LAmb of God
“Lamb of God” is a dramatic musical portrayal of the final days of the life of Jesus, from the foreshadowing raising of Lazarus, to the devastating arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, and finally to his glorious resurrection. Composed and written by Rob Gardner, the story of Jesus is told through the perspective of those who loved and walked with him: Peter, John, Thomas, Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene and his Mother Mary.
The recording and premiere
In the summer of 2010, just weeks after completing the score, Rob Gardner headed to London to record the work with the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra. He then returned to Arizona to record the soloists and glorious Spire Chorus in the weeks leading up to the performance premiere at Gammage Auditorium in Tempe AZ in September 2010.
A unique take
“Lamb of God” offers a new and unique take on the Passion story in that it's told entirely through music. The music serves to heighten the innate emotion of the narrative and carry a very personal meaning to everyone who experiences it.
The Gospels of the New Testament were the sole source material in the composition of “Lamb of God”. Because of this, the work is performed every year, all around the world, by thousands of musicians and singers across dozens of faiths. It is performed in concert halls, Catholic Cathedrals, Protestant Sanctuaries, Evangelical Churches, Latter-day Saint Chapels and on University campuses. Most of these performances are multi-denominational, involving members of as many as 60 different faiths in one performing group alone. In fact, the artistry of the music and storytelling is such that even many non-believers are moved to participate in or attend a performance.
The Concert Film
In 2021, a concert film of “Lamb of God” was produced and directed by Rob Gardner for release in movie theaters. The COVID-19 pandemic had made live performances of the work impossible, and so the film was made to allow people around the world to hear and experience the work in a new and unique way. Rob adapted the work—which is usually performed with a full symphony orchestra—for just 20 instruments and a 30-voice choir, so that the “socially-distanced” performers could fit on a soundstage, and the whole work was recorded live without an audience and filmed with close-up camera angles, inviting the audience into the performance, rather than as an outside audience. The film premiered in the top 10 films a few weeks before Easter 2021 and included some new music Rob wrote for the occasion.
performed around the world
Each year, an estimated 4,000+ performers across the world participate in locally-produced performances of “Lamb of God” in places as far-reaching as the Netherlands, Romania and Buenos Aires. These performances play for a total audience of well over 50,000 people from dozens of faiths. Almost all of these performers, both professional and amateur, volunteer an enormous amount of time and talent to share this message because they believe it will transform and bring a measure of hope and light into many lives, including their own. Such is the power of the music and message of “Lamb of God”.
