Music Review: Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Then Sings My Soul

 Then Sings My Soul, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Intellectual Reserve Inc., SLC, Utah 2006.

This is a set of 18 highly spiritual songs.  It starts with "How Great Thou Art" and doesn't let up until the last note is heard.  Several sosngs have trumpet fanfares which makes them very powerful.  This includes "Redeemer of Israel" and "High on a Mountain Top."  These songs really get the blood moving.  On a more spiritual tone are "I Know that my Redeemer Lives," "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" and "The Spirit of God like a Fire Is Burning."

There are plenty of songs to love in this C.D.  A couple I liked less was their version of "The Lord Is my Shepherd."  I guess I like the standard version.  I also didn't like "I Will Sing with the Spirit."  It was too soft.  

Music Review: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings Hymns of Faith

 The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings Hymns of Faith, Bonneville Communications, 1991

This is a very nice collection of songs for a Sunday, or just a spiritual lift.  It includes gospel favorites as well as LDS favorites.  "How Great Thou Art" is very well done.  As are "The Lord Is my Shepherd," "Abide with Me" and "Abide with Me; "Tis Eventide."  Those represent some of my favorites.  However on the LDS side of music this includes more of my favorites, "Come, Come Ye Saints," "The Morning Breaks," "The Spirit of God" and "Come, Come Ye Saints." Also the popular words written by Bruce R. McConkie and set to music by John Longhurst, "I Believe in Christ."  This is great Sabbath music.

The Tabernacle Choir World Tour - Buenos Aires, Argentina

 I cannot watch the video of the Tabernacle Choir in Buenos Aires without tearing up.  The subtitle is songs of hope.  The concert brings back many memories for me.  I was a missionary there 48 years ago.  I am not without my biases.  The narration for the concert is all in Spanish; not just Spanish but Argentine Spanish.  I love to hear the accent.  The choir sings in both Spanish and English going back and forth.  

I watched the concert live and there are some differences.  In the live concert they cut to different places throughout South America.  Hoever in the version in the link this has been taken out.

The narration tells several different stories, including the lan of salvation, Lehi and his vision of the tree, the Joseph Smith story, and the story of the Church in Argentina.

The music is wonderful.  The choir starts with singing songs of praise.  They sing four different versions of Hallelujah, including a version from Argentina, an Italian version and from The Messiah.  As part of the story of the plan of salvation they play some tango.  Actors portray the plan of salvation, finding love and going through trials and facing mortality, bringing babies into the world.  They have guest accordion and violin players.  They also have tango dancing.  

When they sing "What a Wonderful World" it is just precious, arranged by Mack Wilberg.   The guest performers also sing some very nice songs.  Soledad Pastorutti is an Argentine Folk singer.  She sang "Tren del Cielo," (Heavenly train), "Brindis," (toast), and Los Paisajes, (and scapes).  La Sole sings with lots of emotion.  Tren del Cielo has a very catchy rhythm and melody.  She also sings "I Am a Child of God" in Spanish.  The audience starts the second verse and she comes in with the first.  So they sing the first verse twice.

The choir sings a couple primary songs after La Sole's set. They sing "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" and "Child's Prayer," singing both in Spanish.  Very nice.

When the missionaries march on stage it is very nice.  They are there representing the numerous missionaries that have served in South America in the last 100 years.  It is also very good to know that now days most of the missionaries are from the local population.  

The choir sang a series of familiar hymns such as "Come, Come Ye Saints," "I Believe in Christ" and "The Spirit of God.

I think the highlight of the night is all the guest performers sang "Cambia Todo" (everything changes) with the choir backing up.  It is very effective.  The idea is that through Christ everything changes, and we can have a new heart.

The night concluded with "God Be With You Til We Meet Again, Para Siempre Dios Este con Vos."

Christmas Music Review: Jordan Smith: "'Tis the Season"

To me Jordan Smith is a new singer.  However he is also a very beautiful singer.  His "O Holy Night" is fantastic.  He sings this song with the Mormon tabernacle Choir.  It comes off beautifully.  I prefer the spiritual Christmas songs to the secular, and this set has both, but leans to the spiritual.  In addition to "O Holy Night" there is "Grown-up Christmas List,"  "What Child is This,""Silent Night" and "Ave Maria."  His "Ave Maria" is spectacular, and very moving.  On the secular side, he records, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."  I thought I would not enjoy a tenor related song, as this is noted for being a bass type of song.  He did sing this as a high tenor, but does an admirable job.  "The Christmas Song" is just lovely; as is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  The Bass playing with "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" has to be recommended.  He really makes this piece move.  The Bass starts the number, and just keeps going.  More instruments join, but the steady bass is mesmerizing.

