MTC #248 - Conference Report (Unique x 3)

Conference is always an exciting and much anticipated event for the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This time, in particular, given how much overtime the rumor mill was putting in, individuals and families tuned in to hear instruction and counsel by church leaders and to hear if any of the rumors were going to come true.

This blog, however, is not about conference itself, but rather about the music rendered during conference.  And this time, there were three important and unique aspects of conference music that I want to mention.

But before I do that, here are some numbers (for all you statistics people!):

Total songs sung: 21*
  Hymns from LDS hymn book: 13
  Children/Primary songs: 3
  Other hymns: 3
  American Folk Songs: 2^

Songs Memorized: 14
Hours rehearsed: approx. 10-12^^

*=this includes Music & the Spoken Word (MSW) on Sunday morning before the Sun AM session of conference
^=one of these was sung during MSW, one during conference
^^=does not include outside, individual memorizing time--which is fairly significant for newer members of the choir

OK. So on to the three unique things I wanted to mention...

First, it was the very first time that the choir performed as The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (yes, "MoTab" is no longer). The name change was announced this past Friday morning, and there are plenty of news articles that covered the announcement (here's one). While the reaction to the name change has been mixed, I, personally, am excited for the change. Yes, it's going to take a very long time for the new name to take a firm hold around the world. And I suspect that even though there will be a lot of effort to educate people on the new name, some will continue to use the old one. But the change just feels right, and it falls perfectly in line with not only what the prophet has asked us to do, but it matches up with the other musical organizations of the Church: The Orchestra at Temple Square, and, The Bells on Temple Square. Already, church members and fans who have heard about the change are giving us a new acronym to go by: TCATS or TabCats. Not sure I'm on-board with that, but we'll see over time what acronym sticks.

Our last rehearsal as The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

For all of those who are not happy with the change--well--there's little to say. I just hope you can hop on board and continue to enjoy what's at the core of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square: high quality inspirational music!

The second unique thing about music at this conference was one of the songs we sang was requested by President Nelson. That, in and of itself, is not unique (he and other prophets/general authorities have requested songs before), but, what is unique is that it was not a traditional LDS hymn! It was actually a beautiful, somewhat haunting folk-song titled "His Voice is the Sound." When Mack first told us all about this, he said he had been somewhat shocked at the request, simply because the song was not a hymn or in the "traditional" Conference repertoire. Given that President Nelson is already being called the "prophet of change" though, I guess it's not too much of a surprise he requested a non-traditional song. But still...a pretty big deal, at least in the eyes of the choir. President Nelson didn't mention the song in his conference address that immediately followed the song, but as I talked with people, and thought about it, I realized how perfect it was as a backdrop to his talk (which was about the importance of correcting the name that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been known by--namely, "The Mormons"). One only need ponder on the title of the folk-song to see how well it supports the theme of the talk: The Lord's voice is the sound we should hear. It's the sound we should follow. It's the sound that should resonate within our heart and within our soul. For me, too, the song seems to connect the Christ of long ago, with the Christ of today--and why it is that we should worship Him and strive to be like Him. AND, why we should strive to help the world understand that the Church we belong to is none other than the Church of JESUS CHRIST.

The last unique thing about the music at this conference is that it included a hymn with words written by our prophet, President Nelson (titled "Our Prayer to Thee"). It was fittingly sung as the last song of conference. If you would like to listen to it (and for some, listen to it again) with the lyricist in mind, you can, HERE.

All in all, I just want to say how grateful I am that I get to sing with this marvelous choir. I'm humbled, all the time, at the unique opportunity. Several of the newer members of the choir were making similar comments during the past couple of days and those comments reminded me of the importance of always approaching this opportunity with humility and a focus on the choir's core mission: to musically uplift, inspire, and testify of Jesus Christ to all the world. 
Lastly, a huge thanks to the organists (they have a heavy load playing so many pieces without any other accompaniment), the tech crew, our directors, and, of course, my wife and kids who continue to support me in this adventure. Love them!

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC #247 - To Our Presbyterian Friends in Texas

So this is about the time where many people come up to me at church and elsewhere and ask "So, are you getting songs ready for General Conference?" To which I reply, "Yep! We are indeed." I haven't taken the time to count how many songs we're working on, but it's probably around 20 or so. And we're humbled and excited to sing each of one of them.

