For hundreds of years, Christians' worship was shaped by the liturgical calendar, a prescribed set of traditions, reflections and scriptural emphases that observed various aspects of the Gospel throughout the year. The word "liturgy" means "the work of the people," and the calendar helped focus believers' thoughts and actions.
As a band, the mission of
Page CXVI has been to make timeless hymns of the faith accessible to today's Christians. While there are some recognizable songs in their repertoire, many of the hymns the band chooses to play aren't part of most bands' hymn remake records.
Following the band's first liturgically focused album,
Advent to Christmas, Page CXVI has moved on to the next major milestone in the church year:
Lent to Maundy Thursday. Lead singer Latifah Phillips talked about this latest album, the focus on the liturgical year, and the beauty found in the language of hymns.
Lent to Maundy Thursday is the new album. You already did Advent to Christmas. Clearly there's a liturgical theme here. Talk a little bit about that approach to your music.
In the last few years I have been introduced to the Church Calendar. I love spiritual rhythms, they help create balance in my life and more importantly on my perspective of God. So when we decided to make an Advent record it only seemed fit to walk through the better part of the Church Calendar, all the way through Easter. I love the season of Advent and Christmas, but Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter get us through the entire Gospel story, and I need this story in my life on a routine basis. This is why I love liturgy and the Calendar. It keeps me in the routine of hearing the story of the Gospel. And music is one of the primary ways I feel connected to my maker, so it felt important to have a musical outlet for this rhythm too!
Good Friday to Easter comes out April 15th!
Thematically, what emerges in the music for Lent to Maundy Thursday?
As this record was being crafted there are a lot of themes of gratitude through each song. Lent is a time of remembrance of the sacrifice of the cross and when I really think about the gravity of Christ's sacrifice it immediately deepens my gratitude. It also changes my posture before God from entitled to grateful. There are also themes of celebration of Christ with the two Palm Sunday songs, "This Blessed Day" and "Hosanna" which were a blast to make. And then back to a theme of gratefulness with "I Love the Lord" for Maundy Thursday.
What song from this bunch particularly speaks to you, and why?
"I Love the Lord" is personal to me. I sometimes struggle with feeling despair over hopefulness and this song is a beautiful reminder that God not only grieves with us through the broken pieces of our world, but he also provides us with hope so we do not have to live in despair or defeat. As I continue to get older I am immensely thankful for the hope the Gospel brings us.
What is your hope/vision for this new project, or the whole of these liturgical projects?
My hope is the music will help to create better spiritual rhythms for others. That the music will bring them courage and hope by centering them on the truth of who God is and what He has done for us.
What have you learned the most about worship, the Church and God by dusting off these old hymns?
My soul has been encouraged by the words and knowledge of those who have come before me, wrestled with similar things, and found their hope in God. There is something powerful about how God moves through each generation and speaks to us, reminding us of His love and His truth. I have learned that I need to elevate my mind and my heart in music as I sing to God, because these songs stick with me. I do not forget them and they are a reminder of where to put my hope.
