MTC Week #100 - One Hundred Weeks!

Today's Music & the Spoken Word program officially kicked off the Christmas season with several Christmas songs that I really enjoyed singing. However, it was a rather rough morning preparing for the program. Perhaps it was coming off of a holiday break. But whatever it was, we had our intonation issues--particularly the poor tenors and sopranos who got hammered over and over and over again for not singing high enough. Fortunately, all of the loving criticism given to us by our directors during rehearsal, paid off, and the program itself went very well. My two favorite pieces were "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" and "Noe! Noe!". The former we sang acapella (which doesn't happen too often in the choir) and it really sounded beautiful--capturing the awe, wonder, and peace that the season brings through our Savior Jesus Christ. The latter was just a fun, lively Christmas piece that captured the energy and excitement that the season brings. I particularly loved the organ accompaniment for that song.   

-----------------------------------

As this marks one hundred weeks in the Choir for me, I wanted to list 100 things I love about this choir experience. But while I could probably do that, it would make for a very long blog entry. So, I'm going to shave a zero off of the 100, and include 10 things I love about my choir experience. And you can just multiple each of those by 10, and have it all equal 100 in the end. Sound OK?

10. I love singing with talented musicians who, for the most part, do an exceptional job singing the correct notes, rhythms, and pitch. (We all make mistakes and have our moments)

9. I love being directed by Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy. They are extremely talented, they love what they do, and they have taught me so many things.

8. I love looking out at the audience each week, and at concerts, to see how individuals are affected by the music they are hearing and experiencing. 

7. I love singing at General Conference. Being there, in the same room as the prophet and the general authorities, while being able to add to the spirit of the conference through song, it a great blessing. 

6. I love that my official Church calling is "musical missionary".

5. I love singing the songs that we sing. Occasionally there may be one or two I don't care for too much. But those are the exception. The notes, the melodies, the harmonies of these great songs fill me with peace and happiness.

4. I love how being a part of the Choir has affected my family. Music was already a big part of our home, but now the sounds of the Choir, the talk of Choir happenings, and the way the Choir helps others feel peace and happiness have become a standard among our way of life.   

3. I love the opportunity of seeing how it all works behind the scenes. There are SO MANY people involved in this organization who are never recognized or shown on TV. But it's because of them that things fall into place and the Choir is able to accomplish its mission.


2. I love the dear friends I've made in the Choir. They are exceptional individuals who I not only get to enjoy singing with, but get to enjoy other friendship aspects both inside and outside the Choir.


1. I love being able to share my testimony, through music, with so many people. As my personal testimony of the Savior has been shaped and molded by music throughout my entire life, it's humbling and exciting to share that testimony through song, with so many people who listen.        

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC Week #99 - A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart

Music & the Spoken Word - Thanksgiving Special, 11-22-15

Many years ago when my kids were much younger, they used to watch a lot of Veggie Tales episodes. In one of these episodes, a character named Madame Blueberry was never content with the things she had. She always wanted more. Associates from the new department store "Stuff Mart" paid her a visit and fueled her desire to get more stuff. They even escorted her to the store where she picked out so many things that they had to deliver all of the items in a truck. Along the way, she ends up having several experiences (including this one) that make her realize that being happy is not related to buying things or having more than the next person, it's about being thankful for what you have already. 

I thought about that theme today as the Choir sang songs of being thankful. Bro. Wilberg mentioned at rehearsal that he struggles a bit each year, to come up with songs that truly reflect the Thanksgiving theme. But I thought he did a great job with the repertoire he put together. While I actually enjoyed singing all of them, I think my favorite was "Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends."  I particularly liked the last verse:

We thank thee, Father; let thy grace
our loving circle still embrace,
thy mercy shed its heavenly store,
thy peace be with us evermore.

Do we not all long for God's grace? His love? His mercy? Do we not all strive to live our lives so we can feel His peace? There's certainly nothing else like it.
 
Sometimes I struggle with Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the time off, the time with family, eating yummy food, and being able to relax from the regular stress of each week. I just hope I spend enough time being thankful. I think, in my head, that I should have this huge "thankful event" occur inside me, to mark the day. That rarely happens though. It probably doesn't happen for most people. I think, though, as long as we take at least a few minutes, perhaps in prayer, to express our gratitude, we'll be able to have that happy heart that Madame Blueberry was hoping to find--and did find, in the end.

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC Week #98 - Christmas Prep Begins

I don't have any first-hand Mormon Tabernacle Choir experiences to share with you this time, since I took both Thursday night and Sunday morning, to be with my family. My wife had a flute performance Thursday evening and I was excited to support her in that. Then, this morning, since my wife is Primary President and the Primary Program was today, I attended our ward to see that program and enjoy listening to lots of great primary songs. It was a great event and kudos to my wife and her counselors for having it work out so well! It was also nice just to attend my ward as that has been a rarity this year.

The Choir's upcoming Christmas Concert is only a month away and last week, we started extra rehearsals to start learning the music. While I can't disclose what we're actually singing for the concert (just to keep it a surprise for those who get to attend or watch it on DVD later), we've certainly enjoyed rehearsing the music. 