But, while we prepare for General Conference, we continue to do our weekly broadcast and today's was sort of special as we sang one of the songs in particular to a Presbyterian congregation in Texas. Why them, you ask? Well, awhile back, Mack Wilberg was approached by a friend in this congregation (someone he had worked with musically) who said that their pastor way dying from cancer and wondered if he could write a song for him set to the words of one of his favorite poem collections called "The Temple", by George Herbert.  Mack agreed and when finished, a song titled "The Call" had been composed. We were able to sing that song, today, and while we did, we knew that the congregation in Texas was especially tuning in. I thought how great it was that while "The Call" certainly influenced all who may have heard it today (and in the coming days), it was ultimately intended for "the one"--a faithful man of a different faith who's days are short and who has found renewed faith and peace through this song.

Christ's ministry and focus was always on "the one"--each of us, individually, who needs the gospel and who needs to feel the personal and redeeming love of the Savior and of our Heavenly Father.

The other great thing about the broadcast today was that a friend of mine, who joined the choir this year, got a text from the person who baptized him (at age 18) saying that he had come to listen and watch today's Music & the Spoken Word program. It's always great to to sing each Sunday knowing that someone you know personally is there watching--and I'm sure in this case, it was especially so, for my friend.

More next week as I share my thoughts on singing in Conference.

Until then, may God be with you.

MTC #246 - Show Me a Scotsman!

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir had the opportunity to perform two concerts this past Saturday, on the campus of Utah State University in the newly remodeled Newel and Jean Daines Concert Hall. The whole event began early as the Choir arrived on campus around 9:30AM, some having driven up themselves, while most had taken a bus that the Choir organization had provided. (As a side note, the bus ride was actually nice as it afforded time to talk with friends and to appreciate the beautiful Fall colors that were part of the journey)

My bus buddy, Ryan B.

From 9:30 to noon, we had a sound check/rehearsal to make sure things sounded good and to perform any adjustments needed with the audio equipment. The hall was beautiful--not ornate or elaborate--but nicely designed with great acoustics. And it's these acoustics we especially appreciated as it's always a constant challenge for us to actually hear each other in our Tabernacle home. As such, when we're in an actual concert hall like the one we were in, it makes it easier to hear each other, to blend, and to put forth a unified sound.

After the rehearsal, we headed off to eat lunch in one of the banquet rooms, enjoying the 5-10 min walk across campus. The hour went by quickly, and we hurried back in order to get changed into concert attire. This activity of changing clothes is probably the least favorite of everyone because...well...let's face it, there aren't a lot of places on this earth that have adequate (i.e. "spacious and efficient") changing rooms for hundreds of performers! But, we all made do, and once properly dressed, we got in line and headed out on stage to take our seats.  

The concert went very well. For me personally, since I wasn't able to go on tour this past summer with the Choir, I was really happy to sing the repertoire of songs that we normally take on tour. It was great too, to sing from the location in the hall that I was in. Most of the choir was in the middle of the stage/loft area, but because there were so many of us, they had to put some of us on the sides, kind of in the balcony wings. I was one of those in the wings--but it was neat to be so close to the people who were right below us and to see their faces and their reactions. The only downside to being where I was is that it was right in front of the organ pipes--and during some of the more heavy-organ numbers, it was so loud I couldn't even hear myself sing. :)

At any rate, the audience seemed to love the concert, as judged by their clapping, smiling, and standing ovations. At the end, our special guest conductor, who was none other than former Tabernacle Choir director, Craig Jessop (who's now the dean of the USU College of Fine Arts), led the Choir in two encore numbers. The first was audience favorite Climb Every Mountain. The second, and probably one of the biggest hits of the night, was the USU Aggie Fight Song--which we had learned just especially for our USU fans. Not only did we sing the song, but we did the actions as well and the audience absolutely loved it! (see here for an idea of how it looked/sounded) 

After the concert, some friends and I headed over to the creamery for some Aggie ice cream (braving the long lines) and then went to dinner. Afterwards, it was nice to just walk around campus and enjoy some reflective time. I realized, once again, that I am WAY past college age. In my heart, I still feel like I've never left my 20s, but then I see these students around me and it's very evident I'm way past that time of my life.

My dinner dinner break walk-around-campus buddy, Ben

The evening concert went much like the first and the audience generated the same type of positive response. Overall, it was a fun experience and I'm really grateful that we get to do these types of concerts here in our home state. As we ended with "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again", a lot of our audience members wiped their eyes or were just all smiles. One couple who I ran into after the matinee earlier, said "Thank you, thank you. It was all just so beautiful."

