March 25, 2014
At approximately 8:50pm Thursday (5/22), having sung the last words of "For Unto Us a Child is Born" (for the upteenth time), there was complete silence in the Tabernacle. The only question on everyone's mind was "are we done? Was that last take good enough? Could this fulfilling, monumental project be over?" As the seconds went by, we awaited the final word from Ryan Murphy in the sound booth who would be the ultimate judge on whether this last attempt passed musical and professional scrutiny. And then we heard Ryan sing, not speak, "Hal-le-lu-jah!" and we knew that the moment had arrived. Cheers and clapping erupted and the ushers in the Tabernacle finally opened the doors to those patiently waiting outside to hear us rehearse.
Bro. Wilberg gave us a five minute break reminding us that we had a special Memorial Day Music & the Spoken Word to rehearse for and perform on Sunday. So we returned after those five minutes to rehearse for that while Temple Square visitors listened from the benches below.
This recording experience was the last experience that several retiring choir members were going to have in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. A fellow bass behind me was part of this group and he had taken several pictures during the rehearsal to capture the moment. On the way out, we happened to be walking down the stairs together and he turned to me (knowing I was a new member of the choir) and said, "enjoy it while it lasts. Time goes so very quickly." I turned to him and mentioned I would try. I wasn't completely without a frame of reference for such feelings as he was having. There are several awesome, soul-stirring experiences I've had in my own life that I often look back on and think, "wow, that sure did go by quickly." Indeed, it would be well to seize the day, capture the moment, and enjoy the journey.
Well, all of that aside, I just want to chime in with how grateful I am for singing in today's Memorial Day special. First, I'm glad I was actually able
to sing it (I had an allergy attack the night before and miraculously, when arriving at the Tabernacle, my eyes and nose cleared up so I could sing OK). Second, even though I don't have any relatives I know of that lost their lives in the military, I do have plenty of relatives that "fought the good fight" so to speak and lived their lives with honor and doing good to many people. They were true examples of our Savior Jesus Christ. And I'm thankful for them.
Our broadcast of today's program won't be up for several weeks to come, but here are few songs we sang today: Here, here, and here.
Until next time, God be with you....
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