Speaking of rehearsing, just to get a feel for what it's like for Choir this time of year, below is a look at our schedule:

Busy, busy, busy. But despite it being busy, it's very rewarding and I'm constantly grateful for the opportunity. The Christmas Concert is the Choir's most popular concert of the year and millions end up seeing it. So it's both an opportunity and a serious responsibility to do all I can to help make this a heart-felt event--one in which people will feel peace, and hope, and the love of their Savior.

I'll end with a story.

So this past week, my wife and I decided to get a phone for my daughter (for her birthday). I went to the AT&T store and was helped by a guy named Matt. Since it was a new store, with new employees, there were lots of other guys observing the process of me getting a new phone. Anyway, Matt was from Nashville, Tennessee, and had just moved out a few weeks before to help open this store. He's a big music fan and when I asked if he had heard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, his eyes lit up and he said that his dad was a big fan and had encouraged him to see the choir live while he was living out here. 

I told him I was in the choir and after Matt and the other guys responded with "No way!", "That's really cool,", etc. the other guys began telling Matt he needed to go to Temple Square and see all of the beautiful things that were there. I chimed in by telling him when the choir practiced, when Music and the Spoken Word was, and about our upcoming Christmas concert.  The other guys said it was impossible to get tickets to the concert, but I told Matt I'd give him two of my allotment so he could attend. 

While I didn't get any additional discounts on my phone, Matt was excited to get the tickets and really looks forward to going. Whether he ends up wanting to know more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or not, I hope he feels love and acceptance from not only his fellow Utah brothers and sisters, but from his Savior, too.

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC Week #97 - Paying Tribute

Keeping with tradition, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Bells on Temple Square, presented a program today to honor all of the veterans (in conjunction with Veterans Day, November 11). As such, all of the songs had a patriotic theme including This Land is Your Land, Flag of the Free, and one of my favorite patriotic songs, My Country 'Tis of Thee. 

My appreciation for those who once served in the military to defend our freedoms can't come from first-hand knowledge or experience of what war is like. But it can come from studying history and learning about the terrible price paid for the freedoms we enjoy today.

I just finished reading a book called "All the Light We Cannot See," which took

me on an emotional World War II roller coaster. To be fair, this book was not a daily accounting of the details of how that war played out. Nor did it focus too much on all the soldiers and how things were on the front lines. Rather, the book focused on the lives of just a few individuals and how they endured all of the tragic consequences that came from the war. Family separations, sad living conditions, hopes and dreams shattered, lives forever altered. And at the inferred center of all of these consequences were the soldiers themselves. Called upon to not only endure these same consequences, but to be thrown into the heart of fear, of death, of duty, and a desperation to make sense of it all. 

In the end, it made me appreciate the life I have today. The freedoms I enjoy, the family I'm connected with, the food on the table, the shelter over my head, the opportunities to pursue goals and dreams, and the reminder to enjoy the little things we often take for granted.

So, I'm grateful for the program Sunday honoring our vets. Thankful for their sacrifices and dedication. Yes, sometimes the lyrics to a few of these patriotic songs can be a little contrived. But overall, they, along with the inspiring arrangements and notes and rhythms themselves, paint a picture of freedom that I'm very grateful for.

I end with the lyrics from the first and last verse of My Country 'Tis of Thee. When's the last time you really thought about these?

My country 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!

Our father's God to, Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!


Until next time, God be with you.

MTC Week #96 - You Just Never Know

Dr. Andrew Crane

The basses and altos had another long Thursday night as we came at 6pm (instead of the normal 7pm) for another round of in-service. Dr. Andrew Crane (who conducts the BYU Singers) was our instructor this time and did a really fine job of reminding us of things we need to be doing to be good singers. Having enough breath, raising the soft palette, shaping the vowels, maintaining good posture, and listening, were all important things to cover. 

From there, we went up to the loft for a shortened rehearsal. As we rehearsed, members of the World Congress of Families (here for their convention in Salt Lake City)

started filing in and around 8:45, we ended rehearsal and went right into a mini-concert for them. 

There's been some divisiveness surrounding this convention, and plenty of criticism has been thrown around for the congress's position on this or that. But you know what? The mission of the Tabernacle Choir is not to judge people or get involved in any of that. We're here to sing to people. All people. And we sing with a prayer in our hearts that the Spirit of Truth will enter people's hearts and they'll feel uplifted and strengthened and pursue a path of goodness and love.

As we concluded the concert with Come, Come Ye Saints, Come Thou Fount, and Climb Every Mountain, I looked out into the audience and saw person after person wiping tears from their eyes. Sometimes, when we sing these big, rousing numbers so filled with power and emotion, I just bring all of the joy and happiness I have to bear, hoping that members of the audience will connect and feel something. Something that will linger. Something that will help them strive to live just a little bit better. Something that will help them recognize God's love for them. And I feel like the majority of the audience did, indeed, feel something uplifting and encouraging. 