The Wexford Carol (Music Video) - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

This a telling of the prodigal son with this beautiful song providing the only words.  This is beautiful.

Final Osmond Family Concert (2008)

This is an excellent concert which features some old Osmond songs, some spiritual songs and The Mormon tabernacle Choir.  Marie seems to have some costume and mic issues but other than that it goes off without a hitch.  The highlight is the last two numbers where the older Osmond Brothers join in with ASL while the rest of the family sings.  This is a 50 year tribute to the Osmonds in entertainment.

Music Review: Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Called to Serve

Called to Serve: Craig Jessop and Mack Willberg conductors, 2008.  Miranda bought this as part of a four-pack from the distribution center of music for missionaries.  This set has some very exciting music.  I love "Redeemer of Israel" with its brass fanfare.  It is just so exciting.  The Mack Wallberg arrangement of "I Believe in Christ" is also fantastic the way the cords change and the choir gets broader in the last couple verses.  It creates a real emotional reaction to the music.  The men sing, "Ye Elders of Israel."  "High on a Mountain Top" also has the brass fanfare.  "Come, Come Ye Saints" has always been one of my favorite, and this version has lots of energy.  "The Spirit of God Like  Fire Is Burning" is the final number of this set.  This song is also very well done.  This C.D. is very moving and uplifting.  A god C.D. for any missionary.  

Music Review: 2014 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pioneer Day Concert

The Momon Tabernacle Choir Pioneer Day Concert this year was not your typical year of singing pioneer songs, except for the first couple numbers, but was a year of Broadway show tunes.  This included the choir singing "Heigh Ho" and "Whistle While You Work" from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "When You Wish Upon a Star" from "Pinochio."  It also included man Broadway tunes such as the choir singing "Tonight" and "Some Where" and guest singer Santino Fantana singing "Something's Coming" from "West Side Story."  Fantana then sang "Ten Minutes Ago" from Cinderalla for which he was nominated for a Tony.  Fantana then gives advise to the men with singing "How to Handle a Woman" from "Camelot."  Another relationship song, "She Likes Basketball" from "Promises, Promises," followed.  After an orchestral organ piece, Fantina than pleased the crowd with "Never Land" from "Peter Pan."  The concluding number was actually a medley of songs about "Happy."  This was an arrangement by Sam Cardon and Ben Stillman.  This lead to a reprise which brought down the house and closed the show. 

Music Review: Mormon Tabernacle Choir: America's Choir

On the DVD America's Choir this is a bonus concert.  This concert includes the choirs favorites, and this bonus material is sure to please.  It doesn't include any interruption but goes from one song to another.  Some of the favorites I enjoy are Battle Hymn of the Republic, Come, Come Ye Saints, Climb Every Mountain and Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.  The choir is very large, but even so they are able to enunciate and make the words understandable.  They also sing with emotion and heart, and carry the message of the song to the listener.  This is just lovely.  This concert is presented from the tabernacle which is known for its acoustics.

Christmas Musical Review: Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas

Last I recorded Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, ****"My Christmas."  It is very fun to listen to Andrea Bocelli.  They had a full orchestra behind them and sometimes a small choir.  Bocelli sings with such a clear and pure voice, it is very enjoyable. He is joined by Natalie Cole for "The Christmas Song" and it is beautiful.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir backs him for the Lord's prayer and this is perfection.  Mary J. Blige joins him for "What Child is This?" again a beautiful arrangement.  Bocelli climbing the scale at the end is lovely.  "Caro Gesu Bambino" is also beautiful with its clear dulcet tones.  Their are other featured guests including Reba McEntire and Katherine Jenkins.  I love listening to this music, and it makes me closer to the Christmas spirit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Xdqfci0rM

Music Review: *****Music and the Spoken Word: Chirstmas Season

"Music and the Spoken Word" comes on multiple times on BYUTV.  You can also see some episodes on their website.  They add special guests this time of year, or you can watch old episodes with special guests.  I have seen Alfie Boe sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."  This was followed by the story of the "candy bomber" narrated by Tom Brokaw.  I was just watching David Archuleta singing a couple years ago with the choir.  I have also seen the story of Silent Night from WWI. Another episode has Angela Lansbury singing "We Need a Little Christmas.  Some of the episodes even feature dancers and performers.
I give a heart endorsement for these musical presentations.  There is sure to be something to bring peace to your heart.
http://byutv.org/search?query=christmas
This is a link to BTUTV where you can see many of these episodes.