4,000th broadcast for 'America's Choir'
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It's 8:30 on the morning of April 30, and the tension on stage at the Conference Center is palpable. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square have just finished a "run-through" of what in less than an hour will be the historic 4,000th consecutive national broadcast of the choir's weekly program "Music and the Spoken Word."
The program ran 25 seconds too long and, before the live presentation, must be condensed or trimmed a bit to fit the down-to-the-second timing. Music director Craig Jessop tells the choir that, to pick up some time, they will definitely be singing the "short version" of the Evan Stephens anthem "Let the Mountains Shout for Joy."
They practice it at an accelerated tempo, but he stops the song to caution them that, even though it is to be sung faster than usual, they must not clip the word "rejoice," and he admonishes, "Make sure you finish it with some finesse."
The incident is remarkable, perhaps, only because it is illustrative. Since that first radio broadcast on July 15, 1929, the choir as a collective body has been trying to conform each week to the strictures of network radio (and, later, syndicated TV) broadcasting while preserving the aesthetic integrity of the music they make. All this, of course, is integral to the 77-year-old show's broader mission, expressed in these words at the landmark broadcast by announcer Lloyd D. Newell: "to present inspirational music and a message that lifts spirits, steadies hearts, and brings people closer to the Divine."
Those associated with the program were justifiably proud this day, and conscious of the legacy bequeathed them by thousands who have gone before. A recorded message from U.S. President George W. Bush highlighted this landmark broadcast.
"The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has many distinguished accomplishments throughout its history," the nation's Chief Executive remarked. "You performed for presidents going back to William Howard Taft. You performed at six presidential inaugurals, including my own. President Ronald Reagan once called your group "America's Choir." In 2003, I was honored to present you with the nation's highest awards for artistic achievement, the National Medal for the Arts. You have brought music and inspiration to generations of Americans, and I wish you continued success in the future."
Other brief video messages — including one from President Gordon B. Hinckley — were shown during the half-hour broadcast, interspersed between renditions of such Tabernacle Choir classics as "The Morning Breaks" (featured in 1929 on the first broadcast), "How Firm a Foundation," Rachmaninoff's "Rejoice, O Virgin," "Glorious Everlasting" "You'll Never Walk Alone" and associate director Mack Wilberg's arrangement of "Come, Come, Ye Saints." Organist Richard Elliott performed his arrangement of "Pilgrim's Chorus," the Richard Wagner composition featured as an organ solo on the inaugural broadcast in 1929.
Long-time CBS newsman Charles Osgood narrated a half-hour retrospective special on the choir, "A Legacy of Music through 4,000 Broadcasts," which was shown to the Conference Center audience just before the choir program and to television viewers just afterward. Identifying himself as "a longtime friend and admirer of the choir," he traced the history of the program, including the contribution of Richard L. Evans, who served as announcer from 1930 to 1971, calling his voice "a legend in my business." From 1953 on, Elder Evans would serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve.
President Hinckley, who became priesthood adviser to the choir in 1971 and retained that assignment after becoming president of the Church, spoke at a brief live program in the Conference Center that also included participation from U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah, and others.
The Church president noted that most of those who contribute to the success of "Music and the Spoken Word" are volunteers, including the choir and orchestra members and the choir president, Mac Christensen. "They give of their time in a consecrated and beautiful and wonderful manner and, in doing so, bring great credit to the Church and to the state of Utah and to this great nation of America, because they are not only America's choir, they . . . have sung internationally all across the world and will continue to do so."
President Hinckley put the event in a Church history perspective, noting that one of the choir's signature hymns, "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning," was sung first at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in 1836, later before a conference in Nauvoo in 1844, and still later in the bowery by the Mormon pioneers a month after they had arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
He expressed his gratitude to those who serve the choir organization in any way as they carry on a "wonderful tradition that hopefully will go on forever and ever, and ever increase in quality and beauty and provide inspiration and spirituality as well as entertainment to the masses of the world."
Sen. Hatch said: "You cannot listen to the choir sing without feeling to the depth of your soul its majesty and power. It has stirred feelings of patriotism and love for America among audience members in every corner of the globe and of our nation in particular." He brought with him a U.S. Senate recognition of the choir for the occasion.
Gov. Huntsman, who in a meeting with choir officers and news media at his offices three days earlier had proclaimed April 30 as "Mormon Tabernacle Choir Day" in the state of Utah, said to the choir before the Conference Center audience: "People throughout Utah and in all corners of the world have been prompted to deeper thought and greater feeling through your work."
Bruce Reese, president and CEO of Bonneville International Corp., said the company has produced and distributed Music and the Spoken Word for 40 years, and that its progenitor, KSL Radio, has been a part of all 4,000 broadcasts.
Broadcasting is fiercely competitive, he said, with stations under tremendous pressure to sell as much air time as possible. "And yet hundreds of radio, TV, cable and satellite operators — and the number keeps growing each year — continue to air 'Music and the Spoken Word' each week as a community service in place of paid air time."
Music director Jessop said he is mindful of those who have gone before. Mentioning some former directors and organists, he said: "About 20 years ago, as Jerold Ottley prepared the 3,000th broadcast of 'Music and the Spoken Word,' we were able to have Richard Condie, Spencer Cornwall, Jay Welch, Alexander Schreiner, all participate in that historic broadcast. Today, these great friends and those who labored so hard for the choir have passed on to other choirs. Hopefully, they joined us today in singing praises to Heavenly Father, as we have for over a century."
Choir President Mac Christensen recalled the occasion when President Hinckley surprised him by calling him to the position he now holds. "I kind of blurted out, I said, 'President, I'm a monotone!' And the president said, 'Mac, we're not calling you to sing!' "
He said President Hinckley "has guided us up the mountain pass with his dedication and foresight and having the right people at the right place at the right time. Through his encouragement to do better, he has brought us here this morning."
E-mail: rscott@desnews.com
