Reflection had its origins back in the mid-sixties, among Christian students at Cambridge University, in a group attached to the University Church of Great St Mary's called the "Cambridge Twentieth Century Church Light Music Group" - quite a mouthful!
Initially this was simply a group of singers supporting special services which used the published hymns and songs of the "Twentieth Century Church Light Music Group" written in a twenties style by Geoffrey Beaumont, Patrick Appleford and others) with the accompaniment of a university traditional jazz band. Gradually, however, it attracted other musicians and writers, who began to create their own material and explore more deeply the nature of Christian worship.
Two of the members, Michael Lehr and Richard Spence, were determined to continue these activities after leaving Cambridge and gathered a group of like-minded individuals together. Their first venture was an EP recording of Michael's "A Mass of Saints and Sinners" (a beat setting of the BCP communion service that had been published by Josef Weinberger Ltd).
A half-yearly newsletter "On Reflection" was started (which later graduated to an international quarterly magazine "Living Worship"), worship conferences were organised, and the rapidly-expanding Reflection team soon found its services in considerable demand throughout the UK.
Although the organisation (as it was becoming, although always voluntary) branched out into the fields of drama, dance and film, music always remained a central activity, and over the years Reflection's musicians and singers created or produced and distributed a varied range of albums and cassettes under the banner:
Reflection's activities expanded widely, and there were two major presentations with a worship theme in the 70s, "Hosanna - A Portrait Of Jesus" and "Sonburst - A Search For Christmas", both of them in central London at the Central Hall, Westminster.
Live excerpts of the former were issued on Reflection LP RL307 with the same name.
We were also asked to assist with other recordings, starting with the Christian musical, "Lonesome Stone", RL306, and progressing to recordings for the Church Pastoral Aid Society for their "Youth Praise" and "Psalm Praise" songbooks. There was also a "Sounds Of Salvation" package for the Methodist Missionary Society.
Eventually members of Reflection spread out across the UK and other parts of the world, and it became difficult to keep in contact, let alone engage together in practical activity with churches. Distance and family commitments inevitably took their toll.
Nevertheless, a group of members around London formed the Splinter Theatre Company, and their work together culminated in a successful and imaginative production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - "Three Of Hearts".
Although aware of the growing practical pressures, we felt called to a final project, linked to the Church of England's "Faith In The City" report. For whatever reason it was not to be, and we had to recognise that we had done what was right in our time, and had to leave developments to the new generation.
For quite a few years, "Reflection" was dormant, although former members remained in contact and continued their work in their own churches whilst exchanging ideas. The expansion of the Internet opened up new possibilities, and Michael Lehr took up the challenge on the musical side.
Initially, the objective was just to highlight and make available again some of the music that had proved valuable in the 60s and 70s, but had been overshadowed by more recent developments. However, the development of the world-wide Christian Songwriters Group mailing list in the late 90s also led to a fresh flowering of creativity, and many of the songs that resulted from collaborations in that arena are now also available on this site.
Of course, many others are now doing much the same thing, and it's a cause for great praise. However now that Reflection Christian Music has established a presence, it will do all that it can to continue the work that the original Reflection was called to!
Reflection's recording activities followed its overall philosophy of finding out what was going on, "reflecting on" the material it came across and then "reflecting out" what was felt to be the best.
Whilst Reflection's musicians and singers developed their own styles and preferences, the aim was to make anything good available - which accounts for the great variety of music that was recorded over the years!
There are now only a few copies of the original albums left, but they have now been transferred to computer and fairly well cleaned up. So it is possible to make them available on CD, though unfortunately without the normal cosmetics.
Select track listings and information from the list below
RL301 "The Present Tense - Songs of Sydney Carter"
Reflection's first album was an immediate success. Gathering together fifteen of Sydney Carter's best songs in electric folk arrangements, it remains a classic album.
Some of the songs are stark ("Friday Morning", some meditative "I Wore the Mask"), some probing ("When They Shouted Hosanna"), and others exhilarating ("Travel On!") - but without exception they provide compelling listening.
Don't look for pre-packaged faith here, but anyone prepared to think will find a wealth to think about!
RL302 "Reflection Meets Beaumont"
This second album couldn't have been more different. Geoffrey Beaumont (Fr. Gerard Beaumont after he joined the Community of the Resurrection) was one of the great pioneers of new Christian worship music, and a great friend of Reflection.
Originally his music was rooted in the popular idiom of the 40's, with highly singable new melodies for traditional hymns. However, towards the end of his life he wrote some excellent tunes to new words, still not published but deserving to be much more widely known.
Here Beaumont and Reflection worked together to create an album that would showcase his music as he intended it be, mixing piano-based and guitar-based arrangements in a unique way.
RL303 "Reflection on Hymns of our Time"
One of Reflection's prime goals was to make widely accessible the tremendous range of new worship material that was emerging throughout the Christian world. It was a time of explosive change, particularly in the realm of music.
