a first for the monday music is to review some new music. this stuff came to me via the ooze. i’ve often wondered what would emergent music sound like? after brian mclaren wrote his manifesto to worship songwriters some years back i have been looking out for those who might fit into taking that seriously.
the zehnder guys give their angle on it. here is a video of them doing the song of peace hymn.
(found at their website)
Twins Tom and Tim Gibbs Zehnder compose, arrange, perform and record as an indie worship band based in Los Angeles. Tim plays bass and doumbek, Tom plays guitar and djembe, and the two raise their voices together in elaborate duets. They serve a local church with their music, L.A.’s Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
A few accolades:
“Zehnder communes with those who hear their music.”
-Ched Meyers | Author/Speaker/Theologian | Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries
“Take a unique harmonized vocal sound and a punchy groove and combine that with provocative lyrics and you start to get a sense of Zehnder.”
-Rev. Dan Hoffman | Co-Executive Director | Hollywood Urban Project
For more about Zehnder
i am not the aficionado of music, but what i liked about these guys is that they take some chance with their lyric. its not repetitive chorus which gets taken into a quick circulation of the worship spectrum, but there is rounded thought mixed in with their lyric. i would liken their songwriting to more a folk songwriter. the sound of the group i might describe as an experimental acoustic. even their rap song “justice jam” (which is probably my favorite) is bass lined with a chello (or what sounds like chello).
I’ve been a Zehnder fan since early ’06 when they were the music leaders at the annual meeting of the APCE (Association of Presbyerian/Reformed Christian Educators) conference in Saint Louis. IMO, their Breathing album has some really terrific music on it….
Not entirely sure what makes music ‘Emerging’, but I’ll have to read McClaren’s take on it. Either way, I think its refreshing to have music like Zehnder in my collection.
I’ve been a Zehnder fan since early ’06 when they were the music leaders at the annual meeting of the APCE (Association of Presbyerian/Reformed Christian Educators) conference in Saint Louis. IMO, their Breathing album has some really terrific music on it….
Not entirely sure what makes music ‘Emerging’, but I’ll have to read McClaren’s take on it. Either way, I think its refreshing to have music like Zehnder in my collection.