Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Administrative History
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (1852-) is a religious choral group based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
At the dedication of the adobe tabernacle in 1852, the Mormon choral group which frequently sang at General Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, adopted the name of their new home and became the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The nucleus of this choir came from a group of eighty-five Welsh converts under the direction of John Parry, who came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1849. The choir continued to perform at ecclesiastical and civic functions throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including several national and international tours. In 1929, the choir began airing a weekly radio broadcast, which continues today as Music and the Spoken Word. The choir is currently led by music director Mack Wilberg (2008-). Previous directors included John Parry (1852-1854), Stephen Goddard (1854-1856), James Smithies (1856-1862), Chalres John Thomas (1862-1865), Robert Sands (1865-1869), George Careless (1869-1880), Ebenezer Beesley (1880-1889), Evan Stephens (1890-1916), Anthony C. Lund (1916-1935), J. Spencer Cornwall (1835-1957), Richard P. Condie (1957-1974), Jay E. Welch (1974), Jerold Ottley (1974-1999), and Craig Jessop (1999-2008).
Citation:
America's Choir, 2004: p.19 (named after the old tabernacle in 1852)The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 1979: p.84 (first radio broadcast in 1929)
Utah History Encyclopedia, February 1, 2012: Mormon Tabernacle Choir (originated from John Parry's 1849 Welsh converts; notable performances at ecclesiastical and civic events)
Wikipedia, February 1, 2012: List of Mormon Tabernacle Choir music directors (names and dates of the choir's music directors)
Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:
Biographies of Beesley family
Collection of Cecil B. DeMille recordings
Contains two CD copies of a radio transcription disk made by the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. The first CD contains two broadcasts: track one is a broadcast of the Salt Lake City Tabernacle Choir from November 9, 1958 (RED 586), and track two is an excerpt from a speech by Cecil B. DeMille on the Ten Commandments given at the University of Southern California and distributed by the Trojan Digest program (IED 626). The second CD contains only the address by DeMille.
Richard Condie papers
This collection includes press clippings from national and local publications highlighting events in Condie's career, especially in relation to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; photographs, books, and scores annotated and marked by Condie during performance or study; and other personal materials such as a typescript of an oral history given by Condie, circa 1950-1970.
J. Spencer Cornwall papers
Collection contains letters, speeches, photographs, and other materials relating to J. Spencer Cornwall's activities and work with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
J. Spencer Cornwall papers
Printed and handwritten music scores, correspondence, programs, speeches, a biography of Mary Ellen Spencer, a scrapbook, magazines, notes, and miscellaneous items. The materials relate to Cornwall's work as director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
J. Spencer Cornwall photographs
This collection contains photographs of J. Spencer Cornwall ad various choirs and orchestras, as well as a group photograph of the Salt lake City District Music Supervisors from 1929-1980, including J. Spencer Cornwall, Dr. Lorin F. Wheelwright, Merva R. Morris, Vernon J. Lee Masters, and Margaret C. Richards. Also in the collection are five pages of sheet music for hymns.
Lowell M. Durham papers
Lowell M. Durham articles and drafts, 1925-1992
Lowell M. Durham ephemera, 1934-1994
Contains miscellaneous material related to Durham. Includes a copy of the book "Worship and Music In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint," a book with programs given by the Utah Symphony, three pamphlets of questions on the Utah Symphony Orchestra, programs from other performances, flyers, and magazines. Also includes audiocassettes from class lectures and tapes of "Abravanel Hour," as well as one floppy disk. Materials date from between 1934 and 1994.