In The Beginning

Mar. 3, 2014

by Bob Farrell

Everlasting God

I  have sung in a choir exactly one time in my life, an all-men’s chorus on a Sunday night in the 80s at my home church, Metrochurch in Edmond, OK.

But amazingly I have had lots and lots of my songs arranged for choir over the years, though most were not written with choir in mind. I discovered after F&F started recording in Nashville in 1977 that choral arrangers could spot songs that would work for choir and do their magic. Worked for me - thanks guys and gals.

After I began writing regularly with Greg Nelson in the early 90s I started learning more about that genre and creating a few more choir-friendly songs, which were usually also song cuts on artists like Sandi Patty, Steve Green, Wayne Watson, Larnelle Harris, and others.

In 1994 Greg asked me to write a short cantata with him for an Easter project for Word Publishing - which meant he had to first tell me what a cantata was. We soon had about thirty minutes of songs that we truly loved and played them for Word. Though they too loved them, their opinion was that the material was going to be too difficult for the average choir and suggested Greg and I re-write / simplify.

Except Greg and I loved those songs too much to change them, so we decided we should play them for Norman Miller (who had had great success touring The Young Messiah). Norman completely flipped out, and said he would tour our work if it was a full hour. So, since we had the Easter-passion portion written, Greg and I went back and created an Old Testament section, essentially telling the story of God’s pursuit of man - from creation through the resurrection of Christ.

The musical form we chose was the oratorio (sort of a longer cantata), which is written for orchestra, choir, and soloists.

Once we completed the songs it was time to record our first serious orchestral work: Saviour.

Norman helped us secure a deal with Warner-Alliance Records, then Greg and I co-produced the project, with a vast array of Nashville talent: orchestrations and choral parts by Ronn Huff (former conductor of Nashville Symphony); track arrangements by David Hamilton; soloists Twila Paris (who actually named the work for us), Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, Wayne Watson, and Wintley Phipps; choir made up of Nashville session singers; then travelling to London to record the orchestra with the London Symphony.

Wow, what a stupefying experience for this boy who cut his teeth on The Beatles and playing in rock bands. God is good.

Saviour was released in 1994, winning two GMA Dove Awards, and immediately performances by church and civic choirs and orchestras all over the world began to happen - and continue to this day. I myself have produced over 50 performances of the work with most of the artists from the original recording, but I can tell you I have also heard amazing local talent in obscure small towns absolutely tear it up singing Saviour. And I cannot begin to tell you how many, players, choir folks, and soloists have raved about the joy of performing the work - not to mention the thousands who listen to it as daily devotional. God is truly, truly good. Even Jayne and I did a few performances in 2009, only to find out the hard way that we were not lyric tenor or soprano - one can do physical damage to the body singing those songs!

I’m trying hard not to brag here (oh, really?), but since I probably am I’ll just top it off by telling you that on October 25, 2014, Saviour is being performed at Carnegie Hall, in a gala 20th Anniversary concert with soloists from the original recording, a 270 voice choir, and David Hamilton conducting. And, yes, Greg and I will be there with our tuxes on. Stay tuned and I’ll let you know about a travel package if you want to attend.

All that said (whew), what truly matters to Greg and I is that we created a piece that not only found its way into the lifeblood of the church, made its mark on the world of classical music, edified believers, and gave us a sense of legacy for our work - but most important to us did honor to the Word of God. Saviour tells the story of God’s pursuit of man - from the Garden to the grave - from birth to death.

Here’s how the choir begins the story:

In the beginning was the Word

And the Word was with God

In the beginning was the Word

And the Word was God

His presence fills the universe

He is the maker of all things

Who is - Who was - and is to come

In Him is life - that life is the light of men

In the beginning was the Word

And the Word was with God

In the beginning was the Word

And the Word was God

And His life is the light of man

Alpha and Omega - The everlasting God

The Gospel is singular and unique, for it alone tells the story, not of man of chasing God as all other world religions, but Almighty God's eternal passion for His creation and unending pursuit of us - for as long as we draw breath.

Thank you, heavenly Father.

Visit us on the web @ http://www.saviourmusic.com/


(lyrics from “In The Beginning” / Saviour, circa 1994)