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It
has been nearly five months since I wrote about the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir Christmas concerts and our moving experience with Walter Cronkite
(click
here to read the article). These months have seen many sad events,
including the loss of space shuttle Columbia, war in Iraq, more
instances of senseless terrorism, and death and destruction from
natural disasters.
How dark the
world could be if there weren’t something to counterbalance
the daily dose of bad news. The Gospel brings us hope in so many
ways, and as I have recounted in the past, the Spirit of the Lord
in combination with beautiful music is one of the best antidotes
to discouragement. Consider these words by Martin Luther in the
forward to the Wittenburg Gesangbuch, (a hymnal) in 1524:
"Music
is a fair and glorious gift of God. I would not for the world
forego my humble share of music. Singers are never sorrowful,
but are merry, and smile through their troubles in song. Music
makes people kinder, more staid and reasonable. I am strongly
persuaded that after theology there is no art that can be placed
on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only art
capable of affording peace and joy of the heart...the devil flees
before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God.
That is why the prophets preferred music before all the other arts,
proclaiming the Work in psalms and hymns"
This rings true
for me because Thursday nights and Sunday mornings leave me feeling
pretty much immune to the world’s ills; it is indeed much
easier to smile after singing for a couple of hours. And those who
listen seem to feel the same; after all, where else do you find
people lining up early just to listen to a rehearsal? Luther’s
phrase, “peace and joy of the heart” is an apt description
of the work of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; and we have been very
busy providing more opportunities for people to share in this spirit.
Consider what we’ve been doing just since January:
- We recorded
and released our first album on the new Mormon Tabernacle Choir
label (more on this later).
- We sang
at the celebration of the anniversary of the Winter Olympics.
- The women
of the choir joined with the Orchestra at Temple Square for a
performance of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony.
- We sang
for General Conference.
- We performed
an Easter concert featuring Brahms’ German Requiem (and
we did indeed sing it in German).
- Many in
the choir sang at the funeral of SSgt. James Cawley, a Salt Lake
City police officer who lost his life in the Iraq war (James’
sister Julie is a member of the choir).
- We introduced
a new web site to provide a central location for information on
the choir (see www.mormontabernaclechoir.org).
- We recorded
a second album for our new label.
- We have
begun preparations for a tour of the eastern United States and
Canada in late June and early July.
- All this
while continuing to perform the weekly broadcast of Music
and the Spoken Word
Listening
to the Choir
The choir has
always been an emissary for the Gospel; it breaks down barriers
of mistrust and helps dispel misconceptions about the Church. President
Hinckley said recently that it is because the choir is a volunteer
organization that it is so good. But I think he would agree that
it goes beyond volunteerism. What makes this group exceptional is
its love for the Lord Jesus Christ and commitment to furthering
his work. While church members the world over share this devotion,
channeling these loving feelings into music lets them be more easily
perceived by all, no matter what their religious or cultural background.
I hope you who read my articles will gain a greater appreciation
for how the music of the choir can enrich your lives and those of
your families and friends – both in and out of the Church.
Part of my motivation for writing about the choir is to help get
the word out. I know you hear us in General Conference, but are
you aware of the many other opportunities there are to listen?
 |
| Bundled
once again in Olympic garb, choir women pose with the Olympic
mascots prior to the one-year anniversary party. |
The
Broadcast
Have you tuned
in to Music and the Spoken Word lately? This weekly broadcast
has been a staple for people throughout the world since 1929. At
our Christmas concert Walter Cronkite recounted how his family listened
regularly in his youth. Besides being carried over the Church satellite
immediately preceding the Sunday morning session of General Conference,
it is aired live on KSL radio and television every week and distributed
all over the world for later broadcast. It is available on cable
and satellite television throughout the United States on the Hallmark
Channel (8:30 am Sundays, Eastern and Pacific Times) and BYU TV
(click here for listings –
it currently airs three times on Sundays and once on Wednesdays.
BYU TV also repeats many of our concerts).
Bonneville Communications,
which produces the broadcast, has a web page to help locate it on
one of the many local radio or television stations that carry it
(click
here to go to the page). And if you have a good Internet connection
you can listen live (Sundays, 9:30 am Mountain Time) via Internet
streaming on KSL radio (click
here) or BYU radio (click
here) from anywhere in the world (KSL also repeats the broadcast
Sunday evenings at 10:30 pm Mountain Time). The program is aired
Sundays at 12:00 pm and 7:30 pm Mountain Time on KBYU FM radio as
well (click here).
Whew! That was
a lot of information in a little space but now you can see that
the broadcast is more readily available than you might have thought.
 |
| During
a break from recording, Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg listen
intently for any flaws in the latest take. |
Recordings
Probably the
most common means of experiencing the choir is through our albums.
We are excited about the creation of our own record label. It is
named, simply, “Mormon Tabernacle Choir.” When Phil
Lowry wrote about the Orchestra at Temple Square (click
here to read), he talked about recording the first CD for the
label. Entitled, “Consider the Lilies,” it is filled
with peaceful and joyous music about the Savior, including many
beloved John Rutter pieces, Mack Wilberg’s soaring arrangement
of “I Believe in Christ,” and one of his own compositions,
the gentle and moving, “Jesu, the Very Thought is Sweet.”