Before ending today's post, I do want just mention this morning's Music & the Spoken Word broadcast. Having arrived home last night close to midnight (or even later for some) and then waking up early to go do the broadcast, there were lots of tired souls. We had to try and adjust our faces on camera to look like we were excited to be there! While I was certainly tired, I looked at how many people had come to hear us sing (the Tabernacle was nearly filled to capacity) and I again knew that it was time to put away my weariness and focus on singing with as much energy and enthusiasm as possible. After all, today's audience deserved just as great of an experience as any other, and it was up to us to help them feel the power, the warmth, and the important truths contained in the songs we sang.

I hope we succeeded.

Until next time, God be with you.  

MTC #245 - Shine to the Honor of His Name

So it was my birthday this past Friday, and on Thursday night, I was given a pre-birthday treat by being able to rehearse one of my favorite songs, PSALM 148. I suppose that's sort of a boring, cop-out title, and to the outside, unfamiliar observer who saw that printed on a concert program, he or she might be inclined to just pass it over with little thought. Rest assured, however, that the ordinary title is deceptive. It's a very grand song, with layer upon layer speaking of praising God and all of His grand creations--and which has a dramatic ending that sends tingly shivers throughout your very soul. At least, it does for me!

I had a good friend listen to the YouTube video of it (hopefully with the volume way up) and he had this great insight to share:

"The resolution of the last chord is a hundred times more satisfying because of the discord and dissonance immediately preceding.  It feels like a perfect example of opposites in all things.  It also feels like an analogy of the last days in which we are living.  I keep waiting and hoping for that final chord that resolves everything."

Excellent observations and insights Tom. The ending chord is my absolute favorite, especially singing it in the Tabernacle where it just reverberates after our voices stop singing. But like you said, I think it's such a great chord because of what comes before it. It's almost like the dissonance is analogous to our desperate efforts to get rid of those last little things keeping us from becoming like God. And then, almost before we realize it, we've done it! And what's great, too, is that as that last chord is sung, the orchestra and organ completely cut out, and we're left with just hundreds of voicing singing in unity and purity--all thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ and His plan to help us all reach our eternal potential. 

Sigh....
So good, so good. 

Until next time, God be with you.
 

MTC #244 - Exactly Where We Want to Be (+ Farewell to 2!)

As I was observing the people coming into the Tabernacle to watch us rehearse Thursday night, my eyes focused on one Asian man in particular who had been near the front of the line. He quickly went down one of the main aisles and kept looking at the ceiling, then to the benches, then back at the ceiling. I thought that was a bit odd, at first, but then I realized that he was trying to sit exactly where one should sit if he wanted to be right in the middle of the Tabernacle--right under the apex where all of the ceiling slopes up to. I could only guess that this man was thinking that such a spot afforded him the best acoustical experience. Finally happy with his choice, the man sat down with a big smile, ready to hear the songs we had prepared to rehearse. Little did this guy know, though, that his determination to find his definition of the perfect seat fell right in line with what happened an hour earlier.

What happened an hour earlier you ask?

All of the choir met in a room underneath the Tabernacle for "Inservice". As mentioned before on my blog, every year, for two nights, we come early for Inservice to try and hone our musical skills and refresh what we learned in Choir School during our first year. This time we worked on a variety of issues including intonation and vowel placement (which actually go hand in hand). After some focused rehearsing (along with imagining a walnut was in the middle of our mouths), our vowel placement was exactly where we wanted it to be--and where it should be in order to get the sound (pitch, tone, color) right (and thus bring lots of smiles to our directors) .

Just as the Asian guy was trying to sit in an exact location by observing and adjusting, we in the Choir were trying to sing with exactness by adjusting our mouths and jaw and listening to ourselves and each other. 

So it goes in life. By making focused corrections, listening to the still small voice, and observing the results of our actions, we can improve and find ourselves exactly where we want to be. Or, at least, getting closer to where we want to be!

===============

Paul, front and center

Changing topics, it was a sad day for two friends in the choir who's day was their last. Paul McGuire and Trevor Manning had their last Music and the Spoken Word broadcast today. It just hurts to even think about the emotions they were feeling. From Paul, I learned to strive for exactness, to take the time to look up note discrepancies, and to take unexpected feedback in stride. From Trevor I learned to be more like the "model choir member" Mack Wilberg always asks us to be (come to choir, pay attention, sing well, and leave happy). At any rate, we got some pictures during the break, wrote messages of thanks in their Hymnbooks, and after the last note of God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again, it was all over for them. Best of luck, gentlemen, with starting a new journey in your life. We will miss you. (Some pics from today's broadcast are below)

Until next time, God be with you.

