Expert: Michael Woodruff - 3/22/2011

Question
Hi, I'm looking for the music to a song called "He Is Alive" by Buryl Red and Regan Courtney.  I first heard it at a catholic church in the 70's.

Answer
Anne, after a quick net search I found the song you are looking for and the sheet music can be purchased via amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Celebrate-Life-Pulpit-Musical-Drama-/dp/B001HFPCO6/ref=sr_... (original copy) or http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=0767308840 (updated copy)

Back in the 60's and 70's there was a counterculture movement of young Christians to counteract the drug, sex, and rock n' roll induced hippie movement, you can call it the Jesus freak movement or another revival. Two by-products of this movement was Jesus music (later called Contemporary Christian Music) and Rock Operas like Andrew Loyd Webbers' "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and Stephen Lawrence Schwartz's "Godspell". These musicals however were not positively received by many in the church because these guys also produced secular musicals for Broadway like "Cats","Phantom of the Opera" ETC.

Anyway, actual Christian composers also produced Rock Operas. One such production is the musical "Celebrate Life!" written by Buryl Red and Regan Courtney (both men are Baptists)in 1972. This musical follows the life of Christ from prophecy to accension and has been performed in countless Protestant and Catholic churches worldwide.

Here's another link you may find helpful, audio of The entire performance!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CB3C7DKeYA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

here is the link for "He's Alive"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9U86fruHOk



References:
http://one-way.org/jesusmovement/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godspell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lloyd_Webber
http://www.menlomaranatha.org/CelebrateLife.html#availability
http://www.cynthiaclawson.com/pages/bio.html
http://www.thecenturymen.com/staff.htm