We have had many requests for a recording of “This is the
Christ,” which is heard at the end of the “Testaments”
film at Temple Square; it, too, is included.
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The album already
has touched many lives. Deseret Book tells us it sold more copies
in the first week than any in their history. We’ve heard from
as far away as Australia, where church members are using it as a
missionary tool. Giving a Mormon Tabernacle Choir album is a wonderful
way to bring a friend straight to the spirit of the gospel, bypassing
the barriers that are often encountered. [Click
here for information about the album, including sample sound
clips.]
The
Second Album
Last week we
recorded a second album, which will be released just before Independence
Day; and that means, of course, patriotic music. Next to religious
selections the choir is probably most admired for its expressive
performances of patriotic songs. It’s hard to believe it’s
been nearly 20 years since we last devoted a recording to American
favorites such as, ”Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,”
“God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,”
and “The House I Live In.” Other highlights include
new Mack Wilberg arrangements of “Shenandoah,” and the
buoyant “Bound for the Promised Land,” an American folk
hymn. There is a lively arrangement of George M. Cohan tunes; and
John Williams’, “Call of the Champions,” recalls
our participation in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
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| Flags were
seen everywhere while recording our patriotic album... |
As with the
first album, lots of recording time was allotted so we could pay
attention to detail and strive for our very best performance; we
were at the Tabernacle Tuesday through Friday evenings and all day
Saturday. Director Craig Jessop was even more intense and energetic
than usual (and that’s saying a lot); he emphasized that everything
we could do correctly the first time would save him hours in the
editing booth and reduce the cost of post-production. We laughed
when he said that when we’re ninety we’ll be able to
listen to the CD in our rocking chair at the rest home and be proud
of what we had accomplished; but it reminded us that in the digital
age, recordings have the potential of being enjoyed for countless
years to come. One feels a great responsibility when producing something,
“for the ages.” He talked of how much listening to the
choir had meant to him when a young man away from home in military
training, and what this album might mean someday to soldiers overseas.
Craig is a master at motivating the choir; he will never settle
for less than the most we can give.
| ...even
on the instruments! |
 |
Mack Wilberg
was again in the recording booth, listening intently and providing
feedback about what needed improvement (usually problems with intonation
or ensemble). We would voice a good-natured groan whenever Craig’s
phone rang after a take, knowing Mack was calling to say we needed
to do something again. But though a tedious process, singing for
this recording was spiritually rewarding. There are so many voices
of cynicism about America – both in our country and throughout
the world. The words to these patriotic favorites reminded us that
while our country has its flaws, at its core it still has a generous
heart. We hope that those who listen will also feel renewed with
hope and optimism for the future, because America and the entire
world are very much in need of encouragement and optimism. [Watch
our website in late June for details on when and where the CD will
be available.]
Touring
Church members
who live in the northeastern United States will have a rare opportunity
to experience the choir close to home this summer. On June 24th
we will embark on a tour that will include many of the nation’s
most prestigious music festivals, starting with the Interlochen
Festival in Traverse City, Michigan and ending July 11 at Tanglewood
in western Massachusetts. [Other venues include Grand Rapids, Michigan;
Toronto, Canada; Chautauqua, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Saratoga
Springs, New York; Boston, Massachusetts (on July 4th with the Boston
Pops!); Washington, DC (Wolf Trap), and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
We’ll also perform in New York City’s Lincoln Center
for an invitation-only audience]. What a great opportunity for thousands
to get a feel for what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints has to offer. Tickets to all the concerts are available on
the Internet (click
here for a list of links).
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| A violinist
from the Orchestra at Temple Square uses her recording break
to work out a difficult passage of music. |
As always before
a major tour, excitement is rising. Tuesday night and Sunday after-broadcast
rehearsals are returning. It’s time for the men to buy a supply
of fresh, new white shirts. Counsel is given about health issues
and what medications to bring. Passports must be in order for the
crossing into Canada. Volunteers are being recruited to transfer
luggage and priesthood holders to administer the sacrament on Sundays.
And we’ve been given a list of music to memorize – pretty
much everything we’ll sing except for the Brahms Requiem and
Bernstein Chichester Psalms (since they will only be performed at
Tanglewood we get a break on those, only having to memorize the
first movement of each).
We are glad
for this opportunity to carry the spirit felt weekly in the Tabernacle
to other places. As I did with the Southern States tour, I’ll
try to keep Meridian readers abreast of our inspiring and exciting
experiences while on the road. We hope the concerts will be sold
out so that as many people as possible can partake. If you’re
able to attend, please don’t hesitate to come up afterwards
and greet the choir members – we’d love to meet and
talk with you. And make sure to bring your friends!
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| Have you
seen that vertical "shell" behind the men somewhere
before? Perhaps at your last ward dinner? Those multi-purpose
tables really live up to their name, saving the purchase of
a more sophisticated sound barrier for the recording session. |
And so I come
to the close of another article. I want to especially think Debra
Gehris, a fellow member of the Tabernacle Choir, for her collaboration
in contributing the pictures. Deb has been taking pictures of the
choir for years and has a knack for being in the right place at
the right time.
Reflecting on
our experiences in the choir always reminds me what tremendous effort
so many people are expending in this great work. The choir is busier
than it has ever been, and yet I am sure we will continue to find
new opportunities to help spread the peace and joy of the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
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© 2002 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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