-----------------------

To end the post today, I want to share a special message, with permission, that came via text to a friend of mine, Ben, following our broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word today:

"Ben--the message, music, and scenery presented today in Music & the Spoken Word meant a lot to my parents who have suffered so much physically and emotionally this past summer and autumn. I am with them again this weekend and they were both brought to tears watching the program today. It inspired and lifted them at this time because they cannot be in Church (because of their compromised immune systems). So this is their "church" each Sunday and this is just the message and music they needed today. Please pass our gratitude on to your colleagues and the folks associated with the program."

You just never know, sometimes, what impact you'll have on others! God works His personalized miracles, behind-the-scenes, to affect so many. And often He uses others to accomplish those miracles. I hope we can all live to be someone's miracle this week.

Until next time, God be with you.



 

MTC Week #95 - Brushing Up, One Chance, & Guest Artists

Twice a year, regardless of the length of service in the Choir, Choir members are required to attend an "in-service" session to brush up on their singing skills. This might strike some as kind of funny since Choir members are singing all the time. Aren't such singing skills reinforced and emphasized during normal rehearsals?

The answer to that question is "yes". However, there's not enough time during normal rehearsals to focus on any one skill. So, during in-service, a few skills are selected and our instructor assists us in applying those skills to our singing. We also get the opportunity to do some in-depth listening (imagine four sets of risers, each with five rows, facing into each other). As we sing, we hear each other a lot better than we do in the loft. They record us, as well, so we can listen and critique how well we're incorporating the skills being taught.  

This past Thursday, the basses and altos had their in-service turn (meeting separately). Our instructor was a gentleman from BYU who assists individuals in preparing to sing in Men's Chorus there (sorry I can't remember his name). He knew his stuff, and it was a good opportunity to remember, learn, incorporate, and improve.

-------------------------

On the broadcast today, we sang some beautiful arrangements of the following: How Great Thou Art, Psalm 150, When You Wish Upon a Star, Simple Gifts, and O God, Our Help in Ages Past. I'll mention some quick thoughts on the first two. 

I really love the lyrics to How Great Thou Art. My favorite verse is

When Christ shall come,
With shouts of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art!"

I can't wait for that day. I can't wait to go home.

As for Psalm 150, this song may have a somewhat boring title, but the music was absolutely terrific--and just in time for all of you Halloween fans out there. It starts off as something you might hear when watching a suspenseful scary movie. Give it a listen. 

As we were ending today's broadcast with the traditional "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again," I looked out in the audience for someone to directly sing to (like I always do). My focus settled on a guy on the third or fourth row. His fingers kept going up to his eyes to wipe away tears--probably at least three times. I don't know his story, or if he'll be back, or if his circumstances in life will prevent him from ever returning. But it reminded me that every Sunday, the Choir has one chance. One chance to sing our testimonies and allow for the Spirit to impact the lives of those who listen and experience.

--------------------------

To end the blog post for today, I wanted to mention that they announced the guests artists this week, for the Christmas Concert. You can read all of the fun details HERE. We're having not one, not two, but six guests join us on stage for what I'm sure will be a fantastic concert. For those of you who are wanting tickets, you can request to be added to the random ticket selection process HERE. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Until next time, may God be with you.

MTC Week #94 - And So It Goes

For whatever reason, some weeks (infrequently, thankfully) I just have an average Mormon Tabernacle Choir experience. I don't end up feeling a lot, even though I wish I did, and even though the music we're singing is more than enough to produce deep spiritual feelings. Such was the case this week, with both rehearsal and the Sunday performance.

The one thing that was a little different this week, though, was having some individuals from all over the world attend the broadcast. That happens every week, actually, but this time several of these individuals were from The Parliament of the World's Religions. From what I understand, their goal is to promote understanding, common ground, respect, and tolerance among the different religions of the world. How they do this, exactly, I'm not entirely sure. But they do hold conferences, and this year they chose Salt Lake City as the conference meeting spot.

As we sang our songs today, even though I didn't feel much, myself, I was

aware of them in the audience. And I knew that for most, this would be their first time (and perhaps last time) they'd hear us sing. I prayed for them. And I was grateful for them. Anyone who tries to promote peace and harmony in a world that is full of disrespect and hatred deserves  respect and gratitude. Hopefully they came away from the experience having felt God's love for them and knowing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints loves and appreciates them, too.

-----------------------------  
This week, on Thursday, during the Doug Wright Show (radio station KSL), they will be announcing the guest artist for this year's Christmas Concert. The committee has worked hard and prayed hard for this year's artist to be the one the Lord wanted, and we'll soon get to learn who that is.

Oh, and by the way. If you're interested in getting last year's Christmas Concert on CD or DVD, you can find that here. Note that soon, I'm told, Amazon will be offering a digital download (in HD) of the concert. Not sure exactly when, or the price, but if you appreciate high definition like I do, you may want to adhere to the saying, "Good things come to those who wait."

Until next time, God be with you.