Expressing Christian faith in music is an idea that goes back millennia, but contemporary Christian music is one of those art forms that is, if not uniquely American, certainly recognizably so. For nearly a century, singers have been performing and recording celebratory expressions of their faith in a modern fashion, usually in English, frequently in popular musical styles. Contemporary Christian music brings religious music to the general public in a totally new way, and makes it just plain fun. If you don't believe us, take a listen to some of these terrific groups!

Expressing Christian faith in music is an idea that goes back millennia, but contemporary Christian music is one of those art forms that is, if not uniquely American, certainly recognizably so. For nearly a century, singers have been performing and recording celebratory expressions of their faith in a modern fashion, usually in English, frequently in popular musical styles. Contemporary Christian music brings religious music to the general public in a totally new way, and makes it just plain fun. If you don’t believe us, take a listen to some of these terrific groups! 

Gospel music, as it is known today, is one of those art forms that is almost uniquely American, with its origins stemming from the African-American musical traditions commonly seen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a lively, celebratory music that you just don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy – if you enjoy showing joy in music, showing joy through music, feeling the joy that happy, passionate music full of love conveys, you’ll enjoy the Gospel groups here.

An art form that has its origins in African-American music, including the call-and-response singing between preacher and congregation in churches, today gospel music is much loved by music fans of all backgrounds and religions around America. One of the most celebratory music forms, nothing expresses joy in a subject the way gospel music does. Some of the incredibly talented groups whose work we carry have been delivering their jubilant music for more than half a century. If you want to hear music that delivers love and happiness, this is the place for you!

Spirituals are the Southern sacred "folk" songs created and first sung by African Americans during slavery. Their original composers are unknown, and they have assumed a position of collective ownership by the whole community. They lend themselves easily to communal singing. Many are in a call-and-response structure, with back-and-forth exchanges between the leader and the group. A formal concert tradition has evolved from the original spirituals, with solo and choral arrangements based on original slave melodies, employed for performance by amateur and professional artists.

Sacred Harp singing is the largest surviving branch of traditional American Shape Note Singing. "Sacred Harp" refers to The Sacred Harp, a book first published in 1844 and continuously updated since. Along with other hymn books from the era, its repertoire of 550 4-part a cappella hymns, odes, and anthems is part of the foundation of a vibrant oral tradition handed down since Colonial times and still practiced at hundreds of annual singing meetings, conventions, and local singing groups throughout the country.

Christmas music is some of the most evocative out there - who can hear "Away in a Manger" or "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" without flashing back to that happy holiday season? The albums we carry contain the traditional carols of centuries past, more modern carols we all grew up with, and in many cases, original works sure to be added to many a family's annual caroling sing-a-long. Some of the groups interpret the works and make them uniquely their own, others perform more traditional versions, but one thing you can rely on is the spirit and talent with which the music is sung!

We carry a wide selection of arrangements for inspirational, spirituals, hymns and popular a cappella Christian music. Many of the songbooks also have a CD recording of the artists singing the exact same arrangements as in the songbook.

We know how much you enjoy listening to your favorite a cappella groups so we think you may well be as excited as we are now that you can also watch many of the top a cappella artists on your computer. We have recently launched a new feature called the "The A Cappella Video Channel" where we have assembled a large collection of streaming vocal harmony videos. We have music videos, performances clips, interviews, promotional material and
some classics from years gone by. Watch here our Christian video selections