Mormon Tabernacle Choir Gives First Performance
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, founded on August 22, 1847, in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a prominent musical ensemble with deep historical roots linked to the early Mormon pioneers. Initially formed to provide musical entertainment during the arduous journey to Utah, the choir has evolved into a highly respected group known for its rich tradition of hymns and spiritual music. The choir's first performance took place at an outdoor meeting shortly after the settlers' arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, and it quickly became a vital part of community and religious life.
Over the years, the choir has produced more than 100 records and is renowned for its long-running broadcast, "Music and the Spoken Word," which has aired since 1929. It features over 300 volunteer members, many of whom come from families with a history of participation in the choir. The choir has performed at notable events, such as four presidential inaugurations and alongside prestigious orchestras like the New York Philharmonic. Its home, located in Temple Square, includes the acoustically renowned tabernacle, designed specifically for choral performances. Today, the choir continues to engage the public with free performances multiple times a week, maintaining its cultural and religious significance.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Gives First Performance
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Gives First Performance
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir gave its first performance on August 22, 1847, in Salt Lake City, Utah. From this performance, given at an outdoor meeting of the Mormon settlers in Utah, the choir has grown to become a famous and highly respected musical ensemble.
Mormon pioneers on the way to Salt Lake used to sing in order to break the tedium of the long trek. In this day and age before radio and television, singing around the nightly campfire or at other social occasions was one of the few opportunities for musical entertainment. Given the religious inspiration of their quest to settle Utah, the Mormons naturally had a certain liking for hymns and other forms of spiritual music. The choir was formed barely a month after the Mormons first entered the Salt Lake Valley.
The choir produced its first record in 1910. More than 100 have followed, five of which have been gold records and one of which has been a platinum record. Further, the choir has given a large number of broadcast performances. These performance include weekly appearances on Music and the Spoken Word, which has been running continuously since 1929, making it the longest running radio program in history. Today, the choir consists of over 300 unpaid male and female volunteers. Many of the performers come from families that have sung in the choir for generations. The choir has given live performances at four presidential inaugurations and has performed with such well -known orchestras as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London.
The choir's headquarters has always been, and remains, in Salt Lake City. The heart of the city and of the Mormon Church is Temple Square. The temple itself, the most important center of religious worship in the Mormon faith, was begun by the early pioneers in the 1850s and took 40 years to complete. Adjacent to the temple is the tabernacle, built for the choir, which took 12 years to complete. It has one of the finest acoustical designs in the world and features the Tabernacle Organ, which has some 11,000 pipes. The choir still gives free public performances several times a week.