Easter sonnet
CROSS EXAMINATION
A musical drama for Easter
CD £10.00; Tape £7.50 (plus 50p P&P)
From Garston Bridge Chapel, Heath Road, Liverpool (0151 281 9716)
The church at Garston Bridge, Liverpool, has a fine tradition of contemporary song-writing and musicianship. This recent example is a complete presentation of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It contains both spoken narrative and songs which call upon the chief protagonists in the Easter story to give their account.
The narration is in rhyming couplets. It is saved from a descent into doggerel by the excellent expression and passion of the narrator, whose Liverpool accent contributes to the charm and overall down-to-earth relevance of the piece.
The songs are a mixture of choir pieces and solos, accompanied by a range of instruments including a strong percussion element. There is a standard verse-chorus structure to every song and, it has to be said, many of the metres, melodies and chord sequences are similar to each other. But this simplicity is also a strength and the enthusiasm and intensity of emotion of many of the solos, alongside the gutsy harmonies of the group pieces, make a powerful impact. It is also greatly to the credit of these performers that the listener can hear every word.
The significance of the death of Christ and the evidence for the resurrection are well argued throughout, and the CD as a whole packs a powerful evangelistic punch. The sense of raw excitement surrounding the Easter events also comes across, for example in 'Did not our hearts burn within?' and the big closing number: 'He's alive, he is risen, he is King'. This could be a useful tool either to challenge unbelievers or to encourage believers.