PS: Sometimes certain chord combinations just resonate as purely beautiful ones. I'm making a list of them! One to add to the collection from today was when we sang the word "ride" from Brazzle Dazzle Day: [bass clef] A-flat, E-flat, A-flat, C; [treble clef] E-flat, A-flat, C

 

MTC #243 - Unity

Some weeks it's challenging to write a post that is fresh and new and doesn't sound like something I've posted before. I can always write about the songs themselves, or my feelings while singing them, or upcoming events, or frustrations the choir has to reach the pitch sometimes, or several other things that go on from week to week. And I certainly WILL continue to write about those things. But today I just wanted to write something different.

The choir is made up of lots of different people--just like you'd find in any large group such as a church congregation, or departments of employees in a company. Some are lawyers or doctors. Some work in banking or marketing. Some teach seminary or teach at a university. Some work for the government. Some are stay-at-home moms and dads. 

We have those who are married, those who are single, those who are divorced. We have those who are straight and those who are gay.
We have those who are typically serious, those who like to joke, those who always make comments, and those who just quietly come to choir and leave from choir.
We have some who are physically fit, some who are overweight, some who have a full set of hair, and some who are bald.

But despite our differences, we have commonalities that bring us together.
We are all are going through something hard.
We all make sacrifices to sing.
We all have a testimony of the power of music.
We're all children of a Heavenly Father and Mother.

Elder Henry B. Eyring once said

"[God] cannot grant [unity] to us as individuals. The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary. We must seek it and qualify for it with others. It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. In those gatherings, which God has designed for us, lies our great opportunity. We can pray and work for the unity that will bring us joy and multiply our power to serve."

I hope as a choir we are always striving for that unity as we gather each week, so that our power to serve can be multiplied. And I hope that all of us, as friends, neighbors, coworkers, and families, can pray and work for that unity as well. 

Until next time, God be with you.
 

MTC #242 - Of TOL, JP, and DS

A few things I wanted to share with you today.

First, our broadcast today included a song I've really grown to love called Tree of Life--a song composed by Mack Wilberg with some beautiful lyrics by David Warner. It's one of those songs that could easily be a soundtrack to your entire life. Not a day-by-day soundtrack, but rather one that would perfectly accompany a montage showing key scenes from when you were little all the way to your older years. And as you viewed these key scenes, you'd hear lyrics testifying of how God's love (the tree) was interwoven throughout them and how that love divinely aided you in becoming who you were meant to become. That even though there were tough times and confusing times, it was all worth it. So much so that you'd receive an overwhelming feeling of wanting to praise your Heavenly parents for all the experiences and love they gave you.

That's what I think about when I sing this song.

Today, in particular, I also thought about the fact that I'm going through another "key" time in my life as my kids continue to leave the nest. My son Josh is headed down to college tomorrow, and then in four or five months, will leave to serve a mission.  Singing  Tree of Life helped me focus on the positive aspects of this change, instead of the sad aspects, and helped me feel grateful that there's a time and a season for everything.

You're welcome to listen to the song, HERE.

Second, along with several other guests who joined us for Thursday night's rehearsal, one in particular has gained national attention. His name is Daniel Seddiqui. Daniel spent 50 weeks, one week in each state, working 50 different jobs and gaining a lot of valuable insight and experience along the way. He's now on a quest to revisit each state and immerse himself in various cultural experiences. And what better way to start that quest, then by visiting Temple Square and singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? Just Google his name and you can see various stories/videos on this interesting guy.

Lastly, for any of you interested, the Choir is performing two concerts on the campus of Utah State University (in the Newel and Jean Daines Concert Hall) on Saturday, September 22nd. If you're interested in getting tickets, you can do so HERE. The concert will be the same one that we perform when we're on tour--so if you've never seen it yet, now's your chance.

 

Oh, and one thing I just have to mention (because it will probably never happen again). At rehearsal, there was a passage the basses were singing and Mack stopped us saying that we were actually singing it SHARP! He was almost at a loss for words finding it so completely unbelievable...

Until next time, God be with you.

The Tree of Life by Gustav Klimt