Mormon Tabernacle Choir- 75th Anniversary

BYU TV ^ | July 2004

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Mormon Tabernacle Choir- 75th Anniversary

Six members of the staff traveled to Washington, DC in November to represent the Choir in receiving the National Medal of Arts. Standing with President and Mrs. Bush are (l to r) Announcer Lloyd Newell, Tabernacle Organist John Longhurst, Choir President Mac Christensen, Choir Directors Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, and Assistant to the Choir President, Stan Parrish.

Choir President Mac Christensen poses with President and Mrs. Bush following the awarding of the National Medal of Arts.

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CLICK TO HEAR The Magnificent Choir

Mormon Tabernacle Choir- 75th Anniversary

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Mormon Tabernacle Choir- 75 th Anniversary- Part 1

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Mormon Tabernacle Choir- 75 th Anniversary- Part 2

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[paudio]

If, somehow, Mitt wins the presidency, and he invites the Choir to perform in his inauguration, will people accuse him of trying to ‘mormonize’ America?

[mmanager]

Who cares? My father is celebrating his anniversary of going from briefs too boxers.

[Thermalseeker]

I took a tour of the Tabernacle several years ago. The acoustics in that room are unbelievable!

[Tax-chick]

I have their “Patriotic Favorites” on CD. Marvelous performances. I love a big mixed choir!

[freeplancer]

Did you join FR just to say that newby? Have some respect and move on.

[Clique]

“I find the timing of this to be very suspicious,” said a Democratic spokesperson. “Why are they having an anniversary now, just when Mitt Romney is in the spotlight? Why didn’t they do it two years ago? This anniversary is highly suspicious and should be investigated by a congressional committee.”

[sevenbak]

Ronald Reagan invited them to his inauguration, and dubbed them “America’s Choir.” However, you are right, Mitt will be careful not to antagonize the electorate.

[Irish Queen]

Does anyone remember the Smothers Brothers routine where Tommy talks about the Mormon “Nabble Snabble” Choir? I’ve seen them in person several times. I especially enjoyed their “Yo Yo Man” routine. They got there start as students at San Jose state in the early 1960’s.

[JCEccles]

The MoTab has gotten even better in the past few years as the incomparable arranger/conductor Mack Wilberg has been called to work with it. Over the past 10-15 years Wilberg has gained the well-earned reputation as THE finest arranger of traditional and sacred music of this generation.

Even Southern Baptist and evangelical choirs, whose leaderships believe Mormons are the spawn of Satan, use Wilberg's arrangements.

[Grig]

I think they’ve performed at every inauguration since Reagan.

I hope he takes the oath of office putting his hand on a ‘quad’ (KJV Bible, Book of Mormon, D&C and Pearl of Great Price all under one cover). I just want to see all the foaming at the mouth that would cause among some posters here.

[sevenbak]

As funny as that would be, I just don’t see it happening. Mitt will go out of his way to distance his religion from his governing, while still maintaining his conviction both personally and in his stewardship.

Governor Huntsman is supporting McCain because he’s knows Mormons will be hard pressed to find cabinet positions in Mitt’s administration.

Sadly, but understandably, Mitt will practice political correctness in this area.

Has the choir really attended all inaugurations since Regan? I was at Bush's 2nd inauguration, but don't remember them there.

[Grig]

Checked via Google, looks like Clinton wasn’t a fan (what a surprise) but Reagan, Nixon, and both Bush’s had them perform at their inaugurations so if the MSM makes a big deal of them being there for Mitt’s it should be easy to make them look foolish for it.

Mitt isn’t one to distance himself from his religion. He might assert that using a quad really shouldn’t make a difference to anyone, but then he might think using one to be needlessly confrontational or divisive. I guess there would be plenty of foaming at the mouth from the same sources if Mitt becomes POTUS no matter what he puts his hand on.

[sevenbak]

Hmm, good to know. It would certainly be cool if he did in invite them, but I have my doubts. I think he would go a loong way to dissuading concerns if he used his own family bible, with no quad. ;-)

[FlyVet]

I sat in on one of their rehearsals in the late 90's. The acoustics in that place are amazing. The commentator dropped a tiny little straight pin on a wooden table, and even though I was at least 100 feet away, I could hear it hit, and rattle once again after the bounce, loud and clear. (And my ears aren't that good.)

For the rehearsal, I sat in the back of the balcony, and when the soprano women on the right side of the stage broke into song, their voices sounded like they were coming from behind me, over my left shoulder. That is one of the strangest things I've ever experienced. You see them 'way down there, it looks like 100 yards away, but when they open their mouths, it sounds like they are 20 feet behind you, even though your back is nearly against the back wall.

Also, the commentator told us there are no metal nails in the structure, it is held together by the original leather straps. An engineering marvel.

[sevenbak]

It’s true. I’ve been in the rafters of the Tabernacle. The original leather straps and wooden pegs are still there, holding it all together. There has been some metal strap and nail reinforcing over the years, but it was built with what they had.

Since then however, a major renovation has occurred, making it earthquake proof and more structurally sound.

[FlyVet]

but it was built with what they had.

I thought they had a religious reason for not putting any metal into the structure, although I can't remember the details. I'm not a Mormon, just an occasional tourist.

[sevenbak]

I’ve never heard that one. It sounds like a urban legend based on Mennonite or Amish customs, not Mormon. Even way back then, they weren’t anti technology. It was just engineered that way. When I was up there, (shooting video for a documentary on the history of the building) I saw aged nails that had been used to reinforce deteriorating leather straps. (put in during later building renovations)

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That Stirring opening Hymn was-

High on the Mountain Top
Joel H. Johnson

High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled;
Ye nations, now look up;
It waves to all the world;
In Deseret’s sweet, peaceful land—
On Zion’s mount behold it stand!

For God remembers still
His promise made of old
That he on Zion’s hill
Truth’s standard would unfold!
Her light should there attract the gaze
Of all the world in latter days.

His house shall there be reared
His glory to display;
And people shall be heard
In distant lands to say,
We’ll now go up and serve the Lord,
Obey his truth and learn his word.

For there we shall be taught
The law that will go forth,
With truth and wisdom fraught,
To govern all the earth;
Forever there his ways we’ll tread,
And save ourselves with all our dead.

Then hail to Deseret!
A refuge for the good,
And safety for the great,
If they but understood
That God with plagues will shake the world
Till all its thrones shall down be hurled.

In Deseret doth truth
Rear up its royal head;
Though nations may oppose,
Still wider it shall spread;
Yes, truth and justice, love and grace,
In Deseret find ample place