Sadly, such recordings as were then available were generally indifferent in quality, and the published music rarely gave a true indication of the vibrancy of the music.
Reflection's musicians and singers put that right by identifying sixteen of the very best new hymns and show-casing them in the dynamic yet practical arrangements they were using themselves in worship situations.
Christmas music can be pure saccharin, even when totally up to date in terms of music. Reflection determined to create a Christmas album that was different, and "Nativity" was the result.
This isn't a rejection of mystery and wonder, but is earthed in the reality of life rather than indulging in sentimental escapism.
"Folk" is perhaps something of a misnomer - you don't normally expect to hear the thunder of a church organ mingling with electric guitars and drums!
However, John Lockley's inspired fusion of the traditional and the new received wide acclaim in performances by "Twentieth Century" throughout the UK, and Reflection felt it warranted much wider availability.
"Lonesome Stone" marked yet another new development for Reflection Records. A Christian Rock Musical brought over from California and with a storyline set in San Francisco, it aimed to speak to those for whom the message of "freedom and instant love" was turning sour.
Featuring the influential Christian group, "The Sheep", it was premiered at London's Astoria Theatre and later toured the UK. Reflection was delighted to be asked to produce and distribute the original soundtrack recording, as well as producing a promotional film.
RL307 "Hosanna - A Portrait of Jesus"
In expanding the frontiers of Christian worship, Reflection wanted to explore more deeply the possible fusion of worship and theatre. "Hosanna - A Portrait Of Jesus" was the result.
Conceived as a large theatrical experience, "Hosanna" was designed to involve the audience/congregation fully in the unfolding exploration of the person of Jesus, with an important role in both music and drama, alongside the actors, musicians and a specially-formed new large choir, "Charisma".
The experiment worked so well that an edited version of the live recording became Reflection's next album.
RL308 "Here Is Youth Praise"
Charisma and Friends
It's hard to believe now, but evangelical Christians were initially deeply suspicious of the use of guitar-based music in worship. "Youth Praise" was the amazingly successful songbook that catalysed the change in the UK, and the Church Pastoral Aid Society (its publishers) decided to celebrate its follow-up "Youth Praise II" with a recording. Finding that the initial tracks (recorded with session musicians and singers) lacked devotional feel, they approached Reflection for ideas.
The solution was to take a mobile recording studio to All Souls', Langham Place in London, bring in Reflection's "Charisma" choir, invite along Christian friends via the Church of England Newspaper to add body to the chorus, choose the best of the instrumental backing tracks, add church organ - and record! No easy task, but the result was electric - and unbelievably seamless.
"Sounds Of Salvation" saw Reflection returning to the experimental in a different way. The Methodist Missionary Society had committed itself to exploring the theme of the 19 World Council of Churches General Assembly, "Salvation Today", and commissioned Reflection to produce a resource package including a recording. "Sound Of Salvation" was the result.
RL311 "Here Is Psalm Praise"
All Souls' Choir, Orchestra and Friends
After the phenomenal success of "Here Is Youth Praise", CPAS resolved to adopt a similar approach with its new book "Psalm Praise", but this time missing out the studio phase! The other big difference was that this time the arrangements would be fully orchestral, featuring the All Souls' orchestra and choir under their Musical Director, Nöël Tredinnick. However, there was again a full church of Christian friends to swell the singing.
Many of these psalm-hymns have since become firm favourites - particularly "Tell Out, My Soul" (Tim Dudley-Smith's versification of the Magnificat) and the inspired setting of "God Is Our Strength And Refuge" to Eric Coates' "Dambusters' March.
TCRW1 "Travelling Salvation Road Show"
The "Travelling Salvation Road Show" was the product of an increasing interest by Reflection members in the street theatre concept, and was toured successfully for three years by Reflection. The theme was, in a sense, a modern version of "Pilgrim's Progress" - what hinders us on our journey to God - but there are no overt references.
The lyrics, by Peter Casey, were as compelling as ever and inspired some excellent settings from other members, particularly Rob Cox.
In retrospect it seems that "A Question Of Caring", Reflection's last commercial recording, returned to the roots. Conceived as a song-cycle, to be listened to or interpreted in dance/movement, it combined disparate elements into a whole - drawing on much of Reflection's past experience.
"I Dreamed" and "Half The World" were discovered in Reflection's early days; "Grave New World" was a Strawbs classic; "Break Not The Circle" a new setting of a Fred Kaan hymn.
The remaining songs all derived from Peter Casey lyrics, though from different periods. Some were specially written, but others went back several years. "Spin The Wheel", for example, is an amalgam of two musical approaches to Peter's lyrics developed over a weekend workshop for young Christian musicians. What tied everything together was the continuing Reflection philosophy of committed but honest searching.