MTC Week #137 - Of Decoding the Number Board and a Perfect Program

Keeping music organized is always a challenge for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Our librarians can certainly attest to that fact more than anyone else. (A big shout out to them--thanks for all you do!) I'm not exactly sure how many pieces of music are in the library, but certainly hundreds and hundreds. Each piece of music has a sticker in the upper right corner. And on that sticker is the catalog number, along with the singer's number (for example, I'm B-108, the B representing my part designation--bass). 

Each Sunday morning when we arrive at 7:25 for rehearsal, there's a music stand holding up a number board which tells us what order to put our music in, which pieces are memorized, and where the breaks occur. Here's a look:

The white diamond before the number means that piece will be put back into our blue (archive) folder after the broadcast is over. The red square means that is where the organ solo will take place. The yellow square is when Lloyd Newell will give the Spoken Word. And the yellow square under the beginning sequence of a set of numbers means that particular piece is to be sung memorized. Seeing this board helps us get right ready to go and allows Mack and Ryan more time to rehearse the music.

As a side note, there's been some speculation that one day we MIGHT use an electronic device (like an iPad) to read our music from (and mark it up, I assume). Our guest artists, the King's Singers, who were with us recently, each have an iPad they use when they rehearse and perform. Whether the Choir follows suit one day, I'm not sure. But a possibility. 


To end, I just wanted to express how great today's line-up was. To be honest, I typically like about every piece we sing in the choir, to one degree or another. But this set of five I really enjoyed. Give Said the Little Stream (Ryan Murphy's masterful arrangement); Bro. James' Air (a personal favorite); Somewhere (from West Side Story); Look at the World (a favorite by John Rutter); and Sing! (which has a fantastic organ solo). How grateful I am for music that uplifts and inspires. (And if you have a few minutes, you're invited to click on one of those links above)

And I almost forgot. I got to sing next to Greg today--a friend who came into the MTC with me and who I haven't sat next to for probably over a year. I guess the planets aligned!

Until next time, God be with you!