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The Alphabet of Revelation by J.A.C. Redford

March 28, 2008 @ 7:30 AM  |  Posted By: John M. Duncan
The music division of Ligonier Ministries has been created as an aid to the educational work. Our desire is to produce music which helps illustrate the transcendent qualities of God and of God's universe.

jac_redford.jpgIn keeping with this mission, Ligonier has just released a new recording in collaboration with a remarkable composer in Los Angeles named JAC Redford. JAC is a respected and sought after composer, orchestrator, and arranger. His work can be heard in major motion pictures, including the new Disney-Pixar movie this summer, PBS specials and numerous other productions for stage and screen.

Years ago, JAC approached the Westminster Brass (who have so ably led the music at Ligonier National Conferences for two decades) about writing a piece for brass ensemble based on Daniel's vision in the Old Testament (cf. Dan. 7). The piece, entitled "The Ancient of Days", was commissioned by the Westminster Brass and and played at several conferences in the 90s.

"The Ancient of Days" is written in a grand and epic style. As you listen, it functions much like a soundtrack to a movie. Your mind "sees" the imagery and the action of the text. The score is accompanied by the narration of Dr. R.C. Sproul, which only adds to the depth and drama. This was a logical piece to execute for a new Ligonier recording.

JAC presented several works for consideration and proposed that "The Ancient of Days" be used as one facet in a larger production. As we reviewed different musical pieces of his we noted a recurring theme -- revelation in nature, revelation in Scripture and revelation (insight and discovery) through the arts. This is how we came to produce the new Ligonier recording The Alphabet of Revelation.

alphabet_of_revelation.jpgWe traveled to Kiev, Ukraine last August to record with the Kyiv National Orchestra and the results were amazing. We recorded "October Overtures" -- a beautiful and elegant piece that is like a musical exploration of natural revelation, and "The Ancient of Days" -- a musical exploration of special revelation in the OT. JAC had already recorded a quartet of songs called "The Alphabet of Revelation" which are musical interpretations of four master modern art paintings. Put them all together and you have a lexicon for The Alphabet of Revelation.

This recording will thrill and engage the lover of classical music as well as the lover of more modern genres like jazz. I hope you will enjoy hearing more about the musical mission of Ligonier as you listen to this recording.

If you like, listen to samples from The Alphabet of Revelation here. Read the booklet which comes along with the music CD here. Also, previews and free downloads of our other recent music projects can be found here.
  Tags: Music

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