan. 2009): CT

“Serving the whole body of believers,” Church Music Quarterly (RSCM, June 2009), pp. 11–12.

Keith Getty, Don Carson & Matt Boswell, “Truth we believe and songs we sing,” The Gospel Coalition (22 July 2013): TGC

Brian Hehn, “Interview with Keith Getty,” The Hymn, vol. 66, no. 2 (Spring 2015), pp. 15-16: HathiTrust

“Keith and Kristyn Getty song ‘For the Cause’ dedicated as official Southeastern hymn,” Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (26 May 2016): SEBTS

Leah MarieAnn Klett, “Keith Getty: Modern worship mov’t is ‘utterly dangerous,’ causing ‘de-Christianizing of God’s people,’” Christian Post (9 Nov. 2019): CP

Joyce Borger, “The modern worship movement isn’t the problem,” Reformed Worship (25 November 2019): RW

Keith Getty, “Confessio, traditional music, and hymn singing,” Hymnpartial, Ep. 62 (1 Nov. 2021): YouTube

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, “The Gettys’ modern hymn movement has theological pull,” Christianity Today (2 Oct. 2024): CT

Keith Getty, AllMusic.com: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-getty-mn0000765928/credits

Martin V. Clarke, Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology: Keith Getty | Kristyn Getty

Hymnary.org: Keith Getty | Kristyn Getty

See also:

Kingsway Songbooks
Stuart Townend