Tracy Howe

June 10th, 2008 | by Scott |

I’m not going to do my postmortem on Envision until Thursday but I had to at least mention one highlight: I absolutely fell in love with Tracy Howe.

She led much of the worship during our week and she was phenomenal. Much of what we are missing in contemporary hymnody/worship music are songs of conscience and justice, songs of lament and present hope. That is Tracy’s forte. She is the Derek Webb of worship music.

I didn’t buy any of her CD’s while at the conference (I was too seduced by the appeal of half price books at the Brazos and Intervarsity tables) but I will as soon as I get home. Now, if I can figure out how to get her to come do a house concert for us.

If you are looking for worship music that hits t the heart of the Christian mission in this world then check her out:

  1. 11 Responses to “Tracy Howe”

  2. By matt elliott on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks for passing this along. This is a valid critique of church music, for sure. I have passed your post along to some friends who do arrangements as well, so maybe we could make something happen with this material. I noticed that you can download from her site. Were there any particular titles that you’d recommend?

  3. By matt elliott on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    One more thing — her “Long Time Gone” CD is available on iTunes as well as Amazon.com.

  4. By justin on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    I like the words to these songs, but I can’t lie, I don’t think many of them are singable. I’ve been listening to restoration project stuff all morning on itunes, and its too artsy to fly in most worship services. Melody is scattered, and in many places unmusical (in my opinion). Music for corporate worship needs, once again imho, to be singable. Not necessarily easy, but singable. Especially acapella music.

  5. By matt elliott on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    Haven’t listened to them yet, but I’d definitely agree that “singable” is a pretty big deal! Particularly when you don’t use “mechanical instruments of music,” as they used to say. (I always pictured these giants gears and stuff.)

  6. By Jim MacKenzie on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    Hey Scott, glad things are going well. Tracy Howe, by the looks of her blog, lives out my way. Do you know where she leads worship regularly around here?

  7. By Doug Freeman on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    Scott, how can you refer this to worship? Its more noise from an instrument than reverence.

  8. By justin on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    Some people sing poorly Doug, is what they do not worship? I mean, vocal chords are an instrument just as much as a guitar.

  9. By Scott on Jun 12, 2008 | Reply

    Matt, “With Kindness” and “Let Your Kingdom Come” were both stand-outs for me.
    As far as being “singable?” Of course they were, I was there. Whether or not just worship leader can translate it into acapella? Don’t know. But the the not singable idea is a crock.

    Jim, dunno. She may be waiting for the perfect offer.

  10. By matt elliott on Jun 12, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks, Scott! I’ll download those and give ‘em a listen. Nothing I love better than noise from an instrument. 8-)

  11. By Scott on Jun 12, 2008 | Reply

    I might also add that one of the Restoration Project CD’s, Sobering, is available on eMusic.

  12. By Robin on Jun 12, 2008 | Reply

    I thought mechanical instruments got you a ticket to Hades?

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