On April 9th, Worship Together released In Christ Alone: New Hymns of Prayer and Worship. Featuring a landmark union of top contemporary voices - Dove Award winner Margaret Becker, a seasoned veteran of America's contemporary Christian music scene; Grammy Award winner Maire Brennan, the voice of Clannad and arguably the 'First Lady' of Celtic music; and internationally acclaimed Irish vocalist Joanne Hogg, lead singer of Celtic rock band Iona -In Christ Alone is poised for rave critical reviews and wide consumer acceptance. Initially released in the UK and entitled New Irish Hymns, In Christ Alone was produced and arranged with unique Celtic and classical influences by acclaimed Irish producer/composer Keith Getty. These peaceful and uplifting songs are marked by authentic Irish instrumentation, all coming together for one outstanding musical celebration of Christ's life.

From its initial concept, In Christ Alone had its foundations firmly rooted in Irish soil. Brennan and Hogg, as well as Getty and executive producer Stephen Doherty, all hail from Ireland. But even in their unity as Christians, their backgrounds had significant differences that made this collage of people quite unique.

In Brennan and Hogg you have the merging of the Southern Irish Catholic background with the Northern Irish protestant. With Getty and Doherty there are similar backgrounds and stories to tell. Margaret Becker is the daughter of an Irish immigrant to America, hence the title of her early Sparrow release, Immigrant’s Daughter.

As early as 1996, it is now clear that God was putting into place the pieces of the jigsaw that would finally be complete in 2002 with the release of In Christ Alone. That year, Margaret Becker’s Grace world tour took her to the Irish city of Coleraine. Coincidentally, Doherty was the promoter of the Coleraine concert, and he introduced Becker to Joanna Hogg. The three formed a friendship, and Becker shared her heart for Ireland with Hogg and Doherty.

"I've dreamed of Ireland my entire life," remembers Becker. “We had many Irish visitors over the course of my childhood, all enchanting us with stories of leprechauns and other fairyish characters. Somehow, even as a child, I was knit to the land, the people, the folklore. I knew part of me dwelt there - even though I'd never been."

So, two pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place.

For the third voice, producer Getty had wanted Maire Brennan from the beginning. “She is one of the most defining voices in Irish music history,” he says, “(and) her Christian conversion is inspiring. To write with Maire was one of the great honors of my musical career.”

The vocal trio was almost complete, but it was an unusual set of coincidences that actually brought Becker, Hogg and Brennan together for the project. Much in demand and normally heavily committed, all three women just happened to be between jobs when approached. “It was perfect,” says Becker. "I'd just finished touring, and I was in a writing mode. There wasn't anything on the books for a while. So it worked out well."

It was also the ideal combination for such a recording: a woman from Northern Ireland (Hogg), a woman from Southern Ireland (Brennan), plus Becker, an American woman with Irish roots.

In Christ Alone’s ten brand new modern hymns for the Church, written primarily by Becker, Brennan, Hogg and Getty, are strikingly poetic and prayerful.

"This is a very lush album,” observes Becker. “The flavor is celebratory and mournful all at the same time -only the Irish can do that! In fact, the obvious emotional dichotomy is what, I think, makes this record stand out."

In Christ Alone’s reverent Christ-centered lyrics can probably be best experienced on meditative piano and string tracks like "This Fragile Vessel (Communion)" and "